The Christmas scene from A Hard Man to Love

I’ve been asked several times if I have a Christmas romance novel or plan to write one. Most recently, a reader on Twitter asked me that question. While I don’t have any Christmas stories, I do have a Christmas scene from A Hard Man to Love from the Hawthorne Family series, my first family series.

Derrick is one of my most popular heroes. He’s rich, difficult, and an a-hole but loves the heroine, Eva, to death. So much so that he forced her to marry him or risk having their child taken away once she’s born. Heh-heh. I love a good forced into marriage story.

This excerpt from A Hard Man to Love is the closest I’ve ever come to writing a Christmas tale, and it demonstrates Derrick’s transformation from a hardened, cold businessman to a loving father and husband. He actually gets a bit emotional. At this point, his relationship with his siblings has also improved.

Will I ever write a Christmas romance? Maybe. I’ve played with the idea of writing one for the Johnsons or the Brooks, so we can catch up on what they’re doing now. I don’t know if it’ll ever happen, but it’s definitely something I’ve considered.

At the end of the excerpt, are a couple of recs I shared with the reader on Twitter, for books she might enjoy this holiday season. Maybe you will too. Merry Christmas! 🎄

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Derrick entered the house to a flurry of activity. Eva had hired some help to decorate the house and grounds. Last count they had three Christmas trees, including a huge one out front. Other decorations included lights, holly, a couple of Santa Clauses, snow on the windows, and heaven only knew what else.

The scent of cinnamon and other delicious aromas filled the air, and the faint sound of Christmas carols came from the room in the back where he assumed the party would be taking place.

“There are my girls,” he said when Eva made an appearance with Violet in her arms.

She wore an early Christmas present he’d given her. The simple necklace had a diamond pendant, and with her hair swept atop her head, the matching diamond studs twinkled like stars in her ears.

“She got through eating about ten minutes ago,” Eva said, rising up on her toes for a kiss.

“Mmm.” He dipped his tongue between her lips and got a taste of ginger. “You taste good,” he said, going instantly hard. “How much longer?”

“We’re supposed to wait at least six weeks, which means we have a couple more weeks,” Eva reminded. He knew exactly how long the wait was. He had the date marked on his calendar.

“I don’t know if she’s worth all this trouble,” Derrick teased, looking down at his daughter. She looked warm and comfortable while she slept, bundled like a little ball against Eva in a pink outfit. Her skin had darkened to a golden hue over the past month.

“Stop.” Eva dropped a kiss to Violet’s cheek. “Roarke, Celeste, and Arianna are already here. They’re spending the night.”

“Okay.” Derrick pulled the folder with the information from under his arm. “I went to see Danny Jackson today.”

Eva grew still. “Derrick, what did you do?”

“Nothing. He gave me this file for you.” He opened it and showed her the papers.

“Where did all this come from?”

“According to him, this information recently came in. He planned to get in touch with you, but since I was there, he gave it to me instead.”

Eva stared down at the photo of her father in uniform. “I look exactly like him.”

“I thought the same thing.”

She looked up at Derrick with tear-filled eyes. “Oh my goodness. He found my father.”

He nodded. “After the party, we’ll review the file, okay?”

She nodded, too emotional to speak. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” she finally said, her voice filled with emotion. “My baby’s here, and she’s safe, and I’ll finally get to meet my father.” She reached up and gently touched his face. “See, Derrick, I told you. The world’s not all bad.”

“I know,” he replied. Then he said what he always did whenever she chided him about one thing or another. “Bear with me. I’m a work in progress.”

“I love you anyway.” She rose up on her toes again to give him a kiss.

“That’s all that matters.”

****

Within an hour, family filled the great room, everyone dressed in holiday colors of red, green, and gold. Hired servers circulated with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and the instrumentals of Christmas carols poured from hidden speakers.

Derrick walked over to Roarke, who stood near the fireplace, watching the activity.

Roarke sipped his drink. “Well, how does it feel?”

He remembered being asked the same question months ago. “Pretty damn good.” He smiled and held up his glass. Roarke touched his against it.

