Introduction
Nic Rudolf
I'd lived in Mistletoe, Montana my entire life, never wanting or needing to leave the perfect little town. I ran the only toy store, handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items that my family had created for three generations.
I was happy and content, but there was always something missing. I didn't know what that was until a hotshot marketing executive from New York City walked into my life wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.
I knew I had to make her mine.
Candy Kain
It was supposed to be an easy job that only lasted a few weeks. Fly down to Mistletoe, Montana, and help bring Nic's Toys, a small town artisan toy shop, into the twenty-first century.
What I wasn't expecting to do was fall in love, not only with the quaint town but with the sweet woodworker. A possessive man who swept me off my feet, making me want more than I had ever hoped to dream.
Forever with him.
But could I let go of my past so that I could have a happy future?
Warning: Grab your cocoa and put your feet up while you fall in love once again in Mistletoe Montana with a curvy city girl a small town toymaker
Chapter 1
Nic
“Uncle Nico!” Loud shrieks bombarded me. I looked up to see the two prettiest girls in the world as they rushed me, tackling me off my feet and forcing us to land in a pile on the floor, almost knocking over one of the tacky Christmas trees.
“Princesses.” I grabbed them in a bear hug before getting up, one girl dangling in each arm, my gaze taking in my sister, as big as a house, waddling her way toward us.
“Hey, sis. That baby still hasn’t popped out of the oven yet?” I asked, kissing her on the cheek, the girls kicking and screaming, their giggles echoing in the room.
“Put us down, Uncle Nico,” Penelope demanded, her foot just barely missing my junk in her wild attempts to free herself.
“Yes, Uncle Nico, put us down,” Leena hollered as she punched me in the back.
Fearing bodily harm, I placed them down on the floor, fake frowning as I stared down at them. “You know, I bought some treats, but you two are just too horrible to get any.”
“Are not,” Penny whined, jutting out her bottom lip.
“We’re the best,” Leena said, stomping her foot.
I bent down so I was eye level with them, the three of us staring at each other like an old western showdown. Penelope started squinting to hold her stance, but I could see Leena begin to crack a small smile.
“Go to my office,” I said once the smile turned into a full-blown burst of laughter.
“Cupcakes from Beau’s?” Penelope asked, her small hands on her waist, a hip cocked to the side.
“Would I dare get anything else?” I teased before both girls ran to the back of the store, disappearing out of sight.
“So, where’s that husband of yours now?” I asked, getting up and looking at my sister. Her husband was an okay guy, a great provider, but he was never home, making Sarah basically a slave to two kids, soon to be three.
“He’s in Cleveland. The company needed him,” she said, trying to maneuver herself into a seat.
“You should have made him get fixed,” I mumbled, helping her adjust in a wood chair. I stared at her giant belly. “What’s the chances of someone having two sets of twins in a row?”
“And they say lightning doesn’t strike twice,” she said, smiling a faint smile, so small that I had to double-check to make sure it was there. I knew she was exhausted; she’d have to be with those two hellions.
“Want me to take them for the weekend?”
“No, I can handle it,” she said, rubbing her massive belly.
“Those kids are going to weigh a ton.”
“Would you stop it,” Sarah said, attempting to hit me.
“Sucks having those giants in your way, huh,” I teased, getting out of the way before she made contact.
"You're horrible," Sarah said through her laughter.
"But seriously, I'll take them for a few days. You need to rest up a bit."
“Don’t you have that marketing executive coming from New York City?”
“Those assholes wouldn’t know quality toys if they bit them in the ass. They think they can send some Mattel-loving moron here to try to tell me how to run a toy store. We’ve been in business for 100 years. There is nothing they can tell me that will change anything.”
“Nic, I think you should be quiet and greet the young lady who’s waiting patiently behind you,” Sarah said, pointing over my shoulder.
I turned around, and there was the hottest woman I’d ever seen in my entire life. No way it was legal for someone to look this good. She was tall, taller than average, with these curves that made my fingers twitch just to touch them…and that hair. Her hair was long and dark brown, and all I could think about was fisting it in my hands. She had every single part of me standing at attention.
"Nico Rudolf?" the woman asked. Her green wool sweater had a design of Santa and a reindeer with a big felt ball sticking out for his nose. She had a large black bag hanging from her shoulder that she kept shuffling back and forth.
"How can I help you, gorgeous?" I asked, flashing her a smile. I'd always been told I had a friendly smile. She didn't look amused, which was really weird for a girl who was wearing a child’s sweater. She pushed her thick-rimmed glasses up her nose and stared me straight in the eyes.
"I'm Candance Kane. Nice to meet you," she said, jutting out her hand, which I took in my own. I couldn't believe how soft it felt.
"You're joking, right?"
"Pardon?" she asked, tilting her head slightly to one side. "What would I have to be joking about?"
"Your name," I said, chuckling.
"I really don't think you have any room to mock someone's name. Yours is a mixture of a reindeer with a light bulb for a nose and a jolly fat man who rides around bringing kids presents."
“Kinda like your sweater… Nice to see you’re a fan,” I said, smiling at her.
That's when my sister howled in a fit of laughter.
"Oh Lord, laughter is horrible when pregnant," she said before wiggling out of the chair to stand. "Please excuse me. I need the little ladies' room."
"She's pregnant; everything makes her pee apparently," I said, bringing my attention back to the pretty brunette standing in front of me. "So, how can I help you?"
"I'm from corporate. I'm the marketing strategist."
"Corporate? You mean you work for Luc Dupont, my apparently not-so-silent partner."
“Mr. Rudolf, Luc just wants to make sure the special nature of your business is marketed to its full extent. I’m not here to change your practices. I’m just looking to find any areas that we can maximize on. You won’t even notice my presence here,” she said, pulling out a card from her bag and handing it to me.
“I doubt that,” I whispered under my breath, taking the card from her.