Violet: Bride of North Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 39) (21 page)

Cheyenne Pepper gave up on love years ago—when Nick Montana broke her heart.

Now she’s worked her way up to marketing manager of the local mall. It’s December, her favorite season, which also means it's time for a mall Santa—only this year's Santa is good old St. Nick, the ghost of boyfriends past.

The couple goes from "Ho! Ho! Ho!” to “Bah, Humbug!” in less time than it takes an angry elf to attack Santa!

CHAPTER ONE

“HELLO?”

Nick hadn’t heard that voice for five years, and he didn’t know if she would even speak to him. This could be the shortest conversation in history. “Mrs. Pepper?”

“Nick?” Cheyenne’s mom recognized his voice? Amazing. She sounded surprised, but not angry. Yet.

“Yes. It’s me.” He paced across his apartment’s living room, five long steps, turned, five steps back. Across and back again.

“It’s been so long since I’ve talked to you. How are you doing?” Her voice grew guarded, as if remembering why she should be upset on her daughter’s behalf. “Perhaps I should also ask how your wife is doing?”

Right to the point. That was good. Get it over with. Just tell her. “I’m divorced. Have been for three years.”

“Really.” Now she sound intrigued. “What happened?”

It was way too long a story to go into over the phone. “I made a mistake. And I’ve moved back to town.”

“Salt Lake?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He thought he heard a sound in the bedroom and he cracked open the door. From the light of the nightlight, he could see Lucas was sleeping peacefully. He shut the door quietly.

“How long ago?”

“Two years. I needed to be close to Primary Children’s Hospital because of my son. He’s needed several operations.”

“You have a son?” Marnie’s voice warmed. “How old is he?”

“Four.”

There was a pause in the conversation, then she said, “Cheyenne isn’t going to be happy you’re back. I think you’d better stay away from her.”

He paused. He needed to see if he could get Marni Pepper on his side. Otherwise, he didn’t think he’d have any chance at all of winning Cheyenne back. A slim chance was better than none. “How is Cheyenne? Is she dating anyone?”

“Yes. She dates three different men a week.”

“Wow. You’re joking, right?” That didn’t sound like the Cheyenne he’d known and dated—and almost married.

“Oh, I’m serious, all right. Her dates du jour have become a family joke.” She sighed. “Nick, you broke her heart. She loved you so much.”

“I know. And I loved her.” He still did.

“You had a funny way of showing that.”

“I know.” He took heart that she was still single. “So she’s not dating anyone special?”

“No. But if you’re thinking to call her up, think again. Remember how angry she was? Cheyenne can hold a grudge forever.”

Nick was hopeful he could get past her anger—it was her indifference he was worried about. She had obviously moved on, to the tune of three men a week, but she hadn’t found anyone else, just as he hadn’t, so maybe he had a chance, after all. Slim. “Please don’t tell her I’m back in town. I want to surprise her.”

“I will be glad to refrain from mentioning your name in front of my daughter. I don’t like seeing her angry.”

“May I be candid?”

“Please do.”

“I moved back here and haven’t come around Cheyenne for two years. But I can’t live without her any longer. I want to win her back.”

“Nick, you know I love you, but my daughter is not ever going to date you again. You should move on.”

“I can’t,” he whispered.

“I hope you find another woman. Now I’ve got to go. You take care.” There was a click in his ear.

He lowered the phone. He didn’t want someone else. He would do anything to win back Cheyenne Pepper, the perfect woman for him—and the one he’d been foolish enough to set aside to play Knight in Shining Armor to a Damsel in Distress.

He’d learned two important lessons since then.

First, you can’t rescue someone who likes living in distress. It hadn’t taken his wife long after giving birth to their baby for her to move on to her next Knight in Shining Armor, leaving her damaged baby behind without a regret.

Second, he needed Cheyenne Pepper like he needed his next breath.

He had to win her back.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Cheyenne asked as she locked her car and walked toward City Center Mall, her home away from home.

Her mother paused before saying, “Nothing. Why would you think I’m hiding anything?”

“You are, and I will get it out of you, Mom.”

“There’s nothing. Seriously. You’re imagining things.”

The earlier pause had told Cheyenne differently, but she let it go. She would get it out of her mother—but it would have to be later. “I’m just walking into the mall so I need to go.”

“Oh, good. I mean, good that that you got there safely.” Another pause. “I’ll talk to you later.” A click.

Cheyenne stared at her phone. Did her mother sound
relieved
?

The first book in the series,
Bah, Humbug!
, is free on Amazon/Kindle.

If you’d like to read more, go to
www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.

