Merry Rekindled Hearts

If I thought Mason had blushed before, it was nothing to the holly berries filling his cheeks now. He clapped his hands over his eyes and staggered back.

 

“Junie!”

 

“What?” I said. “I’m covered!”

 

It was true. I’d gotten the blanket around me in time before he looked. 

 

Or—I thought I had. 

 

What did he expect me to do, lay around on the floor while he walked around me?

 

“Are you trying to kill me?” he said with his hand still over his eyes.

 

“Death by bare shoulders,” I muttered, folding my arms over the blanket. “Intriguing idea.” 

 

Since that was about the only thing I was baring right now. 

 

“You don’t get it, do you?” he said. 

 

“I do,” I said, trying not to feel hurt by this. “I get it. I’m ugly.”

 

This felt all too much like another rejection. I was just repulsive to him. That was all there was to it. 

 

“You can’t stand me. Nothing I have appeals to you in any way whatsoever.”

Why, of all the people I could have gotten snowed in with here, did it have to be him?

 

I turned away from him, wishing I could melt into the carpet. My eyes closed, and I squeezed them even more tightly shut when I heard his footsteps on the carpet come closer. 

 

“Is that what you think?” he said softly.

 

My eyes fluttered open, and my heart stopped at the utter disbelief on his face. 

 

That look nearly undid me. 

 

I sniffed and lifted my chin, blinking away the emotion stinging my eyes. “What else am I supposed to think? You tolerate me because you have to. You already saw all you needed to see before. You—you—”

 

His eyes darkened. His jaw angled to one side, and he crossed the few paces between us. Every step added an additional tick in my pulse. 

 

“You think I don’t like what I see when I look at you?” he said. 

 

My heart was a mallet, pounding against my ribcage. My eyes widened, and I gazed up at him while it felt like my whole body thrummed.

 

If anything, his voice turned even more gentle. Secretive.

 

“I saw more than you probably wanted me to, Junie. And before you get the wrong idea, I swear I covered you as quickly as I could. But I liked everything I saw. Every time I look at you, I like what I see. A little too much.”

 

A bowling ball sank into my stomach. I dipped my chin. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. 

 

His fingers tapped my chin, and the touch zapped right into me. Gradually, a beat at a time, he guided my face upward until I met his. 

 

He was smiling softly but only in his eyes. That smile burned like embers.

 

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

 

 

Find out what happens next in MERRY REKINDLED HEARTS! 

 

 

"This book was a joy to read! It's full of the magic and joy of Christmas." --A  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader

 

"You will definitely fall in love with it. It's such a great read!" - A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader 

 

"I wanted more. I was so sad to come to the end because I didn't want it to. This is a feel good, snuggle up and drink hot chocolate kind of book. Simply wonderful." --A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader

 

MAIN TROPES:

 

☑️ Second Chance

☑️ Snowed In

☑️ Santa Magic

☑️ Small Town

☑️ Hallmark Feel