Christmas With An Alaskan Man (An Alaskan Romance Series Book 3) Read online

  Christmas with an Alaskan Man

  An Alaskan Romance Series

  Evangeline Kelly

  Copyright © 2019 by Evangeline Kelly. All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this book shall be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author. Christmas with an Alaskan Man is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/copyright-page/

  Table of Contents

  Free Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Other Books by Evangeline Kelly

  Free Book

  Sign-up for Evangeline Kelly’s newsletter and be the first to find out about her new releases. Once you sign-up, you’ll receive her book, Matchmaker, as a welcome gift. Get started now!

  Chapter 1

  Jazmin

  For as long as I could remember, my mother talked about having grandkids one day. I wanted to give her that—it was a dream of mine—but at forty-one years old, that dream hadn’t come to fruition. Everyone thought I’d chosen not to have children, that my career was the focus of my life and a family would get in the way.

  Maybe I was wrong for letting them think that.

  Maybe I was wrong for pretending my heart didn’t long for the sound of little feet skipping across the floor.

  Maybe I didn’t want people feeling sorry for me because then I would feel sorry too, and I couldn’t let myself go there.

  Those were the thoughts running through my head as my cell phone rang and my mother’s picture flashed across the screen. She wasn’t one of those mothers who brought up the subject constantly, but I knew she thought about it a good bit.

  “Mom, what’s up?”

  Holding the phone close to my ear, I put the last bite of bacon in my mouth and quickly chewed as I headed out the door. The sun was peeking over the horizon, and a hazy pink splashed across the sky. Once in my car, I set my purse on the passenger side and relaxed my back against the seat. I needed to get to work early today to complete overdue paperwork, and I was feeling antsy about getting on the road before traffic got too crazy. Still, I always made time for Mom.

  “Hey, sweetie, just wanted to check on you and make sure you’re okay. I know it’s a difficult day for you.”

  I frowned and closed the car door, insulating myself against the cool breeze. California was known for warm weather, but it was November and the air was starting to get crisp. “Difficult in what way?”

  There was a long moment of silence and then she let out a breath. “You know…the anniversary…” She trailed off as if I would understand her meaning without her finishing the sentence, but I had no idea what she was talking about.

  I put my seatbelt on and glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure I didn’t have lipstick on my teeth. “What anniversary are you referring to?”

  She huffed as if she thought I was saying that just to give her a hard time. “Jazmin Ruby Campbell, it’s November seventh, the day you and Jared broke up.”

  I laughed at her use of my full name before I had a chance to think better of it. “Are you kidding me? Please tell me this is a joke.”

  “Why would I joke about something like this?”

  “Mom, that was sixteen years ago. Do you actually believe I’m still pining after Jared? Let me assure you…I’m not. Not even a little. I didn’t make the connection until you reminded me. It’s not like I keep track.”

  “Oh.” It almost sounded as if she was disappointed I wasn’t thinking about him, but I was willing to bet it had less to do with Jared and more to do with the fact that she wished I was married. “I’m glad you’re not upset.” She cleared her throat, and I heard her moving dishes around in the sink. “Do you ever wonder what happened to him?”

  “Once in a while but not often.”

  “Why didn’t the two of you stay in touch? He was such a nice guy, and I thought you would remain friends.”

  I massaged both of my temples hoping it would prevent the headache that was sure to come. It was bound to be a long day and hearing Mom’s wistfulness only created more sadness in my heart. The unspoken message was simple. She wanted me to be in a relationship.

  “We went our separate ways,” I said. “I’m sure he’s married with kids by now.”

  “Maybe he never got married. You never know.”

  “It wouldn’t change anything.”

  She sighed. “I guess not.” When I didn’t reply to that, she continued. “Have I told you lately how proud of you I am?”

  I smiled, my shoulders relaxing. “All the time.”

  “You’re a smart, intelligent woman, and you’ve accomplished a lot.”

  “Thanks.” I knew she believed every word, but there was a slight hesitancy there as if she were reminding herself of my positive qualities so she wouldn’t think of the negatives. The fact that I didn’t have a husband or children. Long overdue milestones that would probably never happen.

  “It sounds like you’re about to leave. It’s so early, honey. You’re not working too hard, are you?”

  “No, just have a few things I need to get done.”

  “All right, well, I’ll let you go.”

  We said our goodbyes and then I turned the ignition and waited for the sound of the engine. There was a slight clicking noise, but other than that, there was nothing. My eyes widened at the realization that I’d forgotten to turn my headlights off the previous night. No. No. No. This couldn’t be happening.

  I tried turning the key again, and when the car still wouldn’t start, I rested my head on the steering wheel and let out a whine. Why me, Lord?

  That was a stupid question. Things like this happened to everyone so there was no point in complaining. I just wished my car had found a different day to inconvenience me. Saturday would have been better. Today…not so much.

