Her Holiday Prince Charming

Her Holiday Prince Charming
Christine Flynn

All Rory Linfield wants is to give her little boy a perfect Christmas. A new job and new home would be nice, too! So when a mysterious benefactor asks her to manage a shop in a picturesque seashore town, she eagerly accepts. The only catch? Her super gruff – and super sexy! – new boss.The last thing bachelor Erik Sullivan needs to deal with is an inexperienced "businesswoman." Especially one whose gentle manner and vulnerable allure awaken feelings he'd rather let lie. No, it would be easier to keep his distance, because Rory and her son remind him all too much of things he once wanted, but couldn’t have.But then, this holiday season seems to be full of surprises… perhaps even a family under his tree?

For a moment Rory couldn’t say a word.

She couldn’t believe she was actually where she had so badly wanted to be. In Erik’s arms. For some strange reason, her throat had suddenly gone raw.

She swallowed, then took a deep breath. “Erik?” she finally said. “Thank you.”

“For holding you?”

“For all of it. But, yes. For this, too.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked when she started to cry.

“Nothing. Honest,” she insisted. “For the first time in…forever there isn’t a thing wrong.”

“Then why tears?”

Because of what you let me feel, she thought. “Because I’m tired,” was easier to admit.

She felt his lips against the top of her head. “Then, go to sleep.”

“I don’t want to. I don’t want to miss you holding me.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’ll make me forget why I shouldn’t do this,” he murmured, and brushed his mouth over hers.

The Hunt For Cinderella: Seeking Prince Charming

Her Holiday

Prince Charming

Christine Flynn

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

CHRISTINE FLYNN admits to being interested in just about everything, which is why she considers herself fortunate to have turned her interest in writing into a career. She feels that a writer gets to explore it all and, to her, exploring relationships—especially the intense, bittersweet or even lighthearted relationships between men and women—is fascinating.

For the lovely ladies

who have made the “Hunt” happen,

and everyone who believes in the fairy tale.

Contents

Prologue (#ub89e3bcb-d71a-5a90-b00c-83e51c97a1a0)

Chapter One (#ub65bc3fb-080d-5e03-9fef-a0f9c10b5ca4)

Chapter Two (#u9b044048-e719-5961-b819-dcea2fd473bd)

Chapter Three (#uf4d7f608-5107-5767-85e0-f0879b01665e)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue

“What’s on your Christmas list this year? No matter how big or how small, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at Seattle’s one-stop answer to all your holiday—”

With a quick flick of the dial, Rory silenced the cheerful voice suddenly booming from her car radio. In an attempt to drown out her worries while she waited to pick up her son from kindergarten, she’d turned the music to a decibel she’d never have considered had her five-year-old been in the vehicle.

The ad had just brought to mind the one thing she’d been desperately trying not to think about.

She’d hoped to make the holiday special for her little boy this year. Not just special, but after last year’s unquestionably awful Christmas, something wonderful. Magical.

As of three days ago, however, she was no longer sure how she would keep a roof over their heads, much less put a tree under it. Due to downsizing, her telecommuting services as a legal transcriptionist for Hayes, Bleaker & Stein were no longer required. She’d needed that job to pay for little things like food and gas and to qualify for a mortgage.

Without a job, she had no hope of buying the little Cape Cod she’d thought so perfect for her and little Tyler. She had no hope of buying or renting any house at all. Since the sale of the beautiful home she’d shared with her husband closed next week, that left her four days to find an apartment and a job that would help her pay for it.

A quick tap ticked on her driver’s side window.

Through the foggy glass, a striking blonde wearing studious-looking horn-rimmed glasses and winter-white fur smiled at her. The woman didn’t look at all familiar to Rory. Thinking she must be the mom of an older student, since she knew all the moms in the kindergarten class, she lowered her window and smiled back.

Chill air rushed into the car as the woman bent at the waist to make eye contact. “You’re Aurora Jo Linfield?”

Rory hesitated. The only time she ever used her full name was on legal documents. And she rarely used Aurora at all. “I am.”