One Snowy Eve Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Alexx Andria

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  One Snowy Eve

  A Sleeping With The Scrooge Short Story

  Alexx Andria

  Alexx Andria

  Contents

  Back cover blurb

  A Note From Alexx

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  The Flirt Club!

  Also By Alexx Andria

  About the Author

  Back cover blurb

  Detective Oliver Thorne takes an instant disliking to Snowdon newcomer Harmony Bishop but when Harmony’s shop is ransacked and her livelihood threatened, Oliver takes the case.

  Harmony is all about sugar cookies, popcorn garland and hot cocoa; Oliver is hard-headed, bitter and broken inside.

  The sparks fly when these polar opposites are thrown together. Will Oliver solve the case and wash his hands of Harmony or will Harmony help him rediscover his lost Christmas spirit through the healing power of love?

  One Snowy Eve might just change everything…

  ***

  Ho ho . . . no?

  It’s the holiday season, and the Flirt Club authors have a flirty new short story collaboration to deck your halls.

  Meet the six scrooges of Snowdon, a quaint Massachusetts town that goes all out for the winter holidays. If only there was something (or someone . . .) that could melt these scrooges' holiday humbug and help them find a reason to love the most wonderful time of the year.

  Hang those stockings, trim that tree, and get your hot cocoa ready — the Sleeping With the Scrooge series releases December 4th! #FCAscrooge

  A Note From Alexx

  There’s something about the holidays that make anything seem possible. I love the possibility of new beginnings and fresh starts, particularly for people who have been grievously hurt by circumstance. I hope you enjoy this sweet story of renewed hope and Christmas miracles.

  —Alexx

  Harmony Bishop nibbled her index finger, aggravating the raw skin as she surveyed the wreckage of her shop, One Snowy Eve. Everything was smashed to bits — delicate glass snow globes and porcelain Father Christmas figurines imported from Germany lay smashed and ruined on the hardwood floor and deep gouges scored the beautiful mahogany display armoire.

  Oh heavens, she blinked back tears, who could be so mean?

  Who could do this to her? She didn’t know hardly anyone here in Snowdon, Massachusetts.

  Definitely not well enough to warrant such destruction.

  The detective, a brawny man with hard blue eyes set beneath dark slashes for eyebrows, asked her again, “Do you know who might want to destroy your property?”

  Roused from her thoughts, she returned to the man identified as Det. Oliver Thorne with an honest shake of her head. “I’m new to Snowdon. I just moved here eight months ago. I’ve only been open for two months, just in time for the Christmas season.” She glanced around with a bruised heart. “Everything is ruined. I don’t know who would want to do something so mean.”

  Det. Thorne scribbled in his pocket notebook. “Where are you from originally?”

  “Um, Florida.”

  His brow went up. “Big difference between Florida and Massachusetts.”

  “That’s what I liked about it. I wanted someplace with snow. And no alligators.” And no ex-boyfriend. She cleared her throat, suppressing the immediate shiver and forcing a bright smile. “You know, it was probably just kids blowing off steam in an unhealthy way. Snowdon seems like a pretty safe place. I doubt it’s anything more dangerous than kids with too much time on their hands. Can I get a copy of your report for my insurance claim?”

  But the detective’s slow perusal of all the damage told a different story. “Are you sure there’s no one who might carry a grudge against you? No money was taken from the till but everything in this shop has been destroyed. It took a lot of rage to do this kind of damage. Kids messing around usually smash a few things and grab what’s easy. This feels more than delinquents having fun at someone else’s expense.”

  Harmony blinded him with a smile as she shook her head. “Not that I can think of,” she answered, refusing to let fear cloud her fresh start. She couldn’t jump at every shadow or see her ex in every unfortunate circumstance.

  Bad luck happened to everyone.

  “I have insurance. I can recoup the loss before Christmas. Hopefully, whoever did this, gets some help for their issues. Do you know when you’ll have your report filed?”

  Det. Thorne frowned, pocketing his notebook and handing her a follow-up card with his contact information. “Going forward, you might want to invest in a video security system. There are some good ones available for a modest investment.”

  She accepted the card. “I’ll look into that, thank you.” The detective made his way carefully to the door, mindful of the mess scattered everywhere. “If you think of anything that might help the investigation, don’t hesitate to call.”

  “Will do,” she assured him but Harmony already knew she wanted to keep moving forward and that meant chalking up this incident as an unfortunate set-back and moving on. That’s how she got through the hell of her separation and eventual escape from Johnny Vargas. One day, one hour, one minute at a time. Gotta keep moving forward.

  “I think this is the Universe’s way of telling me I need more Christmas cheer,” she said, laughing as she followed Det. Thorne to the door. “Now I can order those cranberry wreaths I had my eye on. As my grandmother used to say, there’s a silver lining to every cloud.”

