Holiday Wishes: Christmas of Love Collaboration Read online

  Holiday Wishes

  S.L. Sterling

  Contents

  Introduction

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Christmas of Love Collaboration

  Fireside Love

  Note From the Author

  About the Author

  Also by S.L. Sterling

  Introduction

  Welcome to Santa Claus, Indiana where Christmas isn’t just a holiday, it’s a way of life. Join these 12 amazing authors with 11 wonderful books as they bring you some instalove, a little mystery, and maybe some thriller, for a romance filled holiday!

  The community of Santa Claus was designed in 1849. The story of how it received the name of Santa Claus has roots both in fact and legend. In January 1856 the town applied for a post office to be installed.

  On June 25, 1895, as part of a nationwide standardization for place names, the post office name was changed to the one word Santaclaus. The town's unique name went largely unnoticed until the late 1920s, when Postmaster James Martin began promoting the Santa Claus postmark. The name was changed back to Santa Claus on February 17, 1928. It was then that the Post Office Department decided there would never be another Santa Claus Post Office in the United States, due to the influx of holiday mail. The growing volume of holiday mail became so substantial that it caught the attention of Robert Ripley in 1929, who featured the town's post office in his nationally syndicated Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon strip.

  Learn more about this unique town here: https://santaclausind.org

  Holiday Wishes

  Copyright © 2020 by S.L. Sterling

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved about, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of the book. This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Disclaimer: This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18. It involves strong language and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are consenting adults over the age of 18.

  Paperback ISBN: 978-1-989566-15-2

  Ebook ISBN: 978-1-989566-14-5

  Editor: Brandi Aquino, Editing Done Write

  Cover Design: KL Donn, Alluring Write Productions

  Created with Vellum

  Prologue

  Christmas - 5 Years Earlier

  "What should we bake for the fundraiser?"

  "Honestly, I think maybe we should do the sugar cutouts and perhaps some brownies. Everyone loves your brownies!"

  "And everyone loves those little cookies you make... You know the ones you coat in icing sugar."

  "Oh, I didn’t know they liked snowballs."

  "They sure do. Perhaps we should make those."

  "Well, I guess we could. I could drop by after I'm done with my last class tonight. I will bring the ingredients for the cutouts and the snowballs."

  "Okay, that sounds good. I'm sure I have the ingredients for the brownies."

  My phone pinged with a message, and I stopped rooting through the cupboard and reached for it while Kenzie blabbed on about if I had icing sugar. Careful not to hang up on her, I swiped through the screens on my phone, finally seeing Declan's name. A funny feeling in the pit of my stomach rose as he once again begged me to respond. I cleared the message and placed my phone back on the counter, reached back into the cupboard, and finally found the bag of icing sugar she had been talking about.

  "No need to pick up the icing sugar. I found the bag," I called out.

  "Awesome. Okay, I will see you about six."

  "See you then."

  I ended the call with Kenzie, climbed down off the stool, and continued picking at the rotisserie chicken I had picked up from the grocery store. My phone vibrated away on the counter. I already knew it was Declan again, and even though I was angry, I still read every single one of his messages.

  Once I finished eating, I sat in the rocking chair beside the Christmas tree in my living room. I sipped on hot cocoa while Christmas carols played in the background, and I stared at the twinkling lights. Tears streamed down my face as the memory of the last time I had seen Declan sat fresh in my mind. I was a mess, and no matter how much I told myself I would be all right, every night for the past two months had ended like this. Declan would beg me for forgiveness for whatever he had done, and I would ignore his pleas.

  Any other night I would have been happy to wallow in tears, but tonight wasn't the night for this. Kenzie would be here any minute to bake the cookies for the feed-the-homeless fundraiser. I hadn't told her anything about what had happened over Columbus Day weekend, just that Declan and I had decided to go different paths. It was far from the truth, but it stopped her from asking me questions. Come to think of it, I hadn't told a single person about what had really happened. I'd bottled it up and refused to speak of it again, figuring that would make it better. Yet I still sat here torturing myself by reading every text he had sent me over the past five weeks.

  I grabbed a handful of tissues and blew my nose just as the buzzer to my apartment rang. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and glanced at myself in the mirror before I opened the door to let Kenzie in. I just hoped she wouldn’t notice all the puffiness under my eyes.

  A concerned look quickly replaced the smile she wore on her face when she saw me. She pushed past me, her arms full, and ran into the kitchen, dumping the bags on my small table. She wasted no time pouring herself a glass of wine and turning to me as she leaned against the counter.

  "Are you ever going to tell me what happened?"

  I shook my head and peeked inside the grocery bags to see what she had brought.

  "Come on, Harper, look at yourself. I know that something happened between you and Declan. Why don't you just tell me?"

