A Kiss In The Snow

A Christmas gift straight from the heart of Susan Mallery, one of today’s most beloved writers—a brand-new Fool’s Gold romance!

Cupcake baker Nancee Smith is stunned when search-and-rescue pilot Jesse “Shep” Sheppard strides into her kitchen. The last time she saw the Ghost of Heartbreaks Past was the night before he left her at the altar. He said he loved her, then didn’t even say goodbye.

Now Shep claims he’s done dashing away at the first sign of forever. The romance of Fool’s Gold at Christmas tempts her to have faith—snow glistening on rooftops like great swirls of frosting, twinkle lights in every window—but this time around, she’s the one with cold feet. If promises alone aren’t enough to sway her, Shep will have to show her the love in his heart.

“Susan Mallery never disappoints.” —#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

Praise for Susan Mallery and her New York Times bestselling Fool’s Gold series

“Susan Mallery is one of my favorites.”

—#1 New York Times bestselling author

Debbie Macomber

“Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.”

—Booklist

“Touching, insightful, and funny, this lively romance addresses some serious relationship issues as it delivers another satisfying, page-turning winner.”

—Library Journal on Kiss Me

“Heartwarming… Deft characterization and an absorbing story line will keep readers coming back.”

—