  But Det. Thorne didn’t even crack a smile. If anything his scowl darkened, which on his face, was pretty fearsome. She felt sorry for any criminal who might cross his path when he was having a bad day. “Ms. Bishop, I don’t think you understand the seriousness of this situation. You might think this was just kids being brats but there’s something about this crime scene that feels like dangerous rage. If there’s anything you haven’t shared with me, now is the time to fess up. Do you have anyone who might have the intention to harm you?”

  Harmony’s heart fluttered in echoed fear but there was no way she was going to burden herself with ghosts from the past. Johnny was in Florida and there’s no way he followed her to Massachusetts. She chuckled to ease Det. Thorne’s fears. “I love your dedication but I’m nobody. I keep to myself and it’s practically Christmas so I’m going to lean into that Christmas Spirit and forgive whoever did this so I can move on.”

  Det. Thorne’s mouth tightened with displeasure but he didn’t argue further. Instead, he gestured to the card in her hand, reminding her, “Call me if you remember anything useful.”

  “Absolutely,” she promised, closing the door behind him.

  Talk about tall, dark and broody. Det. Thorne wasn’t hard on the eyes but there was something so unapproachable about him.

  And yet, she wasn’t intimidated by him.

  Johnny had been deceptively hard. Especially when he sucker punched her in the jaw.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. No! Leave the past in the past. No time to dwell. She had a shop to clean and fix. Christmas was the most beautiful, wonderful time of the year and no one was going to take that from her.

  One Snowy Eve was going to rise from the ashes, bigger and better.

  And filled from floor to ceiling with good cheer.

  Time to get to work.

/>   Oliver Thorne left the ruined gift shop with a troubled frown. That woman was hiding something behind her blindingly sweet smile and those twinkling almond-shaped brown eyes.

  There’s no way random kids came into that shop and busted it all to hell like that.

  The devastation spoke of unbridled anger, something personal.

  He believed her in that she hadn’t been here long enough to piss someone off bad enough to create that kind of rage, which meant whoever had broken into her shop must’ve known her from Florida.

  The easy line to draw was an ex.

  An angry, jealous or dangerous ex.

  But if she wasn’t going to fess up, he couldn’t force her.

  Man, the woman was into Christmas that was for sure. It was as if Christmas had vomited over every surface, spreading glitter and ribbon everywhere it went.

  And don’t forget the twinkling lights, a voice reminded him. God, yes, the lights.

  She was practically elf-sized, how did she manage to hang all that stuff along the ceiling? A rough guess put her at about five feet, two inches. Her long blonde hair curled in giant, lazy swirls that bounced when she walked, that effervescent smile out of place with the devastation all around her.

  Misplaced positivity grated on his nerves.

  Especially when it seemed dangerous to ignore the facts.

  Someone was out to hurt the tiny shop owner.

  That much was obvious.

  It wasn’t in him to close the book on something that nagged at his gut. As much as he loathed the idea of spending more time in that Christmas-drenched shop, he knew his gut was rarely wrong.

  And he didn’t trust anyone else with his cases.

  So that left him with the only option open — spend a little more time with the elf-sized woman and figure out who was responsible for that break-in.

  Before they come back and do some real damage to Miss Bishop.

  Harmony sat cuddled in her blanket, staring into the dancing flames in the stone fireplace, her hands wrapped around a hot cup of cocoa. Her muscles ached from the task of cleaning up the wreckage of her shop but she took satisfaction in that it was finished.

  She was already excited about purchasing items she’d had to forgo the first time around because she’d hit her budget.

  The reincarnation of One Snowy Eve was going to be epic. How long had she dreamed of opening her own storefront? A gift shop filled with unique, beautiful, hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind art pieces to appeal to shoppers looking for something off the beaten path.

  Longer than she could count.

  Moving to Snowdon had made that possible — almost as if it were meant to be.

  She’d practically stumbled on the long-empty storefront when she’d gone searching for an appropriate space to lease.

  Built in the late 1800s, the space had seen many different businesses over the years but after a time had sat forlorn and forgotten as people opted for more modern aesthetics.

  Not Harmony, though. The minute she’d stepped inside the old building, her nose twitching from the cold air, her feet kicking up a layer of dust as she walked the creaking floor, she’d simply felt in her bones that she’d found her home.

  A fresh start was supposed to feel like summer sunshine on your soul and that’s exactly how Harmony had felt when she signed the lease.

  No more Florida humidity.

  No more alligators lurking in every puddle.

  No more Johnny Vargas screaming at her, calling her names, stomping on her spirit.

  Just the mention of his name in his mind sent a cold chill slithering down her spine.

  He’s in Florida. Harmony wrapped her hands more firmly around her cup, seeking the warmth her soul needed. Leave the past in the past.

  But her wrist ached from the time he broke it, reminding her that some memories would always be with her, no matter how hard she tried to push them away.

  The deepest scar was the one that left no mark anyone could see.

  Unfurling from her seat she grabbed her cell and called her best friend, McKenna Bell, whom she’d always called Mac.