  I took the last mouthful of my hot cocoa and shook my head. "It was nothing. Plus, I already told you we’ve gone our separate ways, okay. Did you want hot cocoa?"

  "I don't believe you," she said, pulling her phone from her pocket. "I'm going to have Devon call Declan and get it out of him."

  I shrugged. "Do whatever you feel you have to, but seriously, it’s nothing. Let's just bake some cookies and have fun, okay."

  Kenzie took one look at me and shoved her phone back into her pocket. "I guess I am just sad that you two aren't together anymore."

  I shrugged. "Me too, but let’s just forget it, please. We have cookies to bake for charity, and that is more important than some silly relationship that was probably never going to work."

  “Of course, it matters.” Kenzie said as she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a hug.

  We soon covered my kitchen counters with ingredients and bowls as we started baking. That was how I left it with Kenzie. I never told her what had transpired to cause us to go our separate ways because I figured that after a few years it wouldn't matter. Life would go on, I would eventually meet someone, and they would enter my circle of friends. The
same would go for Declan. He would meet someone, and he would get a new circle, and I would never have to see him again.

  Chapter 1

  Harper

  The cab drove over the snow-covered roads, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a hint of excitement as we finally passed the welcome sign to Santa Claus, Indiana. It had been a long day of traveling. I had booked the last flight here. It had two layovers and had taken a little over eight hours to get there, when it should have only taken four. I pulled the brochure for Mistletoe Lodge from my bag, along with the invitation to the wedding. I was extremely excited to see Kenzie and Devon.

  "Are we almost there?" I asked from the backseat as I glanced down at the invite again.

  "Yes, Miss. Just around the corner. You really should check out Santa's Candy Castle while you are here. They have the best hot cocoa."

  "I will take that into consideration, thank you," I said as he pulled the cab to a stop.

  Mistletoe Lodge was even more beautiful than it had been in the brochure. I looked up at the extensive building from the back of the cab. It was beautifully decorated with white Christmas lights and garland attached too much of the building and gardens that twinkled against the darkness. I smiled, got out of the cab, paid the driver, and walked up the front steps. If I hurried, I could make it in time for the rehearsal dinner, I thought. I instantly sent Kenzie a text letting her know I had finally arrived and was going to be checking in before I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

  I struggled with my suitcase up the steps and through the door, but once inside, I stopped and stood looking around the lobby. I brushed the snow from my coat as I stepped to the side to allow a small group of people, all bundled in winter coats, pass out the front door. I smiled at their excitement.

  It literally felt as if I stepped into a Christmas movie. They had decorated the lobby for Christmas, garland was hung everywhere and every inch twinkled with little white lights. A large Christmas tree stood by a large stone hearth. I glanced at an elderly couple who sat in front of the fireplace. He was reading, and she was knitting, and I smiled to myself. A sign off to the right of the tree put an even larger smile on my face as I read the words, "Mistletoe Lodge is happy to announce the wedding of Kenzie Butler & Devon Thornton." I was finally here, and even though I was exhausted from the trip, I couldn’t wait to celebrate their special day.

  I ran my hand through my hair and turned to walk toward the front desk to check in but stopped in my tracks at who I saw. There, dressed in jeans and an expensive-looking sweater, leaning on one elbow texting up a storm, looking sexy as ever, stood Declan Brookes. The feeling of excitement I'd had only moments ago had now been replaced with some emotion I barely recognized.

  I could feel a fiery rage building inside of me as he flirted with the girl at the front desk, flashing that sexy smile, showing off those dimples I had once thought were so sexy. Honestly, I'd rather hoped never to lay eyes on him again. What was he was doing here? Kenzie and Devon had mentioned nothing to me at all about him coming for the wedding. Although, knowing Kenzie, she probably worried that if I knew he was going to be here, I might not show up. Perhaps he wasn't even here for the wedding, I thought. It could just be a coincidence that he was staying in the same small town and same hotel for the weekend. At least, I hoped that was the case. I digested that idea and decided I would just ignore him, but as I stepped forward, Devon came out of the elevator and walked over to Declan. They did the same stupid fist bump thing they always used to do and exchanged some words. Declan's laugh rang through the lobby, and then before I knew it, Devon had disappeared. Guess I could kiss that idea goodbye.

  I blew out a breath. It didn't look like Declan was going to leave soon, and I'd have to face the music of sorts. I walked across the lobby toward the front desk when I heard my name. I turned in time to see Kenzie come running towards me. I didn't get any words out because she plowed into me, wrapped her arms around me, and pulled me in for a tight hug.

  "You're here. You made it just in time for the rehearsal dinner. I'm so glad you could make it for tonight."

  "Told you I would."

  "I know, but with your flight being a double layover, I just assumed you’d be late."

  Glancing back at the front desk, I silently wished the plane I'd been on had crashed to the ground with me in it instead of having to see Declan again. I was just about to ask her what he was doing here when she grabbed my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction.

