Title: Eggnog Kisses
Author: Mireille Chester
Release Date: December 2nd 2014
It’s been six months since Kaley’s fiancé called
things off, disappearing with barely an explanation, and the thought of
spending Christmas alone is causing feelings of hurt and loneliness to
ruin her holiday cheer. Tall, dark, quiet, and ever the gentleman, her
next door neighbor has been sneaking into her thoughts more often than
not lately. When she decides to ask him to go to a Christmas party on a
spur of the moment whim, she has no idea she’s about to unleash a whole
new dimension on her usually normal life.
Born
in Quelondain, Sean is no stranger to a broken heart. Though it’s been
years since the one he loved fated to his best friend, the ache is
still present and crossing over to the other world hasn’t helped like
he’d hoped it would. When Kaley asks him to accompany her to a
Christmas party his gut tells him to stay away. It’s not that he isn’t
attracted or tempted, but how is he supposed to explain his past and
what he is. Of course, it’s just one evening, right? What could
possibly happen in one night?
Two broken hearts…
Two worlds…
One fate…
She managed to get into her
apartment while keeping a curious JJ from escaping. The fluffy white
cat purred and rubbed himself against her ankles.
“Hey, bud. Did
you miss me?” Kaley went to the cupboard and pulled out a few
Whiskas treats for him. She looked around her small apartment and
suddenly, she didn’t want to be there alone. “I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t bother putting
on shoes before closing her door behind her. Sean answered his door
and smiled at the sight of her.
“What can I do for you,
neighbor?”
“I…” This was
stupid.
“So, what brings you
over here?”
I
just…” Kaley’s good mood vanished.
His smile
softened. “First Christmas since Gale left?”
She took a deep breath and
blew it out of her nose. “It’s stupid, I know.”
Sean shook his
head. “Not at all. I know the feeling. I
wasn’t engaged, mind you, but my first holiday after my girlfriend left I was a
wreck. We’d been together four years.”
“I’m sorry.” She
looked at the ground. “What happened?”
He cocked his head to the
side. “I was just about to have a rum and eggnog. Want
one?”
She was tempted to turn him
down, but curiosity got the better of her. “Sure.”
He held the door opened
wider so she could get in and directed her to the couch. “It was
your typical breakup. We were young and life had other plans for
us.”
She watched as he mixed the
drinks and brought them over. “Thanks.” She took a sip
and he took a long swallow of his drink. “Anyway, it wrecked me when
she left.”
“What did you do?”
“I moved
here.” He smiled.
Kaley
frowned. “That worked? It helped?”
“Not even a little
bit. The only thing that helps is time.”
She couldn’t help the
depressed look that took over her face. “Five years, eh?”
Sean
laughed. “It’s been that long, but it didn’t take that
long. I’ve had a few other girlfriends since, I just haven’t found
anyone else I want to settle down with, that’s all.” He raised an
eyebrow at her glass. “Want another one?”
“Please.”
“So where’s your party at
tonight?”
“Mel’s boss is throwing a
bash for their office. He rented the Rex Hall.”
“Cool.”
Kaley noticed him glancing
at the clock on the wall. “Do you have something to
do?” She turned toward the door as someone unlocked it from the
outside and he stood.
“Sean!” The dark
haired woman dropped her duffle bag and ran into his open
arms. Kaley watched dumbfounded as he hugged her
close. He had a girlfriend.
“I was getting
worried.” He took her coat from her and hung it up.
“My bus was
delayed. There was a crash on the highway and we got caught behind
all the traffic. I don’t think it was too bad. I mean,
there were ambulances and stuff, but the cars looked to be in not bad shape
when we were finally able to go by.”
“And you didn’t think to
phone?”
She
shrugged. “Ooh! Are you having rum and eggnog without
me?” The woman finally turned her attention to
Kaley. “Since Sean has zero manners, I’m Reese, by the way.”
“Um, Kaley.”
“Let me
guess. He didn’t tell you I was coming?” She took the
drink Sean handed her and settled on the cough beside Kaley. “And he
says I’m forgetful. You’re getting old, big brother.”
He scoffed. “And
you get more immature the more years you put behind you.”
“Mom’s going to flip when
she hears you finally have a girlfriend. It’s about time you got
over that stupid bitch.”
“Reese!”
“Well, what? By
the moons, she was. None of us could figure out what you saw in
her.”
“You were sixteen when we
split. Don’t tell me you gave a shit.”
Reese pounded back her
drink. “Of course I cared. How many big brothers do I
have?”
Sean rolled his
eyes. “Four.”
“Right. But you
were always my favorite.” She skipped back to her knee high leather
boots, slipped them on, and shrugged on her coat.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m meeting
Heather.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “I have my
key. Don’t wait up.”
“Just remember I’m leaving
at eight tomorrow morning. With or without
you.”
“Yeah,
yeah.” Reese grinned. “I missed you.”
“I missed you
too. Brat.”
She closed the door with a
wave at Kaley.
“She’s, uh… she’s one of
those high energy people.” Sean smiled and went to refill their
drinks.
“No kidding. I
had no idea you had a sister. Or three brothers for that matter.”
“What about you?”
Kaley shook her
head. “Only child. Your mom and dad?”
“Both alive and running the
farm. You?”
“My parents died when I was
fifteen. Drunk driver. I went to live with Mel and her
folks.”
“But you don’t do Christmas
with them?”
“They’re not around since
they retired. Mel gets on a flight tomorrow
to join them in Mexico tomorrow morning. They
invite me every year, I just… Christmas needs snow. You know?”
He grinned. “I
agree.”
Kaley found her gaze moving
to his mouth. He had a great smile. Had they
really been
living next to each other for almost six years? How had she never
noticed?
“What?”
“Nothing. I was
just thinking that I can’t believe we’ve been neighbors all this time and we
know nothing about each other.”
His smile
softened. “Yeah. I guess that’s
life. Everyone’s too busy.”
She looked at her
watch. “Shit. I have to go get ready.”
Sean stood and walked her
to the door.
“So, you’re just home alone
tonight?” She looked up into his dark green eyes.
“Seems like it.”
“I was just thinking… Mel
is bringing a date tonight and I’m going to be the third wheel. Want
to come along?”
“I don’t think…”
“Come on. I’ll
owe you one. There’s this guy that works there that always gets
drunk and hits on me. You can pretend to be my
boyfriend.” Sweet mother of fuck. Had she actually just
suggested this? She was thirty four years old for shit’s
sakes. Her face turned a deep shade of
red. “Sorry. That’s so highschool. I’m just
going to leave before I make myself sound any more stupid. Thanks
for the drinks.”
Kaley rushed out of his
apartment and back into hers. Good god! How many eggnogs
had she had?
Mireille Chester is a stay at home mom of three children and wife to an amazingly supportive husband. Her time is spent playing with the kids, reading, writing, and watching movies with her hubby.
Mireille is a fantasy author who loves to spend time in made up worlds filled with magic. She is a firm believer that no hero is perfect and that all villains are burdened with a tiny shred of humanity. While she writes her Adult and YA novels under the name Mireille Chester, she is now writing a middle grade series under the name M.G. Chester.
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