Excerpt:
Once in a Blue Moon

A Novel by Diane Darcy

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be...

Successful businesswoman, Melissa Kendal, has it all. Two kids, a gorgeous, albeit difficult-to-manage husband, her dream house, and a thriving, exciting career as an L.A. fashion designer. So what if her home life is falling apart. It’s her career that’s important and makes her feel alive.

But when a science fair project goes awry and a Blue Moon transports their family back in time to the Wild West, Melissa suddenly has to live a much simpler life. She doesn’t have a job, the kids can’t play Xbox, and the locals find her hilarious.

Meanwhile, her husband Richard is determined to keep their family together, no matter what the century. Can they find a lost treasure, solve a Civil War mystery, and save their family before the next blue moon?

They have three months to find out.

CHAPTER ONE

THE DRESS WAS GOOD.
TOO
GOOD!

Anger burned in Melissa Kendal’s chest as she forced her fingers to unclench the silken material; forced herself to relax.

She held up the evening gown again, easily able to discern at a glance it was a size four, tall. Her size. As the high-quality black silk slid through her fingers she cynically wondered if Kari had sized it that way on purpose. At the same time, she reluctantly acknowledged the silk charmeuse was an excellent choice of material for the cut of the dress.

When had Kari gotten so good?

Melissa could feel the young girl waiting anxiously, fidgeting, the delay obviously driving her mad--as it was meant to do. Melissa let her wait a while longer, then sighed and tossed the dress on the oversized worktable.

Kari stepped forward, her hands clutched together. “So, what do you think?”

Melissa breathed in slowly and forced herself to calm, to look normal, relaxed. She didn’t answer right away; didn’t trust her voice.

“Hold on.” Adopting a pensive expression, she turned her attention to the television in the corner of the office and pretended to listen to the news for a moment. The television was always on and that particular habit had paid off more than once. It gave her a chance to think. Besides, it was always a good idea to stay tuned to world events and to know what was going on in case it affected the fashion industry.

She needed to be in control; on top; the best.

Melissa glanced at the dress again. She was the best. She’d worked hard to be and at thirty-five she was young, had a great figure, and a career that was skyrocketing. No barely-out-of-college assistant was going to intimidate her with good work.

Picking up the dress, she flipped it over the back of a nearby chair. “No, it won’t do.” Her voice came out cool, controlled, with no hint of emotion; precisely the way she liked it.

Kari remained silent a moment, then stepped forward. “But, why?” Her voice cracked on the last word.

Melissa met her gaze and stared her down. Because the creation was a little too good and she didn’t need competition from her own staff. “We’re moving away from slinky. The trend in formal wear is cotton and linen, so I can’t use this. You really need to keep up with the industry, Kari. Now, why isn’t my office cleaned? What if an important client stopped by? Let’s get back to work.”

Tears in her eyes, Kari picked up the dress, her long blonde hair falling forward to hide her expression as she stumbled toward the door on imitation designer heels.

Melissa pushed back a twinge of sympathy and sighed in exasperation. When was Kari going to learn to play the game better? Did she really think Melissa would ever give her a break? What Kari was getting was an education in the fine art of staying on top. A hard lesson Melissa had learned; one everyone in the business needed to learn if they were to succeed. Melissa was doing Kari a favor by teaching her how to be a player. If Kari had brains, someday she’d appreciate it.

Melissa plucked a thumb drive from her desk. “Take this to Xavier. It contains a new design for the winter line; and try and pull yourself together before you come back.”

Kari stopped; came back for the thumb drive. When her trembling fingers closed over it, Melissa didn’t let go and Kari was forced to meet her gaze.

“Kari, make sure nothing happens to this.”

Resentment and understanding filled Kari’s eyes. “I wouldn’t do that to you,” she said meaningfully.

Melissa smiled. Meaning, of course, that while Kari wouldn’t stab Melissa in the back, the reverse wasn’t true. “See that you don’t. Leave the dress. If it’s that important to you I’ll think about it some more.”

Melissa saw the distrust in Kari’s expression before she lowered her gaze, set the dress down, and slipped from the room.

The dress would, of course, disappear.

Melissa gazed around her office feeling intense satisfaction. She was at the top, literally. Penthouse office, exclusive furnishings and an enviable view. A fashionable desk and chairs, computer, assorted plants and worktable graced one corner. Several dress mannequins stood in a half-circle around a walnut cabinet holding an assortment of scissors, bolts of material, and sewing paraphernalia. And, of course, her treasured sewing machines. It might be a working environment, but it was all very elegant, client friendly and expensive; just like her.