Welcome back for another Sweet Saturday Sample!  I do appreciate everyone coming by and commenting very much.  Thank you also to first-time visitors.  I appreciate everyone stopping by.  

Today’s sample  goes back to one of the short stories in my anthology of Christmas love tales called All Wrapped Up.  It’s the contemporary romance called The Present.  Here’s a bit more about Tess and Hal.  Hope you enjoy!

Meandering back into the living room, she plopped down on the sofa and peered dizzily at the wall clock. Ten o’clock. Maybe his flight had been delayed. Or better yet, maybe he was too jet-lagged to come over tonight. No need to rush over here, right from the airport—

A knock thundered on the door and Tessa jumped, then groaned and cursed her sister once more. She sighed, shook her head and dragged her feet all the way to the door. The cold air that rushed in made her shiver as much as the figure in the doorway.

“Tessa? Hi. What are you doing here?” The kind, low-pitched voice made Tess feel even worse. She would have to figure out some way to put Janice through this much hell some day.

“Hey, Hal. Come on in.” He walked into the living room, his head sweeping side to side. She shut the door and sent up a prayer. “Uh, Janice isn’t here. Can I take your coat?” Oh, crap! No, you don’t want him to stay! But he had it unbuttoned and handed it to her by the time she reached him.

“Where is she?” The puzzled frown on his face made Tess’s stomach churn. He cocked his head as big brown eyes burrowed into her. “I told her I’d come right over after my flight got in and we could catch the end of her office party.”

Swift and painless, like a surgeon. “She went without you, Hal. She said to tell you she didn’t think it would work out between you two.” God, she could barely say the words. What must it be like to hear them?

Hal stood in the middle of the room, his even-featured face hardening. His hand clenched on a small, brightly wrapped box Tess noticed only when the paper ripped under the strain. Oh, crap! He did get her a ring! I’m going to kill her myself.

He must have seen her eyes on the present because he gave a sharp laugh and thrust the box at her. “Here, Tess. You take it instead. Payment for services rendered.”

Hands trembling, she took the small box. “I can’t take this, Hal. You should return it.”

“Open it.”

Things still look a bit bleak for them don’t they?  Check out the anthology to see exactly what was in that festive little package. I hope you enjoyed another little breath of Christmas.

Thanks again for sampling my sweet.  Come back next week for another Christmas “Sweet Sample” or join in the fun with your own.  Follow this link to Sweet Saturday Sample to find more “sweet” offerings. 

And come join me and some of my fellow Decadent Authors on the In-Between Days Blog Hop.  My day to tell you all about my upcoming releases is November 14, but each weekday sees a new blog member strutting her stuff for you–maybe even offering a prize or two!  Click my Blog Button on the right and hop on in.  Monday’s spotlight author is  Desiree Holt, so please visit her and check out her wonderful Decadent offering.

Have a great weekend!