Snowed inn for christmas, p.1
Snowed Inn for Christmas,
p.1
Snowed Inn for Christmas
A Christmas Anthology
Fiona Daveport
Frankie Love
Rochelle Paige
Elle Christensen
Hope Ford
Lucy Darling
Ella Goode
Layla Frost
Brynne Asher
Copyright © 2021 Elle Christensen, Brynne Asher, Lucy Darling, Hope Ford, Layla Frost, Ella Goode, Frankie Love, Rochelle Paige
Cover design by Elle Christensen - Clover Book Designs
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.
Any resemblance to actual persons is accidental.
This book is a work of fiction.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Prologue
Lincoln and Bethenny
Fiona Davenport
Chapter 1
Lincoln
Chapter 2
Bethenny
Chapter 3
Lincoln
Chapter 4
Bethenny
Chapter 5
Lincoln
Chapter 6
Bethenny
Chapter 7
Lincoln
Fiona Davenport Books and Bio
Nick and Quinn
Frankie Love
Chapter 1
Nicholas and Quinn
Chapter 2
Nicholas and Quinn
Chapter 3
Nicholas and Quinn
Chapter 4
Nicholas and Quinn
Chapter 5
Nicholas and Quinn
Chapter 6
Nicholas and Quinn
Frankie Love Books and Bio
Gavin and Tory
Rochelle Paige
Chapter 1
Tory
Chapter 2
Gavin
Chapter 3
Tory
Chapter 4
Gavin
Chapter 5
Tory
Chapter 6
Gavin
Chapter 7
Tory
Chapter 8
Gavin
Rochelle Paige Books and Bio
Caleb and Raven
Elle Christensen
Chapter 1
Caleb
Chapter 2
Raven
Chapter 3
Caleb
Chapter 4
Raven
Chapter 5
Caleb
Chapter 6
Raven
Chapter 7
Caleb
Chapter 8
Raven
Chapter 9
Caleb
Chapter 10
Raven
Chapter 11
Caleb
Chapter 12
Raven
Chapter 13
Raven
Elle Christensen Books and Bio
Levi and Georgina
Hope Ford
Chapter 1
Georgina
Chapter 2
Levi
Chapter 3
Georgina
Chapter 4
Levi
Chapter 5
Georgina
Chapter 6
Levi
Chapter 7
Georgina
Hope Ford Books and Bio
Saint and Marley
Lucy Darling
Chapter 1
Saint
Chapter 2
Marley
Chapter 3
Saint
Chapter 4
Marley
Chapter 5
Saint
Chapter 6
Marley
Chapter 7
Saint
Chapter 8
Marley
Chapter 9
Saint
Chapter 10
Marley
Chapter 11
Saint
Chapter 12
Marley
Lucy Darling Books and Bio
Rowan and Charlie
Ella Goode
Chapter 1
Rowan
Chapter 2
Charlee
Chapter 3
Rowan
Chapter 4
Charlee
Chapter 5
Rowan
Chapter 6
Charlee
Chapter 7
Rowan
Chapter 8
Charlee
Chapter 9
Rowan
Chapter 10
Charlee
Ella Goode Books and Bio
Eli and Posey
Layla Frost
Chapter 1
Posey
Chapter 2
Posey
Chapter 3
Posey
Chapter 4
Eli
Chapter 5
Eli
Chapter 6
Posey
Chapter 7
Posey
Chapter 8
Posey
Chapter 9
Posey
Chapter 10
Posey
Chapter 11
Posey
Chapter 12
Posey
Layla Frost Books and Bio
Logan and Demi
Brynne Asher
Chapter 1
Demi
Chapter 2
Logan
Chapter 3
Demi
Chapter 4
Logan
Chapter 5
Demi
Chapter 6
Logan
Chapter 7
Demi
Chapter 8
Logan
Chapter 9
Demi
Chapter 10
Logan
Chapter 11
Demi
Chapter 12
Demi
Chapter 13
Logan
Chapter 14
Demi
Chapter 15
Logan
Chapter 16
Demi
Chapter 17
Logan
Chapter 18
Demi
Chapter 19
Logan
Chapter 20
Demi
Chapter 21
Logan
Chapter 22
Demi
Chapter 23
Demi
Brynne Asher Books and Bio
Epilogue
Prologue
Saint Nick
When one has unlimited magic, things go a hell of a lot faster than people think. Such as checking the naughty/nice list twice—the movies made it look like it took the entire year! In reality, the elves and I checked it twice on December twenty-third, then they monitored for any incidents that popped up on our naughty/nice radar until the big day arrived.