  Even if the three-hour time difference between California and the east coast hadn’t been helpful, Mac was a night owl and was always buzzing around when most people were sleeping.

  “You’re up late,” Mac said, surprised. “What’s up?”

  “I just wanted to hear your voice,” Harmony said, cuddling under her blanket with the phone to her ear. “It’s been a rough day.”

  “Everything okay?” Instant alarm colored Mac’s voice. “Is it Johnny?”

  “No, no, it’s nothing. Not Johnny. Just some kids or something broke into my place and trashed it to bits. I spent all day cleaning and I’m exhausted but somehow can’t sleep. So I thought I’d call you.”

  “What do you mean someone trashed your shop? Are you sure it’s not Johnny? That man is psychotic.”

  “It’s not him. He’s still in Florida and he has no way of following me here to the east coast.” That much she clung to. “Besides, I heard through the grapevine he’s moved on.”

  “Well, thank God for that. I feel bad for whoever he conned into believing his bullshit, though,” Mac said.

  Harmony nodded, feeling the same but she couldn’t risk getting involved when it came to Johnny. Ready to change the subject, she moved the focus away from her. “Tell me about your newest play.”

  “Oh it totally folded within the first week of production but the most amazing thing happened — kinda like divine intervention, which I know you love to hear about — the producer’s sister is this big Hollywood director and she happened to catch my audition and asked me to come audition for a part in a movie she’s doing.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Harmony asked, delighted. “That’s incredible. Only you can fail up, Mac. I love that about you.”

  “Right?” Mac laughed. “Well, you know I’ve always wanted to make my way to Hollywood so this is a great chance to make it happen.”

  “So you’re ready to say goodbye to San Fran?”

  “For now. I’m ready to switch it up. Gotta go where fortune calls, you know?”

  Harmony smiled, so happy for Mac. Mac was bigger than life, thirsty for experience and gluttonous for all things bigger than herself. Harmony knew someday she’d be a huge star.

  They’d grown up together in Florida, went separate directions after high school but always stayed in close contact.

  Point of fact, Mac had never liked Johnny.

  And the first time Johnny had hit Harmony, Mac threatened to cut his balls off and mail them to his mother.

  Harmony should’ve left him that first time.

  Tears sprung to Harmony’s eyes with unexpected force. She wiped at the corners. “You have to promise me front row seats to the premiere,” Harmony said, hating that she had such sad memories in her past. At least Mac always had something positive to share that somehow lifted her from the dark places.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” The worry in Mac’s voice poked at Harmony’s ability to lie. “I can hear something in your voice that’s not quite right. Are you sure Johnny is still in Florida?”

  “Yeah, I think so,” she answered, pulling the blanket around her more tightly. A sudden rattle at the window sent her heart rate through the roof and her quick inhale had Mac worried until she assured her, “Sorry, it’s a little windy outside. I think a storm is coming. Maybe we’ll get a white Christmas.”

  “Your forever dream,” Mac quipped with wry humor. “You’re the only person I know who can go from sunny Florida to the gloom of the east coast and smile about it.”

  “I love the snow. Something is refreshing about the way it blankets everything, making everything pretty even if it wasn’t pretty to begin with.”

  A beat of silence followed until Mac said, “You have a cop investigating the break-in, right?”

  “Yes, of course, but I don’t want to bring the hammer down on a bunch of kids being stupid. I’m sure i
t won’t happen again.”

  “What if it’s not a handful of delinquents? What if it’s someone else? Someone who has a history of violence and is, quite frankly, obsessed with you?”

  Harmony followed a shaky laugh with, “Obsessed? I think that’s going a little far. I think Johnny was just as happy as I was to put our marriage in the rear view mirror. Besides, I’m not going to spend energy worrying about something that could be the opposite of true.”

  And she didn’t want to talk about it because the possibility that Johnny had followed her to Massachusetts scared the socks from her feet. If Mac thought for a second Harmony was in danger, she’d stop everything and run to her side, and Harmony didn’t want that either.

  Harmony faked a yawn. “I’d better get to bed. I have a big day tomorrow. I can’t wait to make some new orders for the shop.”

  “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes,” she answered with a hint of exasperation. “I’m not a fragile teacup. I promise I won’t break. Everything is fine.”

  “You almost did break,” Mac reminded her quietly.

  “But I’m fine now. Better than fine,” she assured her friend. “I can’t wait for you to see the shop. You’re going to love it.”

  “Harmony, I’m serious. I can hear in your voice that you’re worried even if you don’t want to admit it.”

  Harmony knew lying to Mac was futile but she couldn’t have Mac ruining her best opportunity for something that might turn out to be nothing. “If I find out anything that might suggest the break-in was anything more than bratty kids, I’ll let you know.”

  “I want regular updates,” Mac made her promise. “I mean it. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll hop a plane and show up on your doorstep to see for myself that you’re okay.”