Once Upon a Christmas Kiss: Cozy Christmas Collection by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781953396426
Published: 2023-10-02T18:30:00+00:00

Susan Carlisle is the author of over 40 books of fiction and nonfiction. She writes romance for HarperCollins’s Harlequin imprint medical line. Her heroes are strong, vibrant man and the woman that challenge them. She loves castles, traveling, afternoon tea and reads voraciously. Get to know Susan at www.SusanCarlisle.com

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Once Upon a Christmas Secret

TERRA WEISS

Chapter One

His name is Asher. Right? Or is it Ashton? Oh, no! I’m completely blanking—clearly, I’m nervous. Anyway, it doesn’t matter because this date is over. I mean, zero chemistry. Zip.

I cock my head, studying him. In fairness, he does look like his profile picture. Brown wavy hair. Nerd glasses, but in an ironic way. Tall. A lawyer, like me. I mean, that’s not nothing. I should really give him a chance.

Asher-Ashton takes a hefty swig of his extra hot eggnog latte loaded with nutmeg and whipped cream before letting out a long, “Mmmm.” Then a big, “Ahhh.”

I shift in my chair. Why did I decide to meet another Binder match? Why?

As Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas plays in the background of Queen Bean, my go-to coffee shop below my apartment in Atlanta, I know exactly why.

The holidays. I didn’t want to spend them alone, especially this year.

Asher-Ashton sets his cup down, and there’s whipped cream on his nose when he says, “Look, I want to fast-track this thing, Dakota.”

“Dawson,” I correct, blinking. I’m offended that he’s forgotten my name, and the irony is not lost on me.

“Oh, that’s right.” He barks out a laugh. “I’m also meeting up with a Dakota later, so it’s hard to keep it all straight. Know what I mean?”

My fingers twitch, overwhelmed with the urge to hit the “/tp” keys to teleport. Clearly, I’ve been playing too much Minecraft. I punch it out on my lap. /-t-p! /-t-p! /-t-p!

I smile and say, “I do. You’re an in-demand fella.”

“I absolutely am. Anyway, Dawson, let’s get right to it.” He taps his fingers together. “I want two kids, one of each, and I’d like the boy to have my name. He’ll be the second since, clearly, I’m the first.” Another bark of laughter. “But you can name the girl.” He flashes a car salesperson smile while pointing at me, the cream still on his nose.

“Generous.” This time, my sarcasm is thinly veiled.

“I try to be. I believe the woman should have a fifty percent say, even on the man’s specialties.” He sits back and stretches.

This is where I do what I’ve practiced a dozen times—say the words:

It’s been really nice meeting you, but it appears we are looking for different things. Best of luck—I’m sure you’ll find everything you’re looking for. Goodbye, Asher-Ashton.

Okay, I’ll leave the name off since I can’t remember it. But I should say the rest.

Like right now. Say it! Do it, Dawson!

My mouth opens, but my mother’s voice appears in my head. Ladies hold their tongues.

Dread skitters up my spine, and my mouth goes bone dry. As an adult, I realize my mother couldn’t have been more arcane.

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