Jingle Bell Love
A Montuak Romance Book 2
By P.C. Zick
Genre
Contemporary Roman
Love On the Wind
A Montuak Romance Book 2
**On Sale for Only .99cents!**
THE MUSIC BLARED FROM the speakers when Denny entered Last Call. The pulsing beat perked him up and removed any regrets he’d had earlier about showing up. It would be good to see his friends. He needed a break from work and from missing Sara. And it would be nice to go out with friends rather than with a woman who couldn’t carry on a conversation. The date with Barbie lingered, and not in a pleasant way.
“We wondered if you’d make it,” Colt said when Denny joined him and Haley at the bar. “And you beat everyone else. Good job.”
Haley gave him a hug. “How are you, Denny? How did the date go the other night?”
Denny and Colt both groaned as an answer.
“I don’t understand. My cousin recommended her so highly.”
“She just wasn’t my type, Haley. I’m doubtful there’s anyone out there who’s my type, so I’m done.”
“But don’t give up, old man,” Colt patted him on the back. “You just haven’t met the right one yet.”
“I’m taking a break, remember? Even Jeff agreed to back off.”
Colt slapped his forehead. “I forgot, but just in case, I brought you something.” Colt reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out several small square packages. Denny stared at them and wondered why Colt was carrying around condoms.
“Why do you need those?” Denny asked.
“I don’t, but you do.” Colt put them in the pocket of Denny’s blue shirt. “We get these by the caseloads to take with us to the villages. A delivery came today, and I thought of you. No need to thank me.”
Denny laughed. “If I have to wait for my friends to fix me up with a worthwhile woman, I won’t need these for a very long time. And now that I’ve sworn off dating, these are going to rot.”
“Better to be safe,” Colt said. “You never know when something might happen. I’d hate for you to miss an opportunity just because you weren’t prepared.”
Denny turned to look at the woman who now stood next to him. Jill, Kiley’s friend and money handler. They had met only a few times before, but Denny had liked her immediately.
“Jill, I didn’t know you were in town,” Denny said. “Good to see you.”
“Hi there. I just got here today.” Jill greeted them all with a big smile. He’d never noticed what a lovely grin she had. But she looked different.
“Did you do something with your hair?” he asked.
Jill laughed. “You’re very observant. I guess it’s been a few months since we’ve seen one another. I’m letting it go back to my natural color. Platinum was too much. I’m almost thirty after all.”
Again, that smile as the rest of them laughed.
“I like it.” Then he turned to his beer. He hadn’t meant to say that. But she looked so damn sexy in a denim skirt a few inches above her knees and a red stripe top that outlined her breasts and dipped just enough to see her cleavage. He needed to get a grip before he lost his mind completely and kissed her.
“How have you been?” Jill asked quietly when they were settled. “It’s been almost a year, right?”
He nodded. “Next month. I’m surviving. The worst part has been the concern of my friends.” When Jill gave him a puzzled look, he plunged ahead. “They’re all intent on fixing me up on dates. So far, they’ve all been disasters.”
“I can relate to that. To avoid Kiley and my mother pestering me to get out more, I started online dating this past year. After my last date, I’ve sworn off it.”
“That bad? Same thing here. My last date did it for me, too. I didn’t realize there were so many empty-headed women out there. No offense because that certainly doesn’t fit you.”
“None taken, if you don’t mind me saying that there are some pretty lame guys as well. I think I’ve had a date with all of them.”
For the first time in more than a year, Denny felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. It would be all right. And suddenly, the woman next to him with the dark blonde hair curling softly around her jaw aroused in him feelings he hadn’t had since long before Sara died. He tried not to look at her chest as she leaned toward him. She gave his arm a squeeze, which sent a shiver down his spine.
When she rose and headed for the back of the bar, he followed her.
P.C. Zick describes herself as a storyteller no matter what
she writes. And she writes in a variety of genres, including romance,
contemporary fiction, and creative nonfiction. She's won various awards for her
essays, columns, editorials, articles, and novels.
Zick offers a variety of nonfiction books, which include a
book on vegetable gardening, a compilation of her essays and short stories from
her decades-long career as a writer, and a primer for writers on taking an idea
and turning it into a published book. She has also published and annotated the
journal of her great-grandfather based on his experiences as a Union soldier
during the Civil War.
Her novels contain elements of romance with strong female
characters, handsome heroes, and descriptive settings. And all of her works
express her philosophy of living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter,
and passion.
She and her husband live in Tallahassee, Florida, where they enjoy gardening, kayaking, golfing, hiking, and traveling.
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