Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !
I’m back again, turning up like a lucky penny, with a brand new novella just put up on pre-order: The Christmas Pact, a holiday novella that appeared a couple of years ago in an anthology. The idea for it was originally found in my All Wrapped Up flash fiction holiday anthology which you may have read. This iteration is a longer and much more satisfying telling of the tale of love at Christmas time. Hope you enjoy!
The Christmas Pact
BLURB:
Will a childhood promise lead them to true romance?
When Henrietta Price accidentally pummels a gentleman with a snowball, her instant mortification turns to delight when she discovers the young man is none other than her childhood best friend, Charlie. Though they haven’t seen each other in ten years, he still has the same vivid blue eyes, wicked laugh, and caring nature she remembers so well. Once he’d even vowed—at ten-years-old—to marry her, if necessary, to save her from a life of spinsterhood. And although she’s considering another man’s proposal, she can’t quite keep that long-ago promise out of her head…
Charlie Newkirk hasn’t stopped thinking about Hen since she stole a kiss from him all those years ago. Now he can scarcely believe the beautiful woman in front of him is the same girl whose braid he used to pull. Worse, he has no idea if she’s given her heart to the wealthy young marquess courting her or if she even remembers the promise he hopes to fulfill.
With their future happiness at stake, will Charlie be able to remind Henrietta of their Christmas pact and turn their childhood friendship into a newfound romance? Or will he forever remain just someone she used to know?
I’m starting today’s snippet at the beginning of chapter 2, with a snowball fight between Lady Henrietta Price and her two brothers. (This scene makes me wish for snow at Christmas again!) Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
Splat!
Snow exploded all over her brother, obscuring his expression, which Henrietta suspected was abject surprise. “Caught you out, Georgie.”
Stalwart, George scrubbed the icy mess from his face and stuck his tongue out at Henrietta and shrieked, “No fair!”
“How is scoring a spectacular hit on someone during a snowball fight ‘no fair,’ Georgie?” Not waiting for a reply, Henrietta dropped down again, hurriedly scooping snow together before George or, more likely Henry, could retaliate.
“Come on, George, we have to get her while she’s busy making her weapons.”
She peeked up at the pair, who were advancing on her at an alarming rate. Henrietta packed the snow as best she could, drew back her arm, and flung the rather large snowball with terrific speed. Unfortunately, in her haste, her aim was badly off.
The snowball sailed past the boys, over the wrought iron fence that surrounded the park, and hit the tall black hat of a gentleman passing by.
And a little bit more…
“Oh drat!” was all Henrietta could get out before the boys landed their snowballs with much better accuracy. George’s hit her squarely in the chest, showering snow all over her new blue pelisse. Henry, however, had deadlier aim, striking her right between the eyes.
Henrietta staggered backward, blinded by the icy particles. Her feet slipped out from under her, and she sat down hard on the cold ground, her head spinning.
“Hen… Henrietta!” The boys’ shrieks grew closer until their hands were on her, patting her cheeks. “Are you all right, Henrietta?”
“Good grief, are you all right?”
That voice didn’t belong to the boys at all.
Shaking her head to clear it, Henrietta wiped the snow from her face and peered up at the speaker, a gentleman in a tall beaver hat with snow sticking to the brim. The man she’d pummeled with her snowball, no doubt. Oh, but there’d be the devil to pay for her morning of fun. “Yes, I believe I’m all in one piece, thank you.”
“Thank goodness. Here,” he grasped her hand, “allow me to help you up.”
Not that she had any choice in the matter.
The gentleman put his other arm around her shoulders and lifted her as though she were a mere feather, setting her on her feet before she could even blink.
“Thank you, sir.” She wobbled, and his grip increased, steadying her until she was able to stand without swaying. “You are most kind, considering I should be the one apologizing to you. I am dreadfully sorry to have hit you…” At last, she managed to look the gentleman in the face, “or rather your hat.”
“Think nothing of it, ma’am.” His wide smile reminded her of someone. His voice, too, although it was deeper than she remembered…
“Charlie?”
The Christmas Pact is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your e-copy here!!
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There are some great stories out there!
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 