Lucas Baylor, a good friend of Roarke’s, came toward them with Matthew following close behind.

“What’s in this?” Matthew asked, holding up a cup of steaming glogg. The mulled wine contained aromatic spices and several different kinds of spirits. “I’m a big guy. I’ve only had two glasses, and I’m starting to buzz.”

“Be careful. It’s some kind of secret Icelandic recipe Svana makes every year around the holidays. Don’t be surprised if you end up having to spend the night because you can’t drive.”

“I’ll let you know if I need to.”

Derrick looked at Lucas. “Who invited you to this family gathering?”

“Come on, I’m practically family,” Lucas said with a laugh. “I hate I couldn’t attend the wedding, but congratulations. Beautiful wife, beautiful baby. You’re a lucky man.”

“Thanks.”

“I just want to know one thing.”

“Oh boy. Here we go,” Roarke groaned with a shake of his head.

“No, I’m serious. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I found out Derrick was getting married.”

“What’s that?” Derrick asked.

“What the hell is going on with you Hawthornes? Three weddings in less than six months? Is it something in the water? If so, who’s next?”

All eyes turned to Matthew.

“Hell no!” he said.

Roarke threw his head back and laughed. “It’s only a matter of time, little brother.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Derrick added. “One minute you’re going through life minding your own business. The next . . .” His gaze settled on Eva across the room. She sat in a chair holding Violet, and three family members crowded around her, smiling and cooing at the baby. His chest filled almost to bursting. “The next minute you can’t imagine your life any other way.”

The four of them fell silent.

“Well, it won’t be anytime soon,” Matthew said after a long pause. “Not if I can help it. But I’m happy for you.”

The sound of a fork hitting the side of a glass drew everyone’s attention.

Cassidy stood in the middle of the room. “Can I have everyone’s attention? I’d like to make a toast.”

The room filled with groans.

“I’ll be quick this time, I promise.” Her mouth turned down in a hurt frown.

“Somebody wake me when she’s done. I’ve heard that before,” Matthew said. “Antonio, talk to your wife.”

“Leave my baby alone,” Antonio fired back.

Cassidy bestowed an appreciative grin on her husband. “I’m so happy that we’re all here together like this. Derrick and Eva have a new baby, and Roarke and Celeste are pregnant.”

Next to him, a startled Roarke started coughing. When he caught his breath, he looked at Celeste. “I thought we weren’t going to say anything yet.”

“I didn’t.” She looked equally stunned.

“She didn’t,” Cassidy confirmed. “But I’m not an idiot. She didn’t have any glogg, and when I offered her some wine, she refused to have any. One plus one equals three.”

Derrick shook his head. Laughing, he patted his brother on the shoulder and joined in with the rest of the room in congratulating him and Celeste.

“As I was saying . . . I’m so excited. Our family’s growing. I want to make a toast to Derrick and Eva. Congratulations on having Violet. And keep ’em coming. I want more nieces and nephews!”

A chorus of “Hear, hear!” went through the room.

Derrick waited until the voices died down before stepping away from the fireplace and clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention.

“I want to make a toast, too,” he began. “To my wife, Eva, who loves me, despite my flaws. To my daughter, Violet, who will be on lockdown until she’s thirty.” The group chuckled. “And to my brothers and sister.” His voice thickened on the last sentence, and he cleared his throat again. The group fell completely silent, with only the soft sound of a Christmas carol playing in the background. “I’m glad we’ve grown closer over the past six months, and I want you to know how much I appreciate your support. To family,” he finished with a smile at them.

Everyone in the room raised their glasses. “To family.”

Pick up a copy of A Hard Man to Love at any of the online retailers.

Christmas romance I’ve read recently and enjoyed:

• Seven Peppermint Kisses, by Tiye Love part of the Baes of Christmas series
• Unexpected: A Holiday Short by DL White, who has also written a Kwanzaa romance
• Naughty in New York by Marcia King-Gamble, who I interviewed about this book on my podcast

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Do you have a favorite Christmas or other holiday romance you’d like to share? Tell us in the comments.