Her Christmas Surprise
Her Christmas Surprise
I'm not the sort of man who deserves a happy ending, not after the life I've led. But when I see Eve, I know I’ll need more. She lights up the world for me, like twinkling Christmas lights glinting off fresh snow.
When I hear she's being auctioned off to raise money for charity, I won't allow anyone else to win her. It has to be me, and when I win her, I whisk her away to my cabin and keep her all to myself.
But when my past comes knocking, Eve will have to decide if my sins are too dark for her to ever find her happily ever after in a man like me.
Her Christmas Surprise
Lucy Darling
Copyright © 2022 by Lucy Darling
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
“One friend in a storm is worth more than a thousand friends in sunshine.”
—Matshona Dhliwayo
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
Home for the Holidays
Chapter 1
About the Author
Also by Lucy Darling
1
Marco
I take a breath as I stare at Snow Hills Town Hall. This whole town is lit up brighter than any Christmas tree I’ve ever seen in my life. Every year, they win some silly award over it. I know this because I make it a habit to be aware of everything that’s going on in my surroundings. I might live out on the edge of the town of Snow Hills in my secluded cabin, but I keep up on things that happen in town.
It has absolutely nothing to do with my need for control or the mayor’s executive assistant that moved here three years ago. I’m pretty sure she came here just to drive me insane. Eve with her dark silky hair surrounding her heart-shaped face. A face that I know and have memorized every detail of. I’ve never seen eyes as green as hers. Or lips that look so soft and kissable.
I toss that thought from my head. This town is getting to me. Kissable lips? Fuck me. No, fuck her. That’s what I want but deny myself from having because the reality is a girl as beautiful as Eve has dreams and goals in her life.
She’s in politics, for christsake. I’ve offed a few politicians and some judges in my hay day. I have no guilt there. I only started to question my past life because of Eve. What would she think of it? Not that it matters. She’ll never know about any of it.
I’d never be a man she glanced at twice except for the fact that I stand out in a room by mere size. Not to mention the scar that cuts across my face. The town runs with different speculations of how I got it. They’ll never know. The only person who knows is the man who gave it to me, but he didn’t live long afterward. That was my past. Now my life is consumed with Eve.
We have shared a few words over the years. But the mere sight of her does things to me that invoke irrational thoughts and ideas. Emotions.
I don’t care for that one bit. Something about her pulls me back to the hunt, with her being my prey, but I don’t want to harm her. I want to take her for myself.
I came to Snow Hills for peace and quiet five years ago. I was able to drop off the map here. That peace had lasted for all of two years. The day Eve walked into this town, it went out the window. I’ve been unsettled ever since then, no matter how much I try to deny it. Each day, I become a bit more possessive and cross lines I shouldn’t.
It has been somewhat easy to avoid what she does to me since I don’t live in town. But this time, she’s gone too far. My feisty little Eve has lured me out of my cabin and straight to her. In the three years since Eve has been here, she’s become best friends with the mayor's daughter Liza, who runs the town's library. Liza is the reason the town looks like a holiday bomb went off inside of it.
The two of them are always together. Neither of them are known to date. At least I’ve never heard of them dating anyone. If I had, I’m not sure how that would have ended for the other man. Not good. I know that much.
The mere thought of Eve going out with someone boils my blood. If anything, one would guess them to be a couple as much as the two hang out. I know that’s not the case, though. They are somehow oblivious to the lure they hold over the single men of Snow Hills.
Eve and Liza are night and day when it comes to their personalities. Everything about Eve appeals to me. I think her smart mouth and quick wit is what has kept the men of Snow Hills at bay from trying to pursue her. Thank fuck for that.
I hear a few people whisper as they pass by, wondering what I’m doing here. I only ever come to town for supplies. At least that’s what everyone thinks. I’ve been here plenty of times without them knowing. I might be a giant motherfucker, but if I don’t want you to see me, then you won’t. Going unseen has become a bit harder with the newest resident of Snow Hills. Crane Douglas.
He isn’t as he appears. I know a professional when I see one. I’m not sure why he’s settled here in Snow Hills. I do know that his interest since he hit town is Liza. Her family is clean cut. I’m not sure why a professional would be here for them, unless he too has come to Snow Hills to lay low.
What are the odds of two men that come from the same type of world pick a small town like this one? I don’t believe in coincidences.
I picked the town because it was one of a handful of memories I can recall of my birth parents. They’d brought me here as a child. I remember laughing and having fun with them. We’d come for a long weekend, I believe. I was so young at the time that the memory is hazy, but when I got out of my line of work, knowing if I didn’t I’d end up dead sooner rather than later, this town had popped into my mind.
I’m not sure what Crane is up to, but I’m sure in time I’ll figure it out. I haven’t done too much poking around about him. The last thing I want to do is to alert him to me, but I suppose he and I will likely come face to face tonight at some point. He’s here for the very same reason I am: to get our girls, Liza and Eve. My Eve and Liza thought it would be cute to have a bachelorette auction at the annual holiday party to raise money for a charity. An idea that had been Eve’s.
I grit my teeth thinking back to the town hall meeting when she’d shouted the idea across the room. I might not attend the town hall meetings usually, but you bet your ass I see them all. I don’t miss an opportunity to see Eve.
It would be over everyone else’s dead body before I let another man win her for a date.
I don’t think Eve has any idea what she’s gotten herself into, but she’ll be finding out soon enough.
This year I’ll be treating myself to something special. Eve.
