The Christmas Gift: A BWWM Holiday Romance: A Langdale Christmas, #3

By Peyton Banks

Christmas was here and there as only one gift she wanted under her tree. 

 

Elementary school teacher Ellie Wynn was on holiday and wanted to make the most of it. Like all teachers, she looked forward to this time off. It was Christmas Eve, and she wanted to do a little last-minute shopping, but Mother Nature was again releasing her wrath on the small town of Langdale. 

 

Officer Kolton King arrived home after working a long night shift to find his beautiful neighbor attempting to shovel the mountainous snow from her yard. Not wanting her to hurt herself, Kolton had to assist her because it was the neighborly thing to do. 

 

What began as a neighborly gesture soon became a spark neither could deny. As the storm intensified and a power outage plunged Langdale into darkness, Ellie and Kolton were drawn together in the warmth of shared laughter and an undeniable attraction. Being stuck together during the crazed winter storm may deliver a gift that both of them had wished for.

 

The Christmas Gift is a steamy, holiday BWWM romance. For readers who love sexy, small town romance, this is for you. This short novella is reserved for mature readers only.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: RNB Publishing
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781956602883

Book preview

1

U gh! Why does it have to snow so much when I’m off? Ellie Wynn grumbled. She paused her shovel and glared at her driveway. Of course none of this snow appeared when school was in session. It had to wait until for the holiday break to show itself. She would have killed for a few snow days as a third-grade teacher. Her kids would have loved not having school, too.

Snow days were a win-win situation.

Ellie stretched slightly and winced. She was going to be sore tomorrow. Life in Langdale, Illinois, was wonderful. At least until Mother Nature decided to release her wrath on their small town. The last few winters had been pretty rough with snowstorms burying Langdale. It would appear Mother Nature was going to do it again this year.

Ellie wiggled her toes in her somewhat warm boots. As soon as she was done, she would go in the house, run a warm bath with some Epsom salts in it, and relax. Her achy bones needed it. At thirty-six years old, she wasn’t as fit as she thought she was. Shoveling heavy snow was for the youngsters.

She turned around and eyed her small, quaint neighborhood and wondered where all the teenagers were who usually went door to door asking to shovel people’s yards. There was no one in sight. Apparently, this was too much snow for even them.

Each house was buried under the same amount of snow as hers.

Why am I out here if no one else is? she grumbled.

Ellie had wanted to get out and do some last-minute Christmas shopping to take advantage of the sales, but it looked like something was trying to keep her from spending her little money. Tomorrow was Christmas, and on Christmas Eve all stores had major deals.

Her gaze landed on a home halfway down the street and took in one of the elderly neighbors, Mr. Hudson, sweeping the snow off his porch with a broom. He noticed her and waved. She returned the wave to him.

He better not do anything else, she muttered.

At his age and with the weight of this snow, it would certainly land Mr. Hudson in the hospital with a heart attack. Ellie adjusted her gloves and scarf. If she were going to attempt to escape her home for a few hours, she’d better get a move on digging her drive out.

Bending down, she scooped another pile of snow and tossed it into the yard. She got in a good rhythm and began to see progress. The crunching of snow grabbed her attention. She paused and looked toward the road. A dark SUV made its way down the snow-covered pavement.

Ellie’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her neighbor slowing down and turning into his driveway.

Kolton King.

Police officer Kolton King.

He can arrest me any day. She giggled.

Yes, Officer King can put his handcuffs on me.

Ellie had purchased her home a year ago and had immediately taken notice of her neighbor. The first time she’d seen him, he had been mowing his lawn. She had practically broken her neck to get outside to go check her mailbox that was conveniently located at the edge of her driveway.

Ellie had lived in Langdale her entire life except for the years she’d been away for college, but she truly didn’t count that. She loved her small town and how everyone knew everyone. Kolton was a few years older than her, and they had gone to the same high school, but back then he wouldn’t have been interested in her. He had been the jock, she had been the nerd. There was no way a football player would have glanced at the president of the science and technology club, who wore braces, glasses, and had a little extra weight that she still held on to until this day.

No, someone like Kolton wouldn’t have looked twice at her, unless it was to ask her for tutoring or to just pay her to do his homework.

Ellie cringed and shook her head.

She waved at his truck but wasn’t sure if he even saw her. With the dark tint on the windows, she couldn’t see if he was by himself. His garage opened completely, and he drove inside.

With a sigh, Ellie returned to her task at hand. She could daydream and fantasize about Kolton while clearing this snow. That would certainly help keep her warm. She was bundled up to keep the cold off her, but her dirty fantasies had her warming up.

Ugh, why did I put this scarf on? Ellie grimaced and reached up to adjust the scarf that was suddenly too tight around her neck. Once she no longer felt as if it were choking her, she continued clearing the snow.

Her gaze landed on Kolton’s garage door which was still open. Had he forgotten to close it? He had a huge truck that could obviously handle the snow in his driveway.

She dragged her eyes off Kolton’s garage and eyed her driveway. Defeat filled her. Would she be able to clear this? Now she wished she had a service to come do this for her. Next time someone offered, she was going to pay the money and not be cheap. Why had she thought she would be able to do this?

Because you are an independent woman and can shovel your own damn driveway.

Ellie scowled.

Sure.

Independent, her ass.

What she wouldn’t give