Just because someone was a perfect angel for three hundred and sixty-three days of the year didn’t mean they could act like a devil on Christmas Eve and still receive presents the following morning.
So, with the elves on top of toy production and the list a breeze to check twice, I visited the small ski town that sat at the base of a mountain. My gift to nine special people in Winter Falls amused me just thinking about it, but I held in my laughter, making sure my stomach didn’t bounce around and give me away. I couldn’t risk Mrs. Claus finding out about my meddling. She’d put a stop to the whole business and insist I “leave the matchmaking to Cupid.”
Cupid? Ridiculous. He might make people fall in love, but I made it magical—and what could be more magical than love at Christmas?
I sat in the back corner observing the meeting room in the Town Hall, listening to the many conversations until Bethenny Andersen, the town’s mayor, called out for quiet. Some of the chatter ceased, but not enough, so she stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled like her brother taught her when she was eight. Bethenny had been a spitfire as a kid, but she’d never ended up on the naughty list, mainly because her antics were usually part of an effort to be equal to her brothers.
Bethenny needed someone to take charge and refuse to let her compete with them, give her the ability to settle into herself, rather than always trying to be what everyone needed. It was going to be so entertaining to watch Lincoln deal with her fire, but I had no doubt I’d picked the right man for her.
The noise immediately died down when she whistled, and she smiled as she stepped behind a podium, picking up a clipboard. “Okay, people. You know why you’re here. We have a major blizzard approaching, and it’s expected to hit a few days after Christmas.”
Hmm…no, that wouldn’t do for my purposes. So with a thought and a burst of magic, I pushed the storm a little faster so it would hit unexpectedly, then added a little more snow because being snowed in would help drive the couples together. A sly smile curved my mouth, but my fluffy white beard hid it from anyone who might notice my presence.
“I know you’ve all been throug
h this many times,” Bethenny continued. “But preparation is key, so we’ll continue to do this every time.” She rolled her eyes when there were several groans from the crowd. And I don’t want to hear any grumbling.” She narrowed her eyes and pointed at a tall man with brown hair and green eyes. “I’m talking to you, Gavin.”
Gavin winked, then gave her a snappy salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
A ripple of laughter floated across the crowd. Few people were more prepared for emergency situations on the mountain than the head of the ski patrol for the Winter Falls Ski Resort. He’d always been a planner and often sent me his Christmas wish list months before the big day. I quietly chuckled when I thought about how unprepared he was for Tory.
Bethenny laughed before her eyes dropped to the podium, and she picked up a pen. “Let’s add a few more patrols to each shift and make sure we stock the shacks with plenty of essentials, blankets, and medical supplies.”
“I’ll pull in some extra help to check all of them before tomorrow night,” Gavin replied.
“I’ll help,” Levi James, a ski instructor at the resort, announced. “We’ll cancel classes for those days, and I’ll be in my cabin by the lodge if they need extra help during the storm.” Of course, Levi would offer that. Even when he was younger, he was always the first one to step in when needed. He’s a big man with an equally big heart.
Raven Ashley, the owner of the Snowed Inn and Lodge, laughed and grinned. “Wow. I can already hear the breaking hearts of all the women are booked with you,” she said to the tall, handsome, tattooed man.
Levi gave her a dry look and grunted, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His tone had an edge of annoyance because he knew exactly what she meant. I’d watched Levi try to find Mrs. Right for years, and I couldn’t help but be a little smug over finding her for him. Gina would fill his heart, and he would mend hers.
“Sure you don’t,” Raven teased, laughter dancing in her clear blue eyes.
A snort of laughter drew my attention to a pretty girl with strawberry blonde hair. Quinn Merrit rolled her pale blue eyes and smirked. “You’re one to talk.”
“Hmmm?” Raven replied innocently.
“Like you aren’t constantly chasing the guys away with a stick.”
