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Unlucky in love, Maddie LaRocque moves
to Calgary at the urging of her college roommate. Maddie’s luck goes from bad to worse
when she’s laid off from her job two months before Christmas. Undeterred, she
sets up a gift wrapping business in the lobby of the Drummond Building in
downtown Calgary where she meets Annie, a ten-year-old who has recently lost her
parents.
When Maddie falls into the arms of the
building’s maintenance man it looks as though her luck is changing, but she soon
learns that Brent isn’t who she thought he was.
Maddie’s roommate Lily hasn’t
fared too well in the romance department either, having been used for her beauty
and Asian heritage by a man in Calgary.
The moment Chase Drummond spots Lily,
he’s stunned by her beauty, but Lily resists his advances, unwilling to have her
heart broken by the most eligible bachelor in town.
Will a young orphan girl be able
to convince the two women that love is the best gift of all this
Christmas?
Excerpt:
It’s two months
before Christmas. Maddie has just been laid off, and is leaving the building in
downtown Calgary, Alberta.
A soft ping alerted her to the arrival of the
elevator. The doors opened to reveal two men inside. They glanced at her and
stepped aside, but continued their conversation.
“...Christmas
decorations in the stores and Halloween isn’t even over yet.” The shorter of the
two men was speaking.
“Tell me about it.”
The tall one nodded. “And I have a ten-year-old to buy for.” He sounded
genuinely worried. “I have no idea what to get her.”
“Why don’t you ask
her?” The words popped out of Maddie’s mouth. When would she learn to keep her
thoughts to herself?
He turned slowly.
“I’m sorry, did you say something?” There was a touch of frost in his voice, but
he was looking at her as though she might be his saviour.
She didn’t have
anything to lose. She braced herself and looked up into eyes that were green,
flecked with gold. “I said why don’t you ask her?”
He seemed to consider
her words for a moment, and then gave his head a quick shake. “She’s only
ten.”
Maddie didn’t like
the way he dismissed her. “Haven’t you heard? Ten is the new
thirty.”
The elevator came to
a stop in the lobby. The man stepped back with a courtly gesture, allowed her to
exit first, then caught up to her in a few strides. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I
didn’t mean to be rude.” He gestured helplessly with his hands. It seemed out of
place coming from him; he gave the appearance of being in control of everything
in his life. “You see... I just...” He sucked in a lungful of air. “It’s my
niece’s first year without her parents, and I’m not very experienced at
this.”
The man who’d been in
the elevator with him was waiting a few steps away. Green Eyes looked up. “See
you tomorrow, Bruce.” The man gave a quick nod and walked
away.
Maddie watched him
make his way through the revolving door. “I’m so glad the new owners of the
building kept that revolving door in place. It adds to the charm of the lobby,
don’t you think?”
He gave her an odd
look, then got back on topic. “Do you think that’s a good idea, asking a
ten-year-old girl what she wants? Seriously?”
Maddie thought back
to all of the gifts she’d received when she was a child. She’d been grateful to
receive them, but they were rarely what she wanted. Judy Blume books when she’d
rather have had RL Stine, tartan kilts when she’d rather have a cool pair of
jeans. She felt guilty for thinking of it now, but if she could save one little
girl from a similar fate, then she’d have accomplished
something.
“Yes,” she said,
noticing the way his dark brown hair curled just above his collar. “I’d be
willing to bet that she knows exactly what she wants.”
He absorbed her words
then nodded slowly. “All right, I’ll do that.” He smiled, and his demeanor
changed radically. He really was quite handsome when he smiled. “Thanks for the
help.” He waited for her to start walking and strode along beside her. “So you
like the revolving doors, do you?”
She smiled up at him.
“I do. They’re not something you see in new buildings.” They passed the
concierge desk and she waved at David. “Goodbye, David. See you later.” She
wasn’t about to discuss her recently unemployed status in front of the tall man
at her side.
Green Eyes allowed
her to enter the revolving door first, then started it moving with a push of his
hand. For some reason she always took baby steps when walking through the door
and she was slightly off balance when she popped out onto the sidewalk, but
managed to recover.
“That sun is
deceiving,” she said, pulling her coat closed at the throat. “It’s cold out
here.”
He was wearing a
beautifully cut short overcoat with a soft tartan scarf draped around his neck.
She wondered idly if his wife helped him pick out his clothes. If so, she had
excellent taste.
“Well,” he said,
extending his hand, “I have a meeting, but thanks for the
advice.”
“You’re welcome.” She
took his hand. “Good luck with your shopping.”
He released her hand,
turned away and then turned back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your
name.”
“Maddie.” She smiled.
“Maddie LaRocque.”
“Pleased to meet you,
Maddie. I’m Chase Drummond.” He flipped up the collar of his overcoat. “Have a
good evening.”
She stared after him
for several long moments. Chase Drummond. She backed up a few steps and looked
up at the massive piece of granite over the entrance. Drummond Building. And she’d told him
she approved of the door! She almost laughed aloud. What other surprises did
today have in store for her? She wasn’t sure she wanted to find
out.
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