  And there went the extra hour I thought I would have to finish my paperwork. I’d gotten up early for nothing, and that in itself irritated me more than anything else. After calling the Automobile Club for a jumpstart, a guy arrived an hour later. He got my vehicle started and told me I’d probably be fine since the battery would most likely recharge during the thirty-minute commute to work. Probably was good enough for me as I didn’t want to waste another minute.

  When I was a couple of minutes away from the office, I stopped at my favorite coffee house and got a salted caramel latte with extra whipped cream. It was loaded with sugar but so worth it, especially on a day like this.

  When I finally arrived at my office, it was eight o’clock. That gave me two hours before my first client would arrive as I always had my administrative assistant schedule appointments after ten a.m., allowing two hours to work on paperwork before the day got busy. Two hours seemed like a long time, but with all I had to do, it wasn’t enough. I’d been counting on three today, but if I worked hard, I might get through a good chunk of it.

>   I parked, grabbed my coffee, and headed towards the entrance of the building. I opened the door just as a man burst out, not even looking where he was going. He knocked the coffee out of my hand and it spilled all over my St. John cream satin blouse. My jaw dropped open as the warm liquid seeped through the fabric, and the cup fell to the ground. Thankfully it had cooled enough that it didn’t burn my skin, but it would take great effort to get that stain out.

  “Watch where you’re going!” I yelled, furious he’d been so reckless. I wasn’t normally so sharp with people, but he’d caught me off guard and didn’t seem to care.

  He smiled sheepishly and kept going. “Sorry!” He didn’t even stop to make sure I was okay.

  I picked up the coffee cup and headed to the bathroom on the ground floor. This was turning out to be a horrible day. I just hoped it didn’t continue this way.

  Once inside the restroom, the evidence of that little calamity was quite disconcerting. I studied the huge coffee stain covering my chest in an uncomplimentary fashion. I’d heard of some people keeping an extra shirt in their car for situations like these, but I hadn’t had the foresight to do that. If I turned around and went home to change, I would lose another hour.

  It would be fine. I would just tell my clients what happened, and it would be a humorous story that would set them at ease, making it easier for them to open up about their own troubles.

  I used several paper hand-towels to soak up as much liquid as I could and then rode the elevator to the third floor. Minutes later, I walked past Betsy, my administrative assistant, and laughed as she took in my appearance.

  “Don’t ask,” I said, chuckling. “I have a feeling it’s going to be one of those days.”

  “I’ll bet,” she said, her lips pressed together as if trying not to snicker.

  I walked into my office and closed the door, breathing a sigh of relief that I’d finally made it. Taking a seat, I thought through what I needed to work on first. I was just turning my computer on and getting situated when a call from the reception desk came through. It was Betsy.

  “Jazmin, your new client arrived. Should I let him in?”

  My brows lowered, and I tilted my head to the side in confusion. “New client? You didn’t inform me I would have a new client, plus I’m not supposed to have appointments until ten.”

  “I know, but this guy wouldn’t take no for an answer. Said it was imperative that he meet with you, and that the two of you are already acquainted with each other. He said you would be fine with it.” She paused. “I’m sorry, did I do the wrong thing by scheduling him?”

  Ugh. I wanted to say yes, but Betsy was one of those really sweet people who would probably burst into tears if she thought she’d disappointed me. “No, it’s okay. Let him in.”

  New clients required a full intake process, and I often scheduled two hours for that. My paperwork wouldn’t get done this morning which meant I’d have to stay late this evening or do this all over again tomorrow morning. I let out a breath and leaned back in my chair as the door opened.

  “Hello,” I said, glancing at my watch. “Please come in and take a seat.”

  A man cleared his throat and something about the way he did that sounded familiar. I looked up and my jaw dropped open. For once in my life, I was completely speechless. It was Clay Drover, the man I’d met in Alaska when my cousin, Sabrina, and I vacationed there over the summer visiting her best friend, Hunter. Clay was the last person in the world I counted on seeing today.

  When we were in Alaska, Hunter arranged for Clay to be my date for his friend’s wedding. At first, Clay and I didn’t exactly hit it off, but then as I got to know him better, I realized he was a big teddy bear underneath the rough edges. He was masculine and occasionally gruff, but he was so much more than that. His kindness was what drew me to him the most. His long hair and grisly beard had been off-putting initially, but the more I saw his heart, the more I didn’t care about that.

  He hadn’t changed much since I’d seen him last. His dark brown hair, thick and healthy-looking, had grown a little longer, almost touching his shoulders, but that was the extent of the changes. His dense beard was just as bushy as I remembered, and those eyes… I could get lost in those warm brown eyes. They were kind and sensitive despite his rough-around-the-edges appearance, and every time I met his gaze, a part of me felt like I was a goner.

  “Clay… What are you doing here?”

