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LIGHTS, CAMERA, CHRISTMAS
A Man of the Month Club Novella - Christmas in July
by Kara Kendrick
Release Blitz
Release Date: July 6, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance NovellaTrope: Grumpy/sunshine, HEA, forced proximity, small-town, beach romance
Synopsis
He’s a hometown classic. She’s a Hollywood has-been. Can he convince her that holiday magic still exists?
My agent tells me this is my last chance. I need to sparkle in this cheesy made-for-TV holiday movie or my career is over.
P.S. I HATE the holidays.
So spending half the summer sweltering in kitschy Candy Cane Key, Florida, filming faux Christmas cheer in the wake of my messy divorce sounds like pure agony.
Turns out, I’m one-hundred percent right about this job—everything that can go wrong does. From missing costumes to wildlife disasters (hello—gator on the set!), it looks like this movie might never make it into the can.
And the plot twist: one devastatingly handsome fishing charter captain, Maddox Banks. He’s the polar opposite of my ex—kind, gorgeous, and so full of Christmas cheer the man practically jingles every time he moves.
Will one night with him have me rethinking my grinchy ways? Because everyone knows Happily Ever Afters only happen in the movies.
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Excerpt
“Hey.” Maddox stands, squaring his shoulders, and I jog down to him. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into his body and pressing his lips to mine.
I kiss him, soft and slow on the lips, breathing in his scent of spicy cologne and tropical sunscreen.
Not caring about who does or doesn’t see any longer.
“Hey.”
He trails his hand over my back, sending a delicious shiver racing down my spine. Heat unfurls low in my belly. I want every inch of this spectacular man.
“Come on, I want to take you somewhere special.” He gestures at the golf cart, and I get in, butterflies zooming around in my stomach.
The golf cart putters to life and we zoom through town, the wind warm on my face. The sky’s a light gray, dusk setting in, rainclouds blocking the sinking sun. We pass through town and head out toward the beach, but make a right turn before we hit the road we usually take. Maddox slows as we bump down a windy dirt path, the water on our right.
Finally, we come to the end of the wooded trail, a barn-looking structure at the dead end, a dock and the water nearby.
“What is this place?” I lower my voice because it feels like I should. The waves lap against the dock and it’s quiet, peaceful.
“My family’s boathouse. My grandpa built it, and I’ve been working on restoring it. C’mon.”
Maddox grabs my hand, leading me down the sandy path, unbolting and sliding back a large wooden beam. He hauls the door open, and we duck into the dimly lit space, the last rays of light slanting through the high, dusty windows.
“Maddox,” I whisper, my voice soft in the cavernous space as I spin in circles, taking it all in. Several boats seem to float high in the air, raised up on hydraulic lifts. An old wooden canoe’s strapped to the wall, a set of oars tethered next to it. Salt and turpentine mix in the air, tingling my nose.
“I spend my free time here, working on the boats. Come with me—I’ll show you.” He guides me toward the back of the boathouse, to his current work in progress. “This was my dad’s first boat. It needs a lot of work, but I’m getting there.” He runs his hand along the shiny metal rail running the length of the vessel.
“It looks great.” Granted, I don’t know much about boats.
“To your trained eye, right?” Maddox winks, teasing me. “Come here.”
He pulls me up against his broad chest and my heart pounds, hammering in my chest, as he drops his lips to mine. I breathe him in—his scent, all of his goodness—the waves crashing in the distance.
His hands roam over my body, moving from my hips to my rear, and heat pools in my panties as he inches my skirt up my thighs. Rubbing circles over the satin, he eases the fabric down my legs. He bends down, shoving the black scrap of satin into his pocket, then scoops me into his arms and carries me over to the nearest boat.
Lifting me, he gently sets me down on the boat, then climbs up to join me. Wordlessly, he pats the white leather bench seat and I sit. He rests his hand on my shoulder, pushing me back, and I lie down. With one hand, he picks up my skirt and spreads my thighs, dipping down between my legs. He kisses me, licking and swirling around my clit, and my body tenses and arches, craving more contact. Maddox hums against my skin, sending shockwaves of pleasure rolling through me. I knead his strong shoulder muscles, closing my eyes and enjoying the sensations happening between my thighs.
With a flattened palm, Maddox rubs his hand over my stomach, chill bumps rising on my heated skin. My nipples pebble and I sit up, pulling my shirt over my head and tossing it to the floor, followed by my bra.
Maddox grins at me. “Not wasting any time tonight, huh?”
The first beam of moonlight shines through the window, catching the twinkle in his eye.
“I don’t want to waste any time with you,” I breathe, unbuttoning his shirt and smoothing my hand over his strong, defined pecs. Pressing kisses on his smooth skin, I drop my hands lower still, unbuttoning his shorts. He kicks them off, then chucks his shirt to the floor on top of mine before lowering his boxer briefs.
Now we’re both naked, save for my skirt pooling around me. He shoves it to the side, not bothering to take it off, claiming my mouth in a hot, fiery kiss. Every nerve in my body’s alight for him and I’m hot all over, all my muscles tensing. He slips two fingers inside me, then three, and I lift my hips to meet him.
“I want you,” I murmur into his open mouth and I can feel the corners of his lips tip up into a smile.
“I want you too.” He breaks away, pulling out a condom and rolling it down his hard length before straddling me again.
Locking his eyes on mine, Maddox eases into me, my breath hitching in my throat. He fills me up and now we’re joined, every inch of our bodies touching. I reach up, running my fingers over his strong, square jaw.
I’ve never felt this close—this connected—to anyone in my entire life.
I shift my hips, and he begins to move inside me. We rock together, the boat swaying slightly in the air with each thrust. All my muscles tense, squeezing around him, and now we’re both rocketing toward our release.
“Ivy…” he groans, moving faster. “Come for me, baby.”
His raspy voice, thick with desire, sends me spiraling out of control, shattering beneath him. He follows right behind me, falling over the edge, hot and sweaty and spent.
After a few seconds, he rolls me onto his chest, stroking my hair as the waves lap nearby, a soothing lullaby.
We lay there, quiet and still, for a long time, my head rising and falling with Maddox’s breathing.
“Ivy? You awake?” Maddox’s deep voice vibrates his chest.
“Mm-hmm,” I murmur, sleepy and peaceful.
“I love you. And I know it’s fast and probably seems sudden. But I want you to know.”
I inhale, a sharp, quick breath.
I was not expecting that.
I want to say the words back, but can’t seem to make any sound, a giant lump stuck in my throat.
Instead, I thread my fingers through his, bringing his knuckles to my lips and pressing a soft kiss on his rough skin.
We lay like that, our legs entwined, Maddox’s strong arms wrapped around me for a long, long time, until we’re both too hot to stay here any longer.
When we stand, it feels like the moment’s fleeting and shattered, and a heavy ache settles in my chest.
Copyright 2023, by Kara Kendrick, All Rights Reserved
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About the Author
Kara Kendrick writes fun and flirty Contemporary Romance destined to give you all the feels. A reformed English major, she also has a master’s in counseling and was an elementary school counselor in her pre-mom life.
She loves the beach, wine, and rock hard abs, not necessarily in that order. When she’s not dreaming up Happily Ever After’s, you can find her chasing after her boy-girl twins, working out semi-hardish, or walking her adorable Shiba pup with her husband, who’s not too bad himself.
Connect with Kara
Website: https://bit.ly/37yzdEk
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Bookbub Page: https://bit.ly/3xwUclf
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