by: Denise N. Wheatley
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Release Date: October 21, 2021
Publisher: Tule Publishing
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This Christmas, can they slow down long enough to smell the roses and fall in love?
When savvy, up-and-coming floral designer Lauren Beal returns home to Maple Valley, Michigan, for her sister’s holiday wedding, she’s determined to be the perfect maid of honor. She didn’t expect the best man to be the college crush she’d reluctantly left behind to pursue her Chicago-based dreams.
Family practice doctor Mel Jennings always knew he’d remain rooted in Maple Valley to work for his father’s clinic. He happily juggles his demanding practice with philanthropic endeavors that connect him to his tight-knit community. Sparks fly when he reunites with Lauren, the one who ran away. As they enjoy Maple Valley’s Christmas festivities, Mel remembers how close they once were. But can they ever have a future?
Lauren finds herself falling for Mel and suspects the feelings are mutual. Yet they’re both pulled in different directions by work and family. Will the pair find a moment alone during the hectic holiday season to figure things out, or will they miss their chance at love once again?
Age: 32
Date of birth: November 14th
Physical Description: 6’1” tall, caramel brown complexion, short, wavy black hair, athletic build, dazzling smile
Occupation: Physician
3 likes in no particular order: Playing basketball, hosting community service events, and spending time with great people.
3 dislikes in no particular order: Black licorice, indecisiveness, and disrespectful people.
Drink of choice: Earl Grey tea
Favorite food: Filet mignon
Favorite song: “In a Sentimental Mood” by John Coltrane
Choice of transportation: Personal car
Favorite way to spend an evening: As a busy doctor, I appreciate nights at home, cooking, and spending time with a special someone.
Favorite holiday tradition: Maple Valley, Michigan’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony
Best memory to date: An intimate moment I shared with Lauren at the Maple Valley Country Club. It changed my life.
If you could have a do-over, what would you do differently? I would have told Lauren how I felt about her during our college years before she moved away to Chicago.
What’s something you’ve said you would never do, but in fact have done? Online dating. It was a disaster, to put it lightly lol.
Most romantic gesture (done or received): Lauren, who is an amazing floral designer, once surprised my parents with a stunning flower arrangement for their wedding anniversary. Even though the gesture wasn’t directed at me, I was so moved by it.
Words to live by: What is for me will not miss me, and what misses me isn’t for me.
“You really do have an awesome relationship with practically everyone in this town, don’t you?” Lauren asked Mel. “You’re like a rock star in Maple Valley.”
“Nah, I wouldn’t say all that. I’m just really active in the community, and I think the townspeople appreciate it.”
“Clearly. But that’s quite an understatement,” Lauren replied just as a group of people walking across the street waved frantically at them.
“Hey, guys!” Mel called out. “Happy holidays!”
“Happy holidays!” they responded in merry unison.
“See what I mean?” Lauren quipped.
“I do, I do.” Mel took a sip of his gingerbread hot chocolate then nudged her arm. “Now be honest. Tell me where in Chicago can you find this type of festive, tight-knit vibe? Where everybody knows your name, and there’s famous hot chocolate being sold out of an actual gingerbread house? Not to mention Maple Valley has the most amazing carolers singing holiday songs in front of all these beautifully-decorated homes, and—”
“Okay, okay,” Lauren interrupted, unable to suppress her smile. “You’re right. I can’t find all of this in Chicago. I have to admit, being back home is really nice.”
She and Mel continued down the street while enjoying the rest of the block’s Christmas décor. When they reached the corner, Mel tossed their cups inside a garbage bin then looked up at the cloudless blue night sky. He blinked rapidly as tiny snowflakes landed on his face.
“I wish this night didn’t have to end,” he said. “But I’ve got to get up early tomorrow morning. Alyssa and I are meeting at the community center to discuss the logistics for the toy drive deliveries. Then I’m hanging out with Cameron and the guys for a game of basketball.”
“Oh…okay,” Lauren replied quietly. She swallowed hard as a burning sensation crept up her throat. She’d planned on inviting Mel in for a nightcap once they got back to her sister Tina’s house. But now, Lauren felt herself growing irritated, especially knowing he was cutting their evening short because of Alyssa.
