Christmas Chaos by Jennifer Conner

Author:Jennifer Conner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Books to Go Now, eBook Publsiher, ebook, phone apps, Droid, authors, short stories, short story, author, writers, writing, Amazon, Smashwords, PDF, wwwbookstogonow.com, digital publisher, Seattle, romance, romantic, story, stories, ebook, e-book, pdf, lit, html, publish, publishing, publisher, publication, publications, submit, submission, submissions, buy, buy here, purchase, sale, shop, shopping, download, read, reads, reader, reading, author, authors, digital, electronic, book, books, romance, romantic, best seller, bestseller, recommended read, award, award winning, free, links, fantasies, mobi pocket, fictionwise, contemporary, action, adventure, comedy, humour, contemporary, marketing, yahoo, myspace, bebo, uk, usa, american, britain, british, au, australia
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Josiane tried to subdue her shivers while they walked up the drive. They stood in front of her parent’s small suburban brick house decorated in gaudy, bright Christmas lights. She handed him the basket and opened the door.

Even with three expansion leaves, the dinner table was cramped. “Josie! We were worried sick about you ,” Her older sister, Ellen, cried running to meet them with a hug.

After Ellen took her coat, Carsten handed her his. “I know this sounds like a tall tale, but I went to pick up Josie at work and the elevator fuse blew. We were stuck for an hour.” He pulled one of the champagne bottles from the basket. “Will this work as a piece offering?”

Picking her up? That was a nice white lie.

There were two seats saved at the table. She started to sit in the one closest to her father, but Carsten offered her the next one in. Didn’t he know that was the hot seat?

“Everyone , this is Carsten.” Everyone greeted him as they continued to dish up their plates.

“Wow, I didn’t know people had real Christmas dinners any longer.” He smiled at her mother. “It looks like a Norman Rockwell painting.”

“Why, thank you,” her mom answered, obviously flattered with the compliment.

“So…” her father picked up his wine glass and tipped it Carsten’s way. “You’re the first man my little Josie has brought home for our traditional dinner. Tell me about yourself.”

“Dad!” she protested. “Let the poor man eat.”

“No worries,” Carsten said as he dished out a large helping of her grandmothers mashed potatoes. “I was born and raised here and the first male of my family to go to Vassar. I went through their dual degree Engineering program with Dartmouth.”

Her father eyed him. “What is it that you work in now? Are you still in engineering?”

Engineering? She knew so little about him. Josiane tipped her chin higher and glared at her father. “Carsten’s in construction. He’s working on tiling his brother’s bathroom. It’s beautiful. You should see it.”

Carsten added, “That’s to keep me busy during the holidays. I shut down the main office for this next week so everyone can be with their families”

“What’s the name of your company?” her father asked.

“Harrell Construction.”

“Harrell Construction?” Her father asked as his eyes widened.

It was Josiane’s turn to gawk as she watched him shovel in another gravy -clad bite. “The Harrell Construction that built my office building, and the one next to it, and the one down the block?”

He smiled at her. “Yeah. But, I like the one your office is in the best. I like the angles and silver windows, it plays well with the sunlight. I’m proud of that. That was my design.”

“You said you were in construction,” she choked out.

“I am.”

“You were wearing Carhartts .”

When he saw the look on her face, he put his fork down. “Did I do something wrong?” He looked around the table.

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