Christmas Kiss From The Sheriff

Christmas Kiss From The Sheriff
Kathryn Albright

A Christmas to remember!Clear Spring’s new schoolteacher Gemma Starling feels as if she’s been given a fresh start. So long as no one discovers her dark secret – she once shot a man in self-defence!Sheriff Craig Parker has forsworn love, but delightful Miss Starling intrigues him. And when events at the school turn dangerous, Craig won’t let her face it alone. Gemma might just be the one woman he could ever love, but will the secret she’s hiding tear them apart or bring them together by Christmas?

A Christmas to remember!

Clear Springs’ new schoolteacher, Gemma Starling, feels as if she’s been given a fresh start. So long as no one discovers her dark secret—she once shot a man in self-defense!

Sheriff Craig Parker has forsworn love, but delightful Miss Starling intrigues him. And when events at the school turn dangerous, Craig won’t let her face it alone. Gemma might just be the one woman he could ever love, but will the secret she’s hiding tear them apart or bring them together by Christmas?

“Maybe you have a guardian angel.”

“No,” she said. If she had an angel watching over her she would be safe and comfortable at home. Perhaps by now she would even have finished law school. “I’ve found I must depend on myself and my wits.”

He snorted lightly.

“Glad you haven’t had any trouble,” he said. “Part of my job is to make sure people in town stay safe.”

“I thought your job was to uphold the law.”

“Figure it’s the same thing.”

His words only served to make her feel guilty. How would he feel if he knew Clear Springs harbored a fugitive from justice?

Author Note (#ub6a8a938-508a-54d5-9550-fa5ae0266ab7)

Gemma, my heroine in this story, strives to do her best—even though things happen to derail her plans. Isn’t that how it is for many of us? Unexpected obstacles thwart our best-laid plans. Some are good. Some are difficult. How we choose to face them is up to us, but always the choice takes us on a new path.

I hope you enjoy Gemma and Craig’s story, which is set in Southern California’s gold country. If you have read my other stories you may recognise some familiar names and faces in Clear Springs.

I love to hear from my readers. You can write to me at kathryn@kathrynalbright.com.

Christmas Kiss from the Sheriff

Kathryn Albright

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

KATHRYN ALBRIGHT writes American-set historical romance for Mills & Boon. From her first breath she has had a passion for stories that celebrate the goodness in people. She combines her love of history and her love of stories to write novels of inspiration, endurance, and hope. Visit her at kathrynalbright.com (http://www.kathrynalbright.com) and on Facebook.

Books by Kathryn Albright

Mills & Boon Historical Romance

Heroes of San Diego

The Angel and the Outlaw

The Gunslinger and the Heiress

Familiar Stranger in Clear Springs

Christmas Kiss from the Sheriff

Stand-Alone Novels

Texas Wedding for Their Baby’s Sake

The Rebel and the Lady

Wild West Christmas

‘Dance with a Cowboy’

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk (http://millsandboon.co.uk).

I’d like to dedicate this story to my sister-in-law, Marlana—a constant supporter of my writing ever since I married into the family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for always being there for me through life’s ups and downs. You light up my life. Love you!

I’d also like to acknowledge my editor, Julia Williams, for her encouragement and help in honing this story to a much better version of the original draft. Thank you for all your hard work, Julia!

Contents

Cover (#u221bab5c-f64b-55cc-aa3d-f390c7f71f67)

Back Cover Text (#uc557f214-fe19-5284-8631-a47bca91ae61)

Introduction (#u52eeea79-3800-5bbf-85b8-7006feb0e037)

Author Note (#ua747794c-7fd1-5fc7-81bb-e4d2f635dfd3)

Title Page (#u0b16b8b0-5eb0-5ba2-bdac-855d84a34fe0)

About the Author (#u8363ef3f-7b9c-5e6c-b71e-c3a3b6568510)

Dedication (#ued8ba71e-7924-50e4-856e-2c2db0f0c01b)

Chapter One (#u978d1c1a-890b-58e8-bc3c-f33609ad7f1b)

Chapter Two (#u81b069d2-adea-5dba-9479-0ad59b246c7b)

Chapter Three (#ua2f33d57-6433-50f4-aa9e-8ebbd96243d2)

Chapter Four (#u268c5acc-a487-5371-a99b-60ef5b1810be)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)