2
Eve
What the hell have I gotten myself into? I tried to pull a fast one on my best friend and ended up getting myself roped into this. The auction sounded like a wonderful idea when I shouted it across the town hall meeting. The second I’d seen the way Crane had been staring at my best friend Liza and the way she was blushing up a storm over it, I knew there was a spark there. I thought I’d have to nudge my friend along, but I was wrong. The two of them are already a thing.
Now I’m stuck being up for auction. I mean, don’t get me wrong, so is she, but she has Crane, who will bid on her and win. No way he’s letting someone else get a chance with Liza even if it’s only for a few hours of a date. Who am I going to get stuck with? Next time, I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut. I don’t even have someone in this town that I’m kind of interested in.
Lie.
Okay, maybe there is someone but he doesn’t count. He doesn’t know I’m alive and can barely be considered a resident of Snow Hills. Marco Marone. The man is every girl's wet dream come to life. Including that wicked scar that cuts through his eyebrow, which only makes him more mysterious and sexy.
I’ve crossed paths with him a few times. He never speaks, and when he does, it’s more of a grunted yes or no response to someone’s question. That’s if a person works up the nerve to ask him one. Again, that only adds to the whole mysterious thing he’s got going on.
Not gonna lie, I have tried to get his attention before when I’ve crossed his path at the grocery store. I thought once I’d caught his eye, but the man stared right through me. I don’t know why it bugged me so much. Why do I care? The man is almost twice my age. I’d know because working for the mayor, I have access to all of the town records. Since he bought a house here on a giant piece of land, I had some information on him but not much.
“You okay?” Liza nudges me with her elbow. She’s stunning tonight.
I still can’t believe I talked her into that dress. She and Crane might be a thing, but another nudge and the two of them are going to be done for. This dress is that final kick in my little plan. Liza still has a small fear in the back of her mind that Crane is only all over her because she picked up a creepy stalker, but I know Crane is all over her because he wants to be. Stalker or not.
“Just ready for this to be done.” I let out a long breath.
Why does my dress suddenly feel tighter? Where Liza is shining in gold, I went with black because I always go with black. I might speak my mind and draw attention when I need it. That doesn’t mean I want the spotlight on me. Male attention is a bit new to me.
I was what many would call an ugly duckling growing up. I didn’t blossom and come out of my shell ‘till college. When boys started to pay attention to me, I only got annoyed because I knew it was because of my looks and nothing more. Even when I took a trip back to my hometown, the boys that once picked on me about my glasses and braces were all trying to get in my pants.
We’re standing up on the stage behind the curtain as the mayor speaks to the residents. The auction is about to start.
“This was your idea,” Liza mutters under her breath as the curtains part. The whole town stares toward the stage. The mayor doesn’t get another word out before Crane is storming the stage. He doesn’t say a word. We all watch in shock as he plucks Liza up and carries her right off with him.
The mayor opens and closes her mouth. Liza is her daughter, after all, but I know she’s all for the Crane and Liza relationship. She’s already been making some wedding plans. I’d know because I’m at her side most days. We even have a bet between us at how high Liza would go for tonight. I guess we’re both out on that count. I’ll still make sure Crane pays something. There are no freebies around here.
“Let the bidding begin!” I announce, bringing the attention back to why we’re here and not on what Crane is likely doing with Liza right now. I hope he doesn’t rip that dress.
“Right.” The mayor shakes her head and has Erica come up first. Liza was supposed to go first. I worried that a lot might not bid in hopes of getting a date with her, so I thought it best for her to go first so bids would get spread out.
Erica steps forward, and the auction begins. I really should have put myself second. I hadn’t accounted for having to stand on the stage this long. If it’s a speech or conference, I’m more than comfortable to take center stage to do my job. This, however, feels like I’m on display. I suppose that’s because I am. I mean men are bidding money on us.
My eyes roam over the crowd when I get the sensation someone is staring right at me. I try to shake it because of course people are staring. That’s the whole point, but this feels different.
I let out a small gasp under my breath when my eyes lock with Marco’s. He’s standing at the very back. His arms folded over his broad chest. He’s not staring at me. He’s glaring.
He looks different than normal. He doesn’t have a flannel or plain black or white shirt on. He’s in a buttoned-up shirt tonight. It’s a soft blue. It only makes his dark blue eyes seem even darker like the deepest depths of the ocean.
“Eve.”
“What?” I jerk my attention from Marco. I can’t help but wonder why in the hell he’s here. Is he with someone? Why else would he be here unless a girlfriend pulled him out? That would mean he’s dating a person from town. How is that information not all over the place? I’m always up to date on town gossip. Really, it’s part of my job to know the tea in case the Mayor needs the heads-up about something. I’ve obviously failed on this one.
“Can you step forward?” The mayor motions with her eyes for me to get my butt moving.
“Oh.” I go to the center of the stage, my face flushing. How many times had she called my name? Half the girls are already gone from the stage. Jeez, how long was I in a staring contest with Marco? I shouldn’t be surprised that I got lost in those gorgeous eyes of his. Now I’m making it a point to look anywhere but at him.
“We’ll start the bidding at—”
A deep voice from the back of the room cuts the mayor off. “Five thousand.”
This time, my gasp is loud as my eyes fly back to Marco’s. He did not just bid on me. Did he? That was his voice. I may not have heard it a ton, but I could never forget the deep, husky sound of it.
“Well, then.” The mayor laughs. “I don’t think any of us saw that coming, Marco. The lovely Eve is all yours.” She bangs her gavel before my brain can even process what just happened. The sound echoes in my ears.