The Firefighter's Secret Santa: Christmas in Alpine Valley, #1

By Kali Hart

The Firefighter's Secret Santa: Christmas in Alpine Valley Book 1
A Firefighter Curvy Woman Holiday Romance

This Christmas, join five best friends as a friendly dare to draw Secret Santas leads them all to find their true loves.

Lily

I've had a crush on my brother's best friend since I was a shy, geeky teenager.
The only thing that's changed is that I'm all grown up.
Still shy. Still geeky.
Gage is a panty-melting gorgeous firefighter with his own fan club.
We're practically in different universes.
When I draw his name in the town's Secret Santa event, I can't help but wonder if fate is playing a cruel joke on me.
Except, the more time I spend with Gage, the less he looks at me like I'm his buddy's little sister.
Is it too much to hope that this year I might actually get my Christmas wish: Gage?

Gage

Since Lily moved home from college, I've pretended not to notice her.
Pretended that I haven't secretly been craving her at my side and in my bed.
She's my best friend's little sister.
Some lines you don't cross.
But when she starts hanging around the fire station, bringing cookies and her sweet self, it's impossible to ignore the curvaceous woman she's become.
It's harder still to deny what I'm feeling.
One stolen kiss might be the beginning of my undoing.
Or maybe this year, Santa's going to give me what I want most for Christmas: Lily.

Come to Alpine Valley this Christmas and follow five best friends as a dare to participate in the town's Secret Santa event leads them all to true love. These books are sweet and steamy short instalove romances with older heroes and younger curvy woman. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating. Guaranteed HEA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Nov 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798223911043

Book preview

1

LILY

I brought wine! I announce as I enter the party room, holding up two bottles of cabernet as evidence. Every year right before Christmas, my four best friends and I reserve an event room in our small town’s community center for our annual Sip & Dip. It’s been a tradition since high school to get together before the official holiday and bring something the group can either sip—like the cabernet—or dip—like Shea’s tasty spinach and artichoke dip.

You can bring those bottles right over here for safe keeping. Jewel waves the bottle opener at me, the expression on her tired face saying it all.

Pour me a glass, Shea requests before crunching on a chip half-covered in her famous dip. I’ve been dreaming about it all day while fighting with a website template that didn’t like my coding skills. I have to go out to the Mason ranch tomorrow and deal with that arrogant cowboy again.

I don’t even get my coat all the way off before wine is poured for everyone. I guess I’m not the only one who’s had a hectic day. I push my blue-blocker glasses to the top of my head, drop my coat on a chair sitting against the wall, and slide into one of three loveseats arranged in a circle.

I set my gift for the white elephant exchange on the coffee table and reach for a chip.

Where’s Randi? I ask after counting the room twice. It’s been a long day, but I can still count to five.

Finishing up some story, Heather says as she takes a seat opposite me. She texted me. She’ll be here soon.

I notice that the backs of the couches are adorned with twinkling Christmas lights. One of Heather’s touches, no doubt. Not only is she always early to any event, she has a knack for the small details.

That girl is a workaholic, Jewel says. She needs a man to give her something else to do besides chase the next story.

"We all need a man, Shea mutters, drawing laughter from all of us as we toast. Seriously, did any of you think we’d still be single at twenty-five? It’s almost depressing, right?"

"Hey, none of that mopey stuff at our Sip & Dip, Randi orders as she bursts into the room, making her typical dramatic entrance. Doesn’t anyone remember the rules when I’m not here to pound them into your thick skulls? We’re not allowed to be sad about anything today."

Doesn’t mean I can’t wish for Santa to bring me a sexy, muscular man for Christmas, Shea adds with a giggle. Preferably one with washboard abs and a talented tongue.

Tell Santa to make that times five, I add, unable to keep myself from picturing the firefighter who haunts all my dirtiest dreams when I say it. But Gage Anderson is my brother’s best friend, not to mention way out of my league. The man has his own fan club, for crying out loud.

We toast again, this time including Randi.

With the busy lives we all lead, the five of us can rarely get together like this. Which is why we’ve insisted on the annual Sip & Dip. It’s a guarantee that we’ll get together at least once a year, no matter what. The excited conversation fills my soul with such happiness. In minutes, I’m laughing so hard I’m crying. I love these ladies with all my heart.

Are we ready for the white elephant? Heather asks when she gets up to pour everyone more wine. She may be the head of marketing at her father’s hotel, but the hospitality thing has been permanently drilled into her DNA.

"I bet if we handcuffed you to the couch, you’d still find a way to serve us all