As I've mentioned previously, I honestly never had any plans, after finishing Forbidden Mate, to continue the series... I figured it was entitled 'The Holland Brothers' and as there were only four of them there would only be four books... that sounded fairly logical to me... However, you guys didn't see it that way and I'm glad.
I got the idea to re-visit my boys for a Christmas story and then asked the question... After a resounding yes please from my friends on Facebook I sat down to write and wouldn't you know it.... no-one spoke...Crap!!!!
It took a little coaxing to get my boys to open up and start telling me what was going on but we got there in the end... Even if the ending came 30,000 feet up on a flight between Singapore and Seoul. Thank God for Airport Wi-fi that's all I can say.
Anyway I really hope everyone enjoys this little catch up with the Holland brothers and their mates.
Blurb:
Christmas is a time for family and friends. Catch up with the Holland Brothers and their mates as they race to get everything ready for their second Christmas together.
Excerpt:
Another
school year over with and Zack couldn't believe how much he looked forward to
doing absolutely nothing for a couple of weeks. He loved his job, but being
able to sit at home and relax instead of working on class curriculums or
grading papers would be wonderful. Not to mention getting to spend some quality
time with his mate and daughter.
Simon
always amazed him with how patient he could be when Zack had a pile of marking
to get through or new classes he had to prepare for. He honestly didn't know
how he would have coped without his mate.
Now
it was the eve of their second Christmas together and Zack had never been
happier. Finalising his last purchase for the day, he stuffed his credit card
back into his wallet, thanked the salesclerk, and wished her a Merry Christmas.
Picking up his purchases, he headed out of the store and went looking for his
mate and Jason.
The
crowds surrounded him as he exited the store into one of the main thoroughfares
of the shopping centre complex. The noise level rose exponentially and the
scents that assaulted Zack's nose were almost overwhelming. Christmas carols
being played on the speaker system added to the background noise.
Thank
God he hadn't brought Hayley with them. Zack had almost given in when Hayley
had turned her big jade green eyes on him, with just a hint of moisture beginning
to gather in the corner. Simon had had to step in before he caved. He was
thankful for the rescue now as he could just imagine losing Hayley in this
large crowd of people.
As
it stood, he'd lost his mate and brother-in-law to the crowd and wasn't sure he
could ever find them again. Ringing in his pocket distracted him for a second
and just as Zack moved his heavy bags to his other hand so he could retrieve
his phone someone bumped into him from behind.
Not
expecting the sudden jolt Zack hadn't been prepared for it and stumbled
forward, barely keeping his footing. A mumbled apology came from some distance
away as the man who'd pushed him kept on his way without so much as looking
back to check he was alright.
Scowling
after the man Zack retrieved his phone and answered the call when he saw Simon's
name as the caller. He hurried over to the side, so he could stand with his
back against the glass windows of a store, hoping he would be far enough out of
the way he wouldn't be bowled over again.
"Hey,
babe," Zack sighed, as his body relaxed at the first sounds of his mate's
voice.
"Hey
yourself," he replied.
"You
ready to get out of this mad house?" Simon asked him.
"Oh,
hell yeah. These people are nuts."
"Tell
me about it, I just saw one of those Santa photo grottos with the sluttiest
elves I've ever seen in my life. I didn't realise miniskirts and fishnets were
the uniform of the North Pole this year." Simon sounded horrified and Zack
couldn't blame him.
"Shit, really?" Zack asked. "How could parents not be complaining about that?" he wondered.
"Shit, really?" Zack asked. "How could parents not be complaining about that?" he wondered.
"The
funny thing is that none of the little kids know any better but the number of
dads lining up with their children is ridiculous. No way would I ever let our
daughter get her photo taken in a place like that." Even though they had
been together for nearly two years it still warmed his heart when he heard his
mate call Hayley 'our daughter'.
"Did
you get everything you needed to?" he asked to make sure all presents had
been purchased as there was no way in hell he wanted to come back here again.
"Yeah,
Jason and I are done. We're on the way back to the car. We'll meet you there,
we can then head on over to the supermarket and get that out of the way before
going home."
Zack
groaned. He had completely forgotten they still had to finalise the grocery
shopping as well. "Okay. I'll meet you at the car in five."
"Okay,
babe, love you," Simon said.
"Love
you, too." Zack hung up his phone and shoved it back into his pocket. He separated
his purchases between his hands and headed off into the crowd on his way to the
car park and his mate.
Leave a comment to go in the draw to win either a copy of A Very Holland Christmas or a $10 ebook gift voucher to the store of your choice (As long as I have an account with them)
