Authors: Rachel Van Dyken,Kristin Vayden,Nadine Millard

A Christmas Seduction (23 page)

Louisa gasped. “Sara!”

Jack at least blocked part of her nakedness. “Erm, yes?”

“What do you think you’re doing?” Louisa demanded.

Sara shared a look with Jack. “What I’ve always done with Jack… breaking the rules… only this time, for good.”

“For good?” Hugh repeated. “Jack, she’s ruined!”

“Thank God for that.” Jack kissed her hungrily again. “Happy Christmas, future wife.”

Sara giggled. “Happy Christmas, Jack.”

CHAPTER NINE

One Year Later

J
ACK HAD SPENT YEARS
lamenting the before, the afters… the because.

But today, on this Christmas, he was focusing on the now.

On Sara.

Because of Sara. He was going to be a father.

Because of Sara, he finally understood the true meaning of love and friendship.

Before Sara, he was nothing.

Before Sara, merely existing.

For Sara, he would climb mountains.

For Sara, he would be a man worthy of her affection.

“We must win,” Sara announced once she pulled her mittens over her fingers.”I hate losing.”

“Love, we always win.” Jack rolled his eyes.”Losing is never an option, besides, the earl ages before my very eyes.”

“I can hear you,” Lucas shouted.

“Surprising, since you’re so old!” Jack fired back, receiving a muttered curse form his eldest brother.

Hugh and Louisa were to the left, whispering amongst themselves.

“No cheating!” Sara pointed at them. “And if I hear you both already went through the maze, you owe everyone extra presents!”

“Ready!” Jack yelled. “Set!” He glanced around, smile frozen on his face. “Go!”

Everyone lunged forward, including Sara. He chased after her, and when he was certain they were alone, he grabbed her hand and tugged her into an alcove.

“Jack!” She shoved him in his chest. “We’ll lose.”

“Silly, girl,” he whispered, cupping her face with his hands. “We’ve already won.”

She frowned and then he pointed up.

Mistletoe hung in all its shining glory above their heads. “A Christmas kiss for your husband?”

Sara leapt into his arms and kissed him passionately across the mouth. “I love you, Jackson Mayford.”

“Hmm.” He kissed her back then whispered in her ear, “Think we should start a book on the ways you love me?”

“No.” She didn’t even pause! “I quite like the book I have, on the many ways to kill you.”

“So reassuring.” He nodded seriously. “To know you sleep with it under your pillow.”

“Only after you chased me around the house with that frog.”

“You set a spider free,” he said, incredulous. “In my study!”

“It was scared!”

“
I
was scared!” Jack yelled and then burst out laughing. “I cannot believe you.”

She bit down on her bottom lip and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

“And I you.”

“Forever.”

He nodded. “For always.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

TAMING THE EARL

Kristin Vayden

K
RISTIN'S INSPIRATION
for the romance she writes comes from her tall, dark and handsome husband with killer blue eyes. With five children to chase, she is never at a loss for someone to kiss, something to cook or some mess to clean but she loves every moment of it!

CHRISTMAS KISSES

Nadine Millard

N
ADINE
M
ILLARD
is a writer hailing from Dublin, Ireland. Although she'll write anything that pops into her head, her heart belongs to Regency Romance.

When she's not immersing herself in the 1800s, she's spending time with her husband, her three children, and her very spoiled Samoyed. She can usually be found either writing or reading and drinking way too much coffee.

MISTLETOE FOR SARA

Rachel Van Dyken

R
ACHEL
V
AN
D
YKEN
is the
New York Times
,
Wall Street Journal
, and
USA Today
bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching "The Bachelor".

She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers. She loves to hear from readers.

You can connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group
Rachel's New Rockin Readers
. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com.

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