Merry Entwined Hearts

I knuckled him on the shoulder. Not that I wasn’t grateful for his help, but the same urgency that had been pressing against me all morning returned with full force.

“Wyatt will be here soon,” I said. “You can’t be here when he comes.”

“Why not?”

I rolled my eyes. Why not? Please.

I took Jared by his beefy shoulders and directed him toward my bedroom doorway and then to the main door beyond. Or—that was the plan, anyway.

Despite my efforts, he still hadn’t budged.

“Because this is a romantic getaway with me and my fiancé, and you can’t be here when he comes to pick me up.”

To have my best friend here when my fiancé came? Wyatt was pretty chill about the fact that my lifelong bestie was of the male variety, but this was a personal preference.

How would that look if another man was here when my man came for me?

Jared would be cool about the dismissal, I knew, which was why I had no qualms about shooing him away. He was so thick, though—I might as well be pushing a building.

Still standing in the exact same spot he’d been moments before, he slid me a smug, challenging smirk.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I said as my feet slipped on the carpet and he didn’t move a millimeter.

“It’s always nice to see you try.

“Aren’t your meathead friends waiting for you?”

He worked out regularly with Tim and Miguel. For the sole purpose of the three of them bragging about their individual bench press record, I’d wager.

“Not today. I’m heading over to Tia’s before she leaves on her cruise.”

I tried to ignore just how impressively firm his muscles were beneath my hands, but his silky growl crept into my concentration, stirring a spot beneath my sternum.

“You like that, don’t you?”

That tone gave me pause. I glanced up to find him smoldering at me.

And then he brought his fisted hands together in front of his stomach, flexing. Beneath his shirt, his pecks popped. First one. Then the other.

An unexpected flush of heat crept up my neck.

“It’s okay,” he said, his voice lowering. “Take your time.”

Too late, I realized my attempts to push him had stopped. I was standing there with my hands on his firm deltoids. Lingering. And yeah, enjoying the shape of him.

More heat flushed to fill my entire face.

“Dork,” I said, hitting my fists against his chest to get him to stop and to hide my reaction—because where did that come from?

Find out what happens next in Merry Entwined Hearts! 

"This book is a beautifully written, heartwarming story full of Christmas magic and love. Catelyn Meadows does a fantastic job bringing relatable characters to life—Lacie and Jared's friendship feels so genuine, and watching them navigate the unexpected twists of their holiday adventure had me smiling the entire time." -A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader

"This Christmas romance book will captivate your heart and put you into the holiday spirit of romance...The storyline is heartwarming clear until the very end." -A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader

MAIN TROPES:

☑️ Friends-to-Lovers

☑️ He Falls First (and Falls Hard)

☑️ Fake Marriage

☑️ Matchmaking Radio

☑️ Snowed In for Christmas

☑️ Sizzle Without Spice