  He stepped forward and slid into the chair situated on the other side of my desk. “Mind if I sit down?”

  My heart picked up a beat as the scent of his cologne grew stronger. He’d flown out three months ago for a visit, and he’d had the same effect on me back then. I’d told myself it didn’t mean anything, but there was something about his presence that threw me completely off balance. I was inexplicably drawn to him even as I tried to put the brakes on those feelings.

  “Wait…you’re not my client. You can’t be.”

  He folded his arms across his chest. “I am for the next hour.” He held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll pay whatever you charge, but I had to see you.” There was a look of determination on his face that said he wasn’t going anywhere. His eyes fell on the stain on my blouse and flickered with amusement. “Tough morning?”

  “You could say that.” I sighed and pressed my lips together. This day was edging further and further out of my control. “As far as charging you, don’t be ridiculous. I wouldn’t do that, but you should have called first.”

  “If I had, would you have seen me?”

  I winced and glanced away. “Probably not.”

  If he’d called, I would have asked him not to come. The last time we’d spoken on the phone, I made it clear I enjoyed talking to him, but we weren’t a good match. First of all, he was not the type of man I usually dated, and second, he lived in Alaska in a tiny little off-the-grid cabin. That sort of lifestyle had been fun for a vacation when Sabrina and I stayed with Hunter, but there was no way I could do that indefinitely. Sabrina was a trooper, but then again, she was head over heels for Hunter and would live in a cardboard box if he asked her to. I was a decade older and my days of roughing it were over, at least for the long-term.

  He scratched the side of his face and looked me straight in the eye. “The way you left things… I guess I was confused. Needed clarification.”

  “I’m not sure why you’re confused. I explained that long-distance relationships rarely work out. I’ve seen enough people give it a go, and I don’t want to subject myself to the frustrations and difficulties that follow.”

  “That’s a cop-out. We both know all relationships take work. You’re either willing to invest or you’re not.”

  I shrugged. “I’m sorry, but I’m not.”

  Pain flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with resolve. He drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I thought we had something.”

  “We did. We definitely did. There was a spark. I won’t deny it, but we’re not right for each other.”

  A crease formed between his brows. He rested his arms on my desk and leaned forward. “Why? Why aren’t we right for each other?”

  His gaze was so intense I almost forgot to breathe. “I…I thought we discussed that already.”

  “No, we didn’t. If you don’t want to be with me, fine, but at least give me the closure I need.” The corners of his lips lifted confidently, and my stomach flipped at the motion. “See? I can use a therapeutic term once in a while.”

  I glanced away, breaking the spell he had over me. “I’m sorry. I should have realized my explanation wasn’t sufficient.”

  He leaned in further and lowered his voice. “Maybe this makes me a big sap, but I can’t get you off my mind no matter how hard I try.” He shook his head. “You’ll have to give me a better answer.”

  “Fine.” I cleared my throat and sought the right words to explain this. “You’re this really tough guy and I’m…” I pursed my lips together and leaned back. “I’m not ri
ch by any means, but I’m used to a more refined regimen. Honestly, I just don’t think our lifestyle choices mesh well.”

  Clay smiled like he knew something I didn’t. “You don’t know me well enough to come to that conclusion.”

  “We’ve known each other for five months. We may not have been able to see each other on a regular basis, but we’ve talked on the phone plenty of times.”

  “Don’t give up on me just yet.” He reached across the table and took my hand in his. It was warm and calloused and his grip was strong. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

  I opened my mouth, intending to tell him to back off, but the word lodged itself in my throat.

  “There it is!” He slouched lazily in his seat, a look of victory on his face. “It was a microexpression, but I saw it. You’re willing to give me another chance. You’re going to have dinner with me tonight.”

  Despite my irritation that he wasn’t taking no for an answer, I smiled. It was so much easier to push him away when we talked on the phone, but now that we were face-to-face, I found myself wanting to see where this might lead. Did that make me weak? Probably. But Clay Drover was unlike any man I’d ever known.

  Yeah, I was definitely going to dinner with him.

  Even though I might regret it later.

  Chapter 2

  Clay

  At half-past six, I left my hotel room wearing my best white dress shirt, a pair of blue Wrangler jeans, and a camel-colored cowboy hat. I was on my way to pick up Jazmin for dinner, and despite my relief that she’d agreed to go out with me, I couldn’t help but feel a little worried. From the start, there’d been this inexplainable chemistry between us, but she’d also been reluctant to deepen our relationship.

  I got in my rental car and followed the directions to her house. The whole ride over, all I could think about was how I had to make this work. When we’d first met in Alaska five months ago, I’d fallen for her. She was drop-dead gorgeous for one thing. And headstrong. And sweet. And she loved the Lord tremendously. She’d been wary of me right off the bat, but I never let it get to me. I was used to working hard for what I wanted.