“Burke...” she started to protest, but his lips, a scant inch from hers, moved closer, completely distracting her.

  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you look in the light from the tree?” he asked before enfolding her in a close embrace that assured her he had no plans to let her go.

  Surrendering, she smiled against his neck. “No, but I hope you’ll tell me,” she whispered.

  “Ellen, I know we haven’t had much time for dating, at least when it wasn’t chaperoned by a bossy six-year-old or one of my four-legged friends, but if you haven’t realized it yet, I’m crazy about you. Since you bumped into my life...” He pulled back and grinned at her. “Nothing has been the same.”

  “And that’s a good thing?” she asked, a teasing spark mingling with the yearning in her eyes.

  “A very good thing.” Burke bracketed her face with his hands. “I love you, Ellen, with all my heart.”

  “I love you, too, Burke. With all my heart and then some.”

  He grinned again and pulled her closer. “Merry Christmas, my lovely little elf.”

  “Merry Christmas, cowboy.” Her arms wrapped around his neck while her heart wrapped around their future — together.

  Peppermint Cookies

  These cookies are easy to make and so fun, especially if you add

  crushed peppermint sprinkles to the tops!

  Peppermint Cookies

  1 vanilla cake mix

  1 small box instant candy cane pudding

  2 eggs

  1/2 cup butter, softened

  1 cup white chocolate chips

  1 cup peppermint crunch baking chips

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Mix cake mix, pudding, eggs, and butter until well blended. Stir in chips. Drop rounded spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake about six to eight minutes, until cookies are just set (if you poke them, they still give a little but aren’t smooshy).

  Remove from oven and let cool in pan for a few minutes. At this point, your house will have the most delicious peppermint aroma.

  For a bit of fancy, drizzle the tops with vanilla frosting (warm approximately half a cup of frosting in the microwave for about 12 seconds) and sprinkle crushed peppermint on top

  NOTE: If you can’t find candy cane pudding, use vanilla pudding and a dash of peppermint flavoring. If you can’t find peppermint baking chips, use crushed peppermint sticks as a substitute.

  Yield: About three dozen.

  A Note from the Author

  Thank you, dear reader, for coming along on the journey Ellen and Burke took in Saving Mistletoe. Don’t you just love it when two people come together not just out of a sweet romance, but also for a grand purpose (like helping a little girl find her way back to her father). It was such fun to create these characters, including Sugar Bear and Lovey the dog. If you enjoyed the story, I’d be so appreciative if you’d take just a minute to leave a review.

  Interested in learning more about Tara and Brett? Read their story in Taste of Tara.

  And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You’ll be able to keep up on the latest releases, enter contests, receive recipes, and be the first to hear exciting news! http://tinyurl.com/shannasnewsletter

  Books by Shanna Hatfield

  FICTION

  HISTORICAL

  Baker City Brides

  Tad’s Treasure

  Crumpets and Cowpies

  Thimbles and Thistles

  Corsets and Cuffs

  Bobbins and Boots

  Pendleton Petticoats

  Dacey

  Aundy

  Caterina

  Ilsa

  Marnie

  Lacy

  Bertie

  Millie

  Hardman Holidays

  The Christmas Bargain

  The Christmas Token

  The Christmas Calamity

  The Christmas Vow

  The Christmas Quandary

  Hearts of the War

  Garden of Her Heart

  Home of Her Heart

  CONTEMPORARY

  Blown Into Romance

  Learnin’ The Ropes

  Love at the 20-Yard Line

  QR Code Killer

  Rose

  Saving Mistletoe

  Taste of Tara

  Grass Valley Cowboys

  The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan

  The Cowboy’s Spring Romance

  The Cowboy’s Summer Love

  The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall

  The Cowboy’s New Heart

  The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye

  Holiday Brides

  Valentine Bride

  Rodeo Romance

  The Christmas Cowboy

  Wrestlin’ Christmas

  Capturing Christmas

  Barreling Through Christmas

  Chasing Christmas

  Silverton Sweethearts

  The Coffee Girl

  The Christmas Crusade

  Untangling Christmas

  The Women of Tenacity

  Prelude

  Heart of Clay

  Country Boy vs. City Girl

  Not His Type

  CHILDREN’S BOOKS

  Steve the Mule

  NONFICTION

  Farm Girl

  Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller

  Recipes of Love

  Savvy Entertaining

  Savvy Autumn Entertaining

  Savvy Holiday Entertaining

  Savvy Spring Entertaining

  Savvy Summer Entertaining

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield spent ten years as a newspaper journalist before moving into the field of marketing and public relations. Sharing the romantic stories she dreams up in her head is a perfect outlet for her love of writing, reading, and creativity. She and her husband, lovingly referred to as Captain Cavedweller, reside in the Pacific Northwest.

  Shanna loves to hear from readers. Connect with her online:

  Blog: shannahatfield.com

  Facebook: Shanna Hatfield’s Page

  Shanna Hatfield’s Hopeless Romantics Group

  Pinterest: Shanna Hatfield

  Follow me BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shanna-hatfield

  Email: shanna@shannahatfield.com

  If you’d like to know more about the characters in any of her books,

  visit the Book Characters page on her website

  or check out her Book Boards on Pinterest.

 

 

  Shanna Hatfield, Saving Mistletoe

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on GrayCity.Net
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