Christmas in Kings Grove (Kindle and ePub)

Tuck Anderson, party of one?

That’s been my whole life, mate. Seems I’m meant to be single. The failure of my last relationship is what led me to accept a friend’s offer to come live in the mountains for a while, and Kings Grove is exactly the kind of simple solitude a guy like me needs.

Except it’s pretty lonely.

And there is that hot veterinarian, Annie Gish. But I’ve learned too many times already that I am not the guy who wins at love. So when she offers to help train my crazy dogs in exchange for some help putting the winter festival together, I accept her offer against my better judgment.

I tell myself we’re going to keep it friendly. That I’m not getting involved.

But when Dr. Gish’s life turns out to be far more complicated than I imagined, I realize I’m already involved. And I’d do just about anything to see her smile again in the light of that big Kings Grove Christmas tree.

And I know she wants me too. But sometimes, life gets in the way of what we want.

Christmas in Kings Grove is a novella full of your favorite Kings Grove characters, plenty of holiday fun, and a hard-earned happy ever after.

This right here is all a man really needs. 

Bright blue skies. Cool clear air. A couple dogs who totally understand him and get what he's about. 

At least I’d been telling myself that for the last several months since moving to the small mountain town of Kings Grove, where I seemed to be surrounded by couples in love. I was very decidedly not part of a couple. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I believed in love—it had never worked out for me in the past. 

My most recent spectacular failure at the sport of dating was the reason I’d had no hesitation in accepting my buddy Cam’s invitation to come to Kings Grove in the first place. 

"Yoga Pants, Zappy!" I tugged on the leashes of my not-perfectly behaved dogs, who were currently yapping and leaping around the wheels of a car I did not own, and one that would not be offering them a ride. "Girls, come on." 

The car belonged to a very attractive veterinarian, whom I would certainly have been interested in, had I not just had the point driven home again that Tucker Anderson was not cut out for relationships. No matter how good an idea they seemed at the outset, no matter how much I believed it could work—it wouldn’t. And for that reason, I was avoiding the pretty doctor and the temptation she represented. I was not going to get my big, stupid heart broken again. 

“Girls, let’s go now,” I urged, tugging harder. 

"Still having a tough time with those girls?" 

And there she was, the woman I was trying to avoid. Annie Gish. Her wild curls framed her perfect, smooth skin and those gorgeous, almond-shaped eyes peering up at me. Animal know-how and gentle adorableness complete with incredibly long legs. 

"I wouldn't say that, exactly." I turned on my trademark Aussie smile. I’d been told it was both a defense and a magnet. I tugged the leashes again, but the dogs were completely absorbed in trying to climb up into Annie's Jeep Wrangler. Since it didn't have proper doors, the Jeep seemed like an invitation every time we walked past it. They loved car rides. 

"Girls!" I called. "Come on, now." I glanced at Annie, whose smile made my stomach do things it shouldn't. 

"I could help you train them," she said, stepping closer. 

Out of instinct, I stepped back. "They're just exuberant." That was a crock. They definitely needed training. 

"Tuck," she said, not for the first time. "Aussies are great dogs." She cocked her head and smiled like we were sharing a secret. "And great people." 

Oh man, was she flirting with me? This was exactly what I was trying to avoid. My flirting instinct was strong, and I'd definitely flirted with the hot Kings Grove veterinarian in the past. And now that she was flirting back, it was nearly impossible to keep myself from responding in kind. 

But I needed to be strong. She seemed perfect, which just meant it would never work out. I forced my lips to stay sealed. 

Annie approached the dogs and turned her attention to them, which was a relief. I needed a bit of a reprieve.  

"But you know, Tuck, you really can’t raise dogs if you’re not going to train them. It’s not very responsible." 

I was listening to her, I really was, but part of my mind was buzzing with attraction and I needed a moment to get it under control. 

"Hey, ladies," she cooed at the dogs. 

Then her voice turned stern and serious. "Down!" she ordered. Her strong, commanding tone was even worse for my growing interest in her than the sweet, calm voice she normally used. 

"Get down. Good dogs. Sit. Good girls." The tone she used brooked no argument—not from me and not from the dogs. Their furry heads shot around to consider her, and something in that no-nonsense voice of hers got their attention and their obedience. They dropped their short, little legs from the side of the Jeep and turned to sit side by side, tongues lolling as they stared at Annie in adoration. 

She knelt in front of them, petting their black and white heads and ears as the cool winter morning brightened around us. It was December, but there was no snow yet in Kings Grove, and I’d been warned it might not come, thanks to the never-ending drought in California.

"You've gotta get them trained, Tuck." Her eyes were on me again, and all rational thought flew out of my mind.

Stay strong, Tuck. Entanglements with pretty vets are not on your agenda.