A MERRY AUSSIE CHRISTMAS
“A wonderful story of second chances...I really enjoyed reading this book - something I say whenever I read a Stefanie London book, but it’s true.””
A Patterson’s Bluff CHristmas story
Their relationship is so fake it comes with costumes…
At seventeen, Jasper left Patterson’s Bluff so fast the dust cloud never settled. But when fate brings him back, he’s ready to prove he’s not a bad egg like his criminal father. So, he slaps some reindeer antlers on his Basset Hound and volunteers to be Santa for the festive season.
Being her hometown’s official Mrs. Claus was supposed to be fun. Instead, Evie is stuck being “married” to the sexy bad boy she crushed on in high school. The same one who broke her heart when he left town. But she can’t deny their chemistry burns hotter than an open fire.
It’ll take a holiday miracle for them not to ruin Christmas. Can the misunderstood bad boy and the town golden girl get a second chance at love? Or will Evie be stuck in Jasper’s rear-view mirror once more?
CAN THIS BE READ AS A STANDALONE?
Yes! Each book in this series features a different couple, so they can be read in any order.
Is this book available in languages other than english?
Not at this stage.
IS THIS BOOK AVAILABLE IN AUDIO?
Not at this stage.
“...funny and romantic, just perfect for this time of year.””
Excerpt from A Merry Aussie Christmas
“So, what happened with Sean’s replacement, anyway?” Evie asked. “I saw you sent an email saying it had been sorted, but you were still waiting for the new volunteer to sign the paperwork. I was so busy at work this week I completely forgot to write back.”
Work had been crazier than usual, what with getting all the Christmas stock ticketed and ready for the holiday season. She’d even missed the weekly Dunn family dinner last Wednesday, which was not like her at all.
But as Angie opened her mouth to respond to Evie’s question, the door to the admin office swung open. Santa was officially in the building. The tall figure walked into the room with a hip-rolling gait that made Evie’s mouth run dry. He was already in full festive getup—an identical hat to the one she wore on top of his wavy light brown hair, and a curly white beard covering what she knew to be a jaw sharp enough to turn a grown woman to mush.
But it was, as always, something else that had Evie’s breath catching in her throat—the man’s beautiful, unusual eyes. One as blue as the waters rimming the coast of Patterson’s Bluff and the other a mix of that same blue and a warm whisky-brown.
Jasper bloody McCann.
Also known as the last person she would ever want to spend her holidays with.
*
Didn’t the saying go that revenge was a dish best served cold? Well, Jasper wasn’t so sure about that. Because this particular revenge was proving to be smoking hot and he’d only just set foot into the room. Of course Evie Dunn was wearing an outfit that looked like something out of a fantasy.
But the sparkly shoes and short hem showing off her incredible legs wasn’t the most appealing thing he could see right now. Oh no, that honour went to Evie’s facial expression. The facial expression that told him (a) she had not known he was her replacement festive counterpart and (b) she still thought as lowly of him as always.
“Hey, wifey,” he said, strolling toward her with Big Ears trailing in after him. The reindeer antler headband he’d put on the dog’s head contained a few bells that jangled with each plodding step.
“Don’t ‘wifey’ me.” The woman might have the face of an angel, but she also had the temper of a footy player about to lose a finals match. It was a lot of emotion in a very petite package. “Is this a joke?”
Evie’s head swung in the direction of Angie, whose eyes were wide as saucers. Being a newcomer to Patterson’s Bluff, she probably had no idea that Evie had a beef with Jasper that went all the way back to high school. “Uh…”
“No joke.” Jasper stuck his hands into the pockets of his Santa pants and braced himself for the prickly shock. The damn things created so much static he’d almost zapped poor Big Ears loading him into the car on the way over. “I’m Sean’s replacement.”
“You?” Evie looked at him with a glance that could turn a man to stone. “How on earth did Sean convince you to step up?”
“Maybe I lost a bet,” he quipped, happier to leave her thinking he’d been forced into this arrangement than knowing he’d come willingly.
She got under his skin in the worst and best ways possible. But telling Evie he’d readily agreed was a bad idea, because that would only encourage questions. And he didn’t hate anything as much as he hated questions. So he’d done what any normal guy would do: made a joke and let someone think poorly of him rather than be vulnerable.
“He lost a bet. Maybe.” Evie shook her head and looked at Angie as if to say, Ugh, men. “Are you sure you can do this? I don’t even know why you’d want to, frankly.”
Jasper bristled even though he’d known the kind of reaction he would get from Evie. According to her, he was trouble. Rough around the edges. They didn’t have any tracks in town, but if they did then Jasper would have been from the wrong side of them.
“I’m playing Santa, not running for mayor,” he drawled, unable to stop himself wanting to bait her. “You don’t need to worry about my intentions being pure. I assure you they’re not. In fact, I’d say they’re about as pure as your dress.”
Her jaw tightened. “What’s wrong with the dress?”
Not a single thing. Everything about that dress was right—from the fur trim that seemed to have flecks of glitter in it to the way the shape accentuated Evie’s small waist and rounded shoulders. She had a black belt cinching her in and some shimmery stuff slicked across her lips that distracted him every time she spoke. That would be a problem, he predicted.
Because Evie had a big mouth and she liked to use it.
