The Christmas Plan

  The Christmas Plan

  Samantha Chase

  All Rights Reserved.

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  No part of this book, with the exception of brief quotations for book reviews or critical articles, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  Cover Design: Dana Lamothe/Designs by Dana

  Editing: Jillian Rivera Editing

  Praise for Samantha Chase

  “If you can’t get enough of stories that get inside your heart and soul and stay there long after you’ve read the last page, then Samantha Chase is for you!”

  -NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn

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  “A fun, flirty, sweet romance filled with romance and character growth and a perfect happily ever after.”

  -NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips

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  “Samantha Chase writes my kind of happily ever after!”

  -NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas

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  “The openness between the lovers is refreshing, and their interactions are a balanced blend of sweet and spice. The planets may not have aligned, but the elements of this winning romance are definitely in sync.”

  - Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

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  “A true romantic delight, A Sky Full of Stars is one of the top gems of romance this year.”

  - Night Owl Reviews, TOP PICK

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  “Great writing, a winsome ensemble, and the perfect blend of heart and sass.”

  - Publishers Weekly

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  “Recommend Chase to fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Well-written and uniquely appealing.”

  - Booklist

  To My Favorite Romance Chasers

  Several years ago, I wrote a little Christmas book called CHRISTMAS IN SILVER BELL FALLS and dedicated it to you – my little street team. I included all of your names in that book. It wasn’t easy to do, but every one of you became a resident of Silver Bell Falls. Since that time, I’ve written a total of six books in the series (including this one). There are too many of you to mention in the book anymore – basically because we went from a street team of 25 to a reader group of almost 900 – but if I could, I would have included all of you in this final book.

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  Thank you for being an inspiration to me and thank you for loving the people and stories of Silver Bell Falls. This may be the last book in the series, but you know that means I’m already thinking of our next Christmas town and series.

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  Love you all and I hope you enjoy our last trip to this magical little Christmas town.

  xoxo

  One

  “Wait…I’m confused. How can a house make you fall in love? I mean…is there something funky or magical about the house or is it just a family myth? Or is it some kind of Christmas magic?”

  With a patient smile, Aspen Harris gave her best friend Gabe a gentle pat on the leg. “What do you think?”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as his expression grew even more serious as he stared at the TV. “It has to be a myth,” he blurted out a few minutes later. “There are no little fairies flying around or anything sparkly in the air, and–if you ask me–it all just seems a little ridiculous.”

  “Don’t look at it like that. It’s the magic of Christmas! Everyone knows that anything is possible during the holidays.”

  “Only in the movies, Aspen. Real life isn’t like that.”

  “Don’t ruin it for me. There are hundreds of movies about all the wonderful things that happen and people falling in love thanks to Christmas in a small town.”

  “Trust me. As someone who grew up in a small Christmas town, I can safely say that these movies totally miss their mark. It’s not possible.”

  Frowning, she gave him the side-eye. “So you’re telling me no one ever fell in love where you grew up?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just saying the town and Christmas have nothing to do with it.”

  “I think you’re wrong,” she stated simply.

  With a shrug, he stood up and walked into her kitchen. “Any chance you have any of your creations around to snack on?”

  As a chocolatier, there was always something sweet in her kitchen. It was a passion that started back when she was in high school. After years of just making sweets for her friends and family, she went to school for it–which was where she met Gabe who was a film student doing a short film on the culinary department. They became fast friends and now, six years after graduation, they lived next door to each other in a small apartment complex in downtown Atlanta.

  “There should be some in the tin on the island,” she told him.

  There was some noise from the kitchen before he came back to sit beside her. “I swear, these are the best truffles I’ve ever tasted.”

  Blushing at the compliment, she playfully nudged him with her shoulder. “You always say that.”

  “And it’s always true. I don’t know how you do it. I think Angelo needs to give you a raise because no one else in this city makes desserts like you.”

  The weary sigh was out before she could help it. “Yeah, um…I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

  “Why not? The holidays are right around the corner and there are always a ton of requests for your creations for parties and gifts. He makes a small fortune on your chocolates alone.”

  “Not this year,” she murmured.

  “What?”

  Turning her head to look at him, she sighed again. “Not this year.”

  Gabe, with his dark hair and even darker eyes, looked at her with mild confusion. Placing the tin of chocolate down on her coffee table, he twisted in his spot to face her. “What happened?”

  “I quit my job at Angelo’s.”

  “But…why?”

