To vote you
do have to join LRC. Voting is open until January 18th.
And a PDF copy of this book will be in the book drawing for January.
Forget the
Mistletoe
By Lizzie T.
Leaf
Publisher: Musa Publishing BLURB:
Marta's cold on the retail holiday
season, but warming to the hot hunk from home office, even if he loves
Christmas.
Marta Holt hates Christmas and all the fuss that
goes with it, which isn’t a good way to feel about the biggest money making
season in her chosen career field, retail management.
Linc Blanchard’s family owns the chain of retail
stores and shows up in Denver to make sure that Marta, the temporary manager,
doesn’t affect the bottom line of that store’s Christmas season with her lack
of appreciation of his favorite holiday.
Mix in Claude, an elf with attitude that has been
sent into the human world to help Santa correct the mistake he made with Marta
when she was a little girl and you have a hot, humorous fantasy to relieve the
stress of your holidays.
EXCERPT:
Aspirin. A whole bottle would be great
about now, Marta thought as she followed Linc to yet another department. His suggestions
covered every area of the store. He asked — never told — managers to
consider moving merchandise around. “Change a display here,” “add something
to a display there,” he said with too much enthusiasm for her taste.
In the fur department, he suggested to the manager
that she and her employees wear the fur collars and scarves. He even
pulled Marta over and demonstrated what he had in mind as he arranged a fur scarf
around her shoulders.
They left the department with the manager salivating
at his every word, just as all the managers in the prior departments
did. Personally, she’d rather have left with one of the sable coats, but that
didn’t fit her budget now. She envisioned being wrapped from head to toe in sable.
Someday, she
thought. Someday.
Linc strolled through the various departments,
greeting employees and customers alike. “There’re lots of very nice people
in Denver. I can understand why my grandfather chose this to be one of the five
cities for our stores.” He left the employees fawning in his wake as he
oozed charm and smiles.
Marta didn’t know how much longer she could keep the
grin on her face plastered in place. If this goodwill tour didn’t end
soon, she would have to excuse herself to puke.
“One more department to go, and then it should be
time for lunch. We’ll eat in the fourth floor dining room. Does that work
for you, Miss Holt?”
No way would she let his charm affect her. Instead,
she ignored the reference to lunch and said, “From my calculations the last
area to cover is the toy department. Right?”
“Thought we’d save the best for last.” Linc headed
toward the back of the store.
Marta dreaded what ideas he’d throw out when they
reached their destination. She didn’t trust this man, since his suggestions
turned out to change everything she and Mr. Peterson thought worked. Who
knew what he had in mind for toys? Then again, maybe he’d put Mr. Pain
in the Ass elf in his place.
“Claude.” Linc greeted the head elf like an old
friend.
“Linc. Good to see you again.” Claude reached up to
shake hands with the man who loomed above him.
Good heavens, they’re on a first name
basis. Wonderful, Marta thought as she observed the interaction between the elf and her
employer.
“Marta, you look a little pale today.” The little
man turned his attention to her.
“Thank you, Claude. Nice of you to notice.” Yep, she
needed to strangle the little shit.
“Claude, Marta and I are going to the dining room to
grab a bite of lunch. I hope you can take a break and come with us. I’d
like to hear more about the ideas you mentioned last night.” Linc placed his
hand on the small man’s shoulder, and the men walked away leaving Marta to
follow.
Damn, damn, double damn.
Marta felt like the outsider here. No way would they shut her out through their male bonding. She rushed
to catch up.
3 comments:
Sounds delightful! I can soooo relate!
Thank you, Anny.
Congratulations on the nomination, Lizzie!!
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