Christmas Stories

There are many reason why I enjoy Christmas every year.  It's definitely not the shopping, which I reflected a bit in my story, Four Weeks 'til Christmas.  It is about the heart.  All the heart-felt aspects.  Giving gifts to those you care about.  Seeing a child's face light up when that gift is under the tree.  Helping those less fortunate and letting them know that someone cares; that they do matter. It's magical.  Like the way the world hushes as snow drifts and blankets the world in white during the midnight hours.  When everything looks clean, even if just until the plow drivers start their shift.  :)

I enjoy the stories.  The stories of Christmas miracles and love.  I must've downloaded close to a dozen Christmas romances over the past two weeks.  Much like my own story, most of them are short.  After all, it is a busy time of the year.  We have time to watch a movie, but not a trilogy.  So, we have time for a short story.  And, by the end, something wonderful has happened...who doesn't have time for that??

Anyway, those are some of the reasons I enjoy Christmas.  Oh and the lights...either driving around in the car and looking at the displays in the neighborhood or sitting by the tree, in the dark, mesmerized by the blinking lights.  Something peaceful about it all.  The songs, they always touch my heart and bring tears to my eyes.

Okay, so there isn't much I don't love about the season.  And, I could go on a tangent about what those few things are, but I don't want to go there.  I want to bask in the beauty of Christmas.  And, I want that for you too.

Love & Blessings,

~Jayn~

Excerpt from Four Weeks Til Christmas

Excerpt from Four Weeks 'til Christmas, now available!  Kindle:  http://amzn.com/B00GSPUCTA

By six a.m. Noelle was beginning to fall apart.  Her feet hurt, her eyes stung and her holiday cheer had walked out the back door.  She only had two more hours to go and she picked up another cup of coffee to boost her energy. When she heard her name called over the loud speaker, she bolted out of the break room with her cup of coffee and barreled in to a wall.  A human wall.

“Shit.”

“Oh my gosh.  I am so sorry.”  Embarrassment and exhaustion took over and as she stared at the huge brown spot on the white shirt in front of her, tears began to slide down her cheeks.

“Hey.  Don’t worry, it’s okay.”  A deep voice vibrated through her.

“I just…it’s…sorry.”  Noelle glanced up at the victim of her clumsiness and gasped.  The man, whom she had just spilled her coffee all over his white shirt, was beautiful.  He was probably over six feet tall, though with his head ducked down to look at her, she couldn’t be sure.  His dark blue eyes were fixed on her face.  He was frowning, but whether it was out of concern or annoyance, she wasn’t sure.  

Noelle hadn’t noticed the strong hands that held her up until now.  Warmth flooded through her and for the first time, in a long time, she felt safe.  Noelle glanced down at the large hands that gently held her forearms and the man suddenly let her go, leaving her feeling bereft.  She wondered what it would be like to feel those gentle hands on other places of her body.  How it would feel to tuck herself in to those strong arms?  She sniffed, wiping her hand over her eyes, and an intoxicating scent drifted to her nose, assaulting her senses.

“Sir.  Please forgive me.  It’s been a long night.  If you send me the cleaning bill I will reimburse you.”

“What?”  Oh he was well over six foot and built like a linebacker.  His face was scrunched with confusion.  Then, a smile crept on his face as a light flickered in those beautiful eyes.

“Don’t worry about the shirt, sweets.  I have plenty more.”

Noelle would normally bristle at the endearment, but something about the gentleness in his voice comforted her, instead.  To make matters worse, the warmth that had flowed through her body was now probably displayed by the blush in her cheeks.  Which, he was gazing at, that moment.

“I am so sorry.  I have to go.”  She turned to head back to the break room.

“Before you go, Noelle…” Her head snapped back and she couldn’t help but glare at him.  He pointed at her Samson’s name tag then flashed a beautiful, wide bright smile at her, stealing her breath away.  He was gorgeous.  Sinfully gorgeous.  Noelle felt her knees weaken as the thought invaded her mind.  “Do you have any more of those singing dolls?  Sammy or Stacey?  I was given the duty of stopping by and getting one for my niece, but I don’t see them any where.”

“Singing Suzy?”

“Ah, Suzy, yes that’s the one.”

“Let me check for you.”  Noelle high-tailed it away from him and once again headed to the store room.  She dug in to a new box that had been delivered at five a.m. and found the doll. 

“Here you go sir.”

“Zane. Noelle, please call me Zane.”

Christmas Story

I've been considering writing a Christmas story. Perhaps a short story or novella. A little holiday magic, romance and perhaps a bit of danger mixed in as well. The thought has popped in my head here and there over the past few weeks. Funny thing about time...it keeps moving. So, if I am going to do it, I'd better whip it up fast, get edits done and get it out there, right? I mean, after all, Christmas isn't very far off.

So I am starting the story today and hoping for the best. It will start on Black Friday and be set in the retail environment. Anyone who has ever shopped, in person, during the holiday season knows that it is a wicked time. Some people are aggressive and edgy. Some people are so wrapped up (pun...hee hee) in the holiday season that they wear perpetual smiles and hum Christmas tunes throughout the day. I tend to fall somewhere in between. I love the season, hate the cold and dread shopping. I love to give gifts, especially the 'unexpected'. The kids may want today's latest game system, but my mind works overtime to recall all those 'little things' they love, want and enjoy. I don't buy the trendy stuff, but focus on the lasting items that show I pay attention to the recipient's interests.

Anyway, the heroine will be a retail clerk. She will be surrounded by co-workers and customers that try to stifle her enjoyment of the holidays. An optimist at heart, and a romantic through-and-through, the heroine will find that this holiday season, the best gift she could ever hope for will come from a complete stranger (our hero). But, in order for her to be happy, she must deal with the ghosts of Christmas past. And, her hero must be willing to deal with his ghosts of Christmas present.

Very excited to put these thoughts in to a story that will hopefully touch the hearts of others.

Working title: "Four Week 'til Christmas"

Stay tuned!!

~J~