  Ugh…it was totally embarrassing and yet if she had to talk to anyone about it, it’d be Gabe. “Things have been strained at work for a while. Mainly because Angelo has a problem keeping his hands to himself.” She shuddered. “Normally I just chalk it up to him just being a touchy-feely kind of guy. But I started noticing that I’m the only one he does it to.”

  “Aspen…”

  “Monday when I went into work, he called me into his office,” she explained. “Once I sat down, he told me he’d like me to prepare dessert for a private party. And by private, he meant just him. When I said I wasn’t comfortable with it, he gave me an ultimatum–I could either fall in line and do what he asked or I could quit. So…I quit.”

  She watched as Gabe’s expression went from confusion to disbelief to rage. Jumping to his feet, he stalked across the room and picked up his coat. “That’s bullshit, Aspen! I’m going to go down there and give that guy a piece of my mind! And probably a taste of my fist!” His hand was on the front door by the time she jumped up to stop him.

  “Gabe, don’t! It’s not worth it! The job just…” Pausing, she shook her head. “It’s just not worth it. Besides, it will be my word against his and we all know how that goes.”

  “You don’t know that. Have you talked to any of the other women? For all you know, this has happened before!”

  But she shook her head. “I’m really only cl
ose to Joy–you know, the pastry chef. Angelo barely even talks to her so…”

  “So? That doesn’t mean anything. There are other women who work there, Aspen. You need to call Joy and talk to her. Ask her to ask around and…”

  “It won’t matter. He’s the boss, the owner. No one’s going to say anything bad against him and risk their job. Especially not at this time of year.”

  “That’s no excuse,” he said with one hand still on the doorknob, ready to leave at any moment. “Someone needs to go tell him what a colossal jackass he is!”

  As much as she loved how he was defending her, she had more bad news to deliver.

  “Can we please just…sit down?” she asked, carefully leading him away from the door.

  “You can’t possibly be okay with this,” he argued even as he followed her back to the couch. “What are you going to do? Have you started looking for another job? And…wait. This happened on Monday? It’s Friday, Aspen! You waited all week to tell me this?”

  Wordlessly, she took his coat from his hands and patiently waited until he was seated and a little calmer. Taking one of his hands in hers, she gave Gabe a weak smile. “I needed a few days to come to grips with some things.”

  His eyes went wide but he didn’t say anything.

  “I’ve been here in Atlanta for several years and I’ve worked for four different restaurants.” She paused and forced herself to say what she dreaded. “Things just aren’t working for me so…I’m moving back home.”

  “To California?” he asked with disbelief.

  Nodding, she said, “Yup.”

  “But…you can’t!”

  “Can’t?”

  Now he switched positions and gently clasped her hand in both of his. “Aspen, I get that you’re upset but…you can’t just give up. Plus, you’ve always said how much you don’t want to move back to California.”

  “I know, but…I really don’t have a choice. I mean, I wasn’t making great money at Angelo’s but I was making enough to live on. Frugally,” she added. “And honestly, Gabe, I just don’t have it in me to start job hunting during the holidays. I’m sure I can find a temp job, but…” She shrugged.

  “I get that but…any restaurant in the city would be thrilled to have you–especially now! I’ll bet if you put the word out, you’d have more offers than you know what to do with.”

  But she was shaking her head. “I appreciate how much you believe in me, but…I know when to throw in the towel. It’s time for me to move home, lick my wounds, and then I’ll re-evaluate things after the holidays.”

  “Damn, Aspen.”

  “Yeah,” she said wearily. “I know.”

  They sat silently for several moments. “Well, I guess it will be nice for you to get to spend the holidays with your family, huh?”

  “Well…that’s not going to happen either.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Since I don’t normally go home for Christmas or Thanksgiving, my parents started traveling more during the holidays. Last year they were in Italy for Christmas and on a cruise for Thanksgiving,” she explained. “This year they are going skiing up in Lake Tahoe for Thanksgiving and then heading to Hawaii for Christmas.”

  “That’s just…bizarre. I couldn’t imagine being someplace tropical or even just warm for Christmas. It should be cold and snowy.”

  That made her laugh. “A white Christmas?”

  He nodded.

  “Now that’s something I figured was mostly fake–just like the movies you were making fun of a few minutes ago. It’s always a white Christmas in the movies.”

  “And it’s always a white Christmas in Silver Bell Falls.”

  She shrugged. “Says you.” Then, because she felt like she deserved it, Aspen reached out and grabbed a couple of the dark chocolate mint truffles for herself. Leaning back, she did her best to get comfortable and focus on the movie again.

  “So…when are you planning on leaving?” Gabe asked quietly.

  “I already reached out to the leasing office here and I’m going to live out my security deposit so…a month.”