Don’t start, she thought, immediately pushing the negativity out of her mind. It’s just for the toy drive…
Yet a nagging suspicion left her wondering whether that were actually true.
The twosome walked in silence while they crossed the street and climbed inside Mel’s car. He turned on the radio and switched the station to a holiday jazz channel. They rode to Tina’s house in comfortable silence, enjoying the light snowfall while swaying their heads to the music.
When he pulled into the driveway, Mel took his time turning off the car’s engine. The pair slowly climbed out and sauntered toward the porch, neither appearing ready to part ways.
“I’m so glad we were finally able to get together,” he said. “I had a really good time tonight.”
“So did I. Thank you again for dinner, and the holiday walk, and that delicious gingerbread hot chocolate.”
Lauren held her breath when Mel took a step toward her. She stared up at him, watching as he discreetly licked his lips. Just when he gradually leaned in, the lock on the front door clicked.
They turned their heads in unison when the door creaked open. Tina stuck her head out.
“Hey, guys,” she whispered. “I am so sorry to interrupt. But, Lauren, Sasha has called me about ten times. She really needs to talk to you, but she said your phone keeps going straight to voicemail.”
“Yeah, that’s because I turned it off. Mel and I agreed to no phones so that we could enjoy our evening in peace.”
“And here I am, interrupting you two…”
Lauren glared at her sister, irritated that she’d disrupted what looked to be the beginnings of a goodnight kiss.
“Well when you come inside you may want to call her,” Tina continued obliviously. “Apparently, the event planner you two are working with on the New Year’s Eve party is rethinking the theme that you all agreed upon, and—”
“Tina,” Lauren interrupted, throwing her a death stare, “can we please finish this conversation when I get inside the house?”
“Of course! I’m sorry,” she said before turning to Mel. “So sorry…”
“No worries.” He glanced down at his watch then back up at Lauren. “I actually need to get going anyway.”
She clenched her hands together, struggling to fight off her frustration as Tina slinked back inside house. “Thanks again for tonight. Like I was saying, I had a great time.”
“I’d love to do it again. My schedule is crazy next week though. So if we don’t get a chance to hang out soon, I know I’ll see you at Tina’s wedding.
“Yes, you will. Hopefully my dress will still fit after everything I ate tonight.”
“I have no doubt that it will. Perfectly.”
Mel moved in so closely that Lauren could smell the sweet chocolatey gingerbread on his breath. He bent down and planted a lingering kiss on her cheek. She closed her eyes and relished in the feeling of his soft, warm lips as they sank into her chilly skin.
Lauren ran her hands up his arms and clasped them around his neck. The sensation of his fingers gliding along her waist and resting on the small of her back sent a series of tingles across her skin.
“Mm,” she sighed contently, laying her head against his chest. After several seconds, the pair gradually pulled away from one another.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said. “Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
“Nah, I wouldn’t say all that. I’m just really active in the community, and I think the townspeople appreciate it.”
“Clearly. But that’s quite an understatement,” Lauren replied just as a group of people walking across the street waved frantically at them.
“Hey, guys!” Mel called out. “Happy holidays!”
“Happy holidays!” they responded in merry unison.
“See what I mean?” Lauren quipped.
“I do, I do.” Mel took a sip of his gingerbread hot chocolate then nudged her arm. “Now be honest. Tell me where in Chicago can you find this type of festive, tight-knit vibe? Where everybody knows your name, and there’s famous hot chocolate being sold out of an actual gingerbread house? Not to mention Maple Valley has the most amazing carolers singing holiday songs in front of all these beautifully-decorated homes, and—”
“Okay, okay,” Lauren interrupted, unable to suppress her smile. “You’re right. I can’t find all of this in Chicago. I have to admit, being back home is really nice.”
She and Mel continued down the street while enjoying the rest of the block’s Christmas décor. When they reached the corner, Mel tossed their cups inside a garbage bin then looked up at the cloudless blue night sky. He blinked rapidly as tiny snowflakes landed on his face.