Raven shrugged and tucked wayward strands of her long, straight blonde hair behind her ear. “Not with a stick. Bed bugs.” She looked so serious, it took me a minute to realize she was joking, and I sighed with relief. I would have been very disappointed to put her on the naughty list this year. I should have known; her humor was one thing I’d most enjoyed about her as a child. The lists she presented to me when she came to my workshop had always made me smile. As she grew older, she never lost her love for Christmas magic. She was a perfect match for Caleb; he needed magic and laughter in his life.
“Quinn,” Bethenny spoke up, checking something off of her clipboard. “I’ve sent word through the town that the food bank will need extra stock for Christmas and the blizzard. Delivery requests are bound to pick up. Do you need any help?”
“We’ve got it handled,” Quinn said with a smile. “We arranged for extra supplies for the market, too. Grandad and I will make sure no one goes hungry.”
Quinn knew the importance of family—her grandparents took her in after she lost her parents. She had a big heart, a passion for the local food bank, and a love of family and this town. Precisely what Nick needed after being in a job that had sucked the life out of him for so long. My lips curved up as I pictured what it would be like the first time they met. He wouldn’t be able to resist her for even a moment.
“Joel!” Bethenny called, drawing my eyes to an older man—Joel Benjamin, the Sheriff of Winter Falls—standing against the far wall talking to a short, curvy deputy, Marley Hudson. They both stopped and turned to give the mayor their attention. “Already on it, Bethenny,” he told her with a smile.
“Yep,” Marley agreed. “We’ve already sent a reminder to anyone who lives on the mountain to replenish their food and firewood supply. It will be all hands on deck during the blizzard. We’ll have patrols doing regular sweeps of the rural roads to keep an eye out for accidents or stranded people as long as their chains and SUVs can handle it. The Sheriff and I will be at the station and on-call twenty-four-seven until it passes.”
I put a hand over my mouth to hide my chuckle. Marley wouldn’t be coming to anyone’s rescue during the storm…except Saint. The deputy wouldn’t be able to stop him from stealing her heart.
Growing up, Marley had always been focused on making sure everyone else’s Christmas was perfect. Having a bundle of siblings meant she sometimes got lost in the shuffle. But she never complained and always kept a smile on her face. This Christmas, she was going to find out what it was like to have someone focus on giving her the holiday she’d always dreamed of.
“Fantastic,” Bethenny said. She lifted her pencil to make another check, but her gaze strayed to the brunette woman sitting in a chair near the sheriff with her eyes glued to her phone. “Demi!”
Joel’s daughter, Demi, paused whatever she’d been doing on her phone—probably hacking some secure government server just to mess with them. As a child, all Demi wanted for Christmas was the newest video game and a snowboard. But she was as smart as a whip and ended up using her hacking talents for good instead of going to the dark side. Though there were a few years there, I didn’t know where she’d land. I worried about her securing herself a permanent spot on the naughty list. She’d been on it a few times, but I always ended up letting her skate by with presents because her heart was in the right place…mostly. Like when she had that online dating mishap, hacked Logan’s company, and made a fool of him. I didn’t hold that against her; he had it coming. Besides, it had given me the perfect opportunity to set these two up for a little alone time. They both needed to realize there was more to life than work.
“What’s up, Bethenny?” Demi asked, cocking her head curiously.
“Raven will owe you a day of painting in that fixer-upper of yours if you could help her with a…um, little problem. I’ll let her tell you so I can maintain plausible deniability.”
I should have expected Raven would go to Demi for information on the company trying to buy The Snowed Inn and Lodge. Luckily, Demi would be snowed in—pun intended—and unable to help.
“As long as we’re painting it bright pink, I’m in,” Posey Danson piped up from the seat next to Demi with a big grin.
Demi rolled her blue eyes and ignored her friend. “Sure thing, Raven. Let’s talk after the meeting,” Demi said, then turned to Posey and narrowed her eyes, pointing her finger. “You’ve caused enough trouble, Pose. Stay away from my paint swatches.”
Posey grinned and shrugged. “If you want my help, you pay the price.”
Demi rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. “I’m doing you a favor by allowing you to help, Posey. You spend too much time sitting in your recording studio with your audiobooks. Your body is going to atrophy.”