  Beside her, he groaned. “I leave on Tuesday for Silver Bell Falls and my annual pilgrimage to go home and help with the Christmas tree business.”

  That had her straightening. “Then this is it? This is going to be…like…the last time we see each other?” Tears stung her eyes because Gabe was such a big part of her life and the thought of possibly never seeing him again was almost worse than losing her job and having to move.

  Before she could stop herself, she flung herself into his arms and hugged him tight.

  Luckily, his arms banded around her and he held on just as tightly as she was hugging him.

  “Don’t do this, Aspen,” he said gruffly. “I know things look bad right now, but…it will get better. I know it!”

  Oh, how she wished she could believe that. “It’s just sucky timing.” Resting her head on his shoulder, she let out a long breath. “You’ll have to come to San Diego and visit. You know, when you make your first big movie deal.”

  He let out a mirthless laugh. “I don’t think either of us should hold our breath on that. I do okay on the indie scene with my short films and I’ve got a decent following with the podcast, but…”

  Lifting her head, she stared at him. “So you’ve already decided never to visit me?”

  “What?! No! I mean, of course I’ll come visit you!” Then he guided her head back down to his shoulder. “I was just saying that it won’t be for a big movie deal.” They stayed huddled up like that for several minutes before Gabe spoke again. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Since your schedule is pretty much clear and you’re in no rush to get back to California…”

  “I told the leasing people I’d be out by the end of December, so…I’m still kind of limited.”

  “O-kay…but that’s still six weeks away.”

  Aspen lifted her head again. “What are you getting at?”

  “Hear me out.” Gabe’s hands rested on her waist and steadied her on his lap. “Come home with me to Silver Bell Falls for the month.”

  Aspen was pretty sure her eyes were comically wide. “Go home with you?”

  He nodded.

  “For the month?”

  He nodded again.

  “But…what would I do? And…and what about getting this place packed up and ready to move?”

  “Well…I haven’t figured that last part out yet, but you can come home with me and help out at the tree farm or just have a vacation.”

  “I don’t think a vacation is particularly practical for me right now.”

  “Then make chocolates and sell them at the tree lot! Hell,” he said with a small laugh, “we don’t have to have it all worked out.”

  “Gabe…”

  “Plus, I can guarantee you a white Christmas and you can pretend you’re living in one of these holiday movies! It will be great!”

  “Now I think you’re mocking me.” Aspen rolled her eyes and went to move off of his lap but he held her steady.

  “I’m not, Aspen. I swear. Besides, you know my family would love having you there. My mom’s been dying to have you teach her how to make chocolate candies and it would make her a big hit with this year’s cookie exchange if she had your help with it.”

  “No fair. You know I adore your mother.” And she truly did. They shared a love of baking, cheesy holiday movies, and Gabe. It wouldn’t be a hardship for Aspen to spend the month with his family. Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek. “I don’t know how I’m going to make it all work but…I accept your invitation.”

  She reached for the truffles again and handed one to Gabe before they both put their focus back on the movie. The couple they were watching were making wreaths at the town's holiday craft fair and she found herself sighing wistfully. “I don’t think there are really any towns out there like this, but it looks like such a great place to live.”

 
Beside her, Gabe chuckled. “Just remember you said that.”

  Glancing at him, she asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It all looks quaint and charming and fun, but…the reality isn’t nearly as easygoing and romantic.”

  “Oh, come on. How can you say that? I would gladly opt to live in a happy little Christmas town over a big city any day of the week.”

  Gabe just shook his head. “Not me. Don’t get me wrong…it was fine while I was growing up, but once I went to college and saw how much more was out there, the last thing I want to do is move back. I don’t see the appeal.”

  She studied him for a long moment. “Not that I don’t believe you, but…I just prefer to find that out for myself.”

  On Tuesday morning, Gabe was up before the sun and felt like every inch of his body was protesting it.

  After Aspen’s big announcement Friday night, they had been in constant motion trying to get her apartment packed up as well as packing for the trip up North. Somewhere around nine the night before, they decided that they did all that they could; her apartment was ninety percent packed and she had to make a decision on whether or not she was keeping any of the furniture. Gabe’s vote was for her to sell it all since it would cost a lot to move it across the country, and if she was moving in with her parents it was all going to have to go into storage anyway.

  But Aspen was still undecided.

  What they had agreed upon was that she was going to have to fly back to Atlanta before the end of December. Gabe and his family had a long-standing tradition to ring in the new year together and Aspen was going to have to be out of her apartment on or before New Year’s Eve. He hated even thinking about it, but…there were some things that were out of his control.