  "You can check in later. First, you need to see the setup for the rehearsal dinner," she said excitedly.

  He stared at me from across the table, then he leaned in and whispered something to Devon, taking his eyes off me. He nodded in response to what Devon had said, and then those dark-blue eyes reverted to me as Devon glanced over at me. I watched as he picked up his fork and shoved a roasted potato into his mouth. Devon leaned in and said something, causing them both to laugh.

  He smiled in my direction, but I just rolled my eyes, picked up my wineglass, and turned my attention to something Kenzie was saying.

  The high-pitched tone of a spoon tapping on the side of the crystal wineglass pulled all of our attention, and our group quieted.

  Kenzie’s' mom stood at the head of the table smiling down on everyone. She cleared her throat before speaking. "We are so happy all of you could attend the wedding of Kenzie and Devon. I know some of you have travelled far, but know that both Kenzie and Devon are thrilled to have their closest friends by their sides for their special day," Kenzie's mother said as she turned to look at her husband.

  I reached across my plate and picked up my wineglass again, taking a sip of my favorite Moscato. As Alexandra went on talking about her daughter and future son-in-law, I watched Declan Brooks. There were no words to describe how much I hated him and couldn't figure out why the hell Kenzie would think it would be okay to invite him.

  As I sat there glaring at him, I felt a sharp jab in my side. I looked over at Kenzie, seeing her eyes bulging. "Stop it," she whispered tight-jawed, so not to interrupt her mother's speech.

  "What?" I mouthed back. "I'm not doing anything."

  She glanced over at Devon and shook her head and turned back to me. "You don't need to make it so blatantly obvious that you hate him."

  I shrugged and went back to drinking my wine, trying to ignore the fact that he was still sitting across from me.

  When the speeches were over and we had finished dessert, we all got up to go into the adjoining room to party the night away. I had been the first to take off and was just about to the door when Kenzie called me over to the side.

  "Harper, please do me a favor please and don't ruin my wedding."

  "What do you mean? Why would you think I would do that?"

  "Look, I'm not being a bridezilla or anything. I just don't want you to ruin my big day. It took a lot of planning, and I know your not thrilled about Declan being here."

  I blew out a breath. "I promise I won't ruin your big day. It's just so hard seeing him again. How was I supposed to know that Devon still talked to him after all this time? I guess it just would have been nice to have some sort of, oh, I don't know… a warning, maybe."

  "I know. Devon kept asking me if I'd told you. I guess I wanted you to be here so bad that I feared you would say no to me if you knew he was going to be the best man."

  "Best man?" I asked, shock lining my voice. "You mean he is going to be my partner all day tomorrow?"

  "Yes."

  I blew out a breath and tried to calm my nerves. "Look, I wouldn't have done that to you. I would have still come to the wedding. I would have said no to being the maid of honor, if I knew he would be paired with me for all the festivities, but I wouldn't have not come," I bit out, knowing that in a few short hours I would have to be attached to his side for the wedding.

  "Are you serious? You are my best friend. I wouldn't have allowed that to happen, but in all fairness to Declan, he is Devon's best friend."


  "Perhaps I will talk to him. You know, tell him not to get any idea’s, maybe get some closure so I can move on before the wedding."

  "No, no way. No closure until after the ceremony tomorrow. Better yet, no closure until we are on our way to the airport for our honeymoon. Then you can get as much closure as you like, as loud as you like, however you would like," she said, raising her eyebrows.

  "What is that look supposed to mean?"

  "What, you can't be serious. He is as hot as ever. Perhaps you'd like to take him for a spin or something," Kenzie said, jabbing me with her elbow and laughing.

  Her attempt at humor wasn't appreciated nor was it funny. There was no way in hell I was doing anything with Declan Brookes, except getting the closure I needed and deserved.

  I looked at Kenzie and smiled. "Fine, if I must wait."

  "Yes, you must. Now let’s go party the night away. It’s my last night as a single woman, you know."

  I let out a laugh. "You haven't been single since you were sixteen, and it’s never stopped you, but let’s go."

  Chapter 2

  Declan

  As the speeches went on, I sat remembering the conversation that I'd had with Devon and Kenzie, when they both warned me to be on my best behavior this weekend. I had told myself repeatedly that it wouldn’t be an issue that Harper was there, that I was completely over her, but the second she sat down across from me at the dinner table everything changed. I couldn't keep my eyes off her. She was as beautiful as she’d ever been. Her dark eyes still sparkled and danced when she laughed, and her soft, golden-brown hair, full of lush curls, still looked silken to the touch. The way her dress clung to her curves had me wanting to run my hands all over her body. Then she set her eyes on me, and the beautiful, sexy smile she wore washed away in an instant.