Christmas Rekindled by Sadira Stone
When two Scrooges collide under the mistletoe, their kiss blazes too hot too handle.
Stuck with her cranky, injured dad over the holidays, all Charlie wants for Christmas is a break. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern is the perfect way to let off steam and escape Dad’s criticism. But why does the hunky bartender hate her on sight?
River’s holiday wish: avoid his matchmaking mother, ride out his grief, and flee the holiday fuss. Bangers Tavern is his refuge until sassy, snarky Charlie sashays in, just as smoking hot as when they first met. And she doesn’t even remember him. Ouch.
A fake date or two should get their interfering families off their backs. No big deal, right? But shared holiday celebrations stir up messy feelings and irresistible desire. When greedy developers come gunning for the bar they both love, River and Charlie must team up to save it.
Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies to lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday shenanigans, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever.
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Excerpt
“Listen, I’m really sorry about that. I don’t usually get so emotional, but…” He shrugged. “The tree, the music, the people. Lots of memories, you know? Should have warned you.”
She planted her feet, forcing him to stop and face her. “Why didn’t you?”
His jaw muscles bunched. His eyebrows raised, then lowered. Lots going on behind that pretty face. “It’s hard. You’d think, after a year, it would be easier. It’s not.”
Her resentment evaporated. “No, it’s not. My dad put up the tacky old aluminum tree we used before my mom died. Last night, I came home and saw it sparkling in front of the fireplace, and I just bawled.” She swallowed the ache in her throat. “Christmas is an emotional time.”
He squeezed her hand. “How old were you when she died?”
“Thirteen.”
He nodded. “And now you’re…”
“Thirty-two.”
He huffed a laugh. “Really? Thought you were older.”
She pulled away and socked his arm. “Thanks, pretty boy.”
“No, I mean—you’re gorgeous. Sophisticated. Confident.”
When she continued to glare, he pointed to his muddy boot. “Should I eat this now, or save it for dessert?”
Hard to stay mad at him when he made that sad-puppy, big-eyed expression. She crossed her arms. “And how old are you?”
“I’ll be twenty-nine the day after Christmas.”
“A Christmas baby, eh?” And not as young as I thought. Interesting.
“Yeah. I always got shortchanged on birthday presents. So.” He slid closer. “Thanks for coming. And for pretending. You saved my ass.”
A warning prickled along her spine, but she shoved it aside. She was only in town for a month or two. Consequences would be minimal. Besides, it was good to know she could still feel this rush of heat for someone new. Something about River tickled her in places numb since Marvin’s sudden departure.
She squared her shoulders and gazed boldly into his hazel-green eyes—rich brandy and stormy sea. A woman could get lost in there—or drunk. “Who says I was pretending? You do have a certain charm. And I’m going to hold you to your end of the bargain. Santa parade, tomorrow at three.”
He grinned and bit his lip. Shiny white teeth, plump pink flesh.
A tingle pulsed between her thighs.
Where’s the mistletoe when you need it?
About the Author
Award-winning contemporary romance author Sadira Stone spins steamy, smoochy tales set in small businesses—a quirky bookstore, a neighborhood bar, a vintage boutique… Her stories highlight found family, friendship, and the sizzling chemistry that pulls unlikely partners together. When she emerges from her writing cave in Las Vegas, Nevada (which she seldom does), she can be found in belly dance class, or strumming her ukulele, perhaps exploring the West with her charming husband, or cooking up a storm, and always gobbling all the romance books. For a guaranteed HEA (and no cliffhangers!) visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.
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Tell us about what you write!
I write steamy contemporary romance set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. My Book Nirvana series centers around a quirky bookshop in Eugene, Oregon. Gelato Surprise is a steamy older woman/younger man beach romance novella. The Bangers Tavern Romance series is set in a neighborhood tavern in Tacoma, Washington, where I live—the town, not the tavern! Each story features a holiday celebration in Bangers Tavern: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, 4th of July, Halloween, etc. During this sad time when so many bars, restaurants, and other businesses are shut down, Bangers Tavern gives me the chance to virtually share the fun, camaraderie, and bar food I miss so much. And each volume includes tasty cocktail recipes I’ve personally tested and tweaked—a tough job, but I do it for my readers (wink).
Under my own name, I write cozy mysteries and creepy short stories—think The Twilight Zone—but so far only one creepy short has been published. I’ll get to the rest of them eventually, but right now I’m having too much fun writing romance!