“I wish this night didn’t have to end,” he said. “But I’ve got to get up early tomorrow morning. Alyssa and I are meeting at the community center to discuss the logistics for the toy drive deliveries. Then I’m hanging out with Cameron and the guys for a game of basketball.”
“Oh…okay,” Lauren replied quietly. She swallowed hard as a burning sensation crept up her throat. She’d planned on inviting Mel in for a nightcap once they got back to her sister Tina’s house. But now, Lauren felt herself growing irritated, especially knowing he was cutting their evening short because of Alyssa.
Don’t start, she thought, immediately pushing the negativity out of her mind. It’s just for the toy drive…
Yet a nagging suspicion left her wondering whether that were actually true.
The twosome walked in silence while they crossed the street and climbed inside Mel’s car. He turned on the radio and switched the station to a holiday jazz channel. They rode to Tina’s house in comfortable silence, enjoying the light snowfall while swaying their heads to the music.
When he pulled into the driveway, Mel took his time turning off the car’s engine. The pair slowly climbed out and sauntered toward the porch, neither appearing ready to part ways.
“I’m so glad we were finally able to get together,” he said. “I had a really good time tonight.”
“So did I. Thank you again for dinner, and the holiday walk, and that delicious gingerbread hot chocolate.”
Lauren held her breath when Mel took a step toward her. She stared up at him, watching as he discreetly licked his lips. Just when he gradually leaned in, the lock on the front door clicked.
They turned their heads in unison when the door creaked open. Tina stuck her head out.
“Hey, guys,” she whispered. “I am so sorry to interrupt. But, Lauren, Sasha has called me about ten times. She really needs to talk to you, but she said your phone keeps going straight to voicemail.”
“Yeah, that’s because I turned it off. Mel and I agreed to no phones so that we could enjoy our evening in peace.”
“And here I am, interrupting you two…”
Lauren glared at her sister, irritated that she’d disrupted what looked to be the beginnings of a goodnight kiss.
“Well when you come inside you may want to call her,” Tina continued obliviously. “Apparently, the event planner you two are working with on the New Year’s Eve party is rethinking the theme that you all agreed upon, and—”
“Tina,” Lauren interrupted, throwing her a death stare, “can we please finish this conversation when I get inside the house?”
“Of course! I’m sorry,” she said before turning to Mel. “So sorry…”
“No worries.” He glanced down at his watch then back up at Lauren. “I actually need to get going anyway.”
She clenched her hands together, struggling to fight off her frustration as Tina slinked back inside house. “Thanks again for tonight. Like I was saying, I had a great time.”
“I’d love to do it again. My schedule is crazy next week though. So if we don’t get a chance to hang out soon, I know I’ll see you at Tina’s wedding.
“Yes, you will. Hopefully my dress will still fit after everything I ate tonight.”
“I have no doubt that it will. Perfectly.”
Mel moved in so closely that Lauren could smell the sweet chocolatey gingerbread on his breath. He bent down and planted a lingering kiss on her cheek. She closed her eyes and relished in the feeling of his soft, warm lips as they sank into her chilly skin.
Lauren ran her hands up his arms and clasped them around his neck. The sensation of his fingers gliding along her waist and resting on the small of her back sent a series of tingles across her skin.
“Mm,” she sighed contently, laying her head against his chest. After several seconds, the pair gradually pulled away from one another.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said. “Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
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She is an RWA member and received a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the city where she was born and raised. When Denise is not sitting behind a computer, you can find her in a movie theater, on a tennis court, watching true crime television or chatting on social media.
Places to find Denise N. Wheatley:
Giveaway ~ Tule Publishing is offering up an eBook copy of Denise's CHRISTMAS IN FULL BLOOM.
To enter: Answer Denise's question. “Since Mel's profile/the excerpt address Lauren leaving Maple Valley to work in Chicago, and it's obvious that she and Mel are crushing on one another, I'd like to ask readers if (hypothetically speaking) they'd be open to a long-distance relationship, and whether or not they think long-distance relationships can work.”
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I don't think a long distance relationship would work for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would be for me, but I have been to two weddings (one pre pandemic, one small event this summer) that were both the products of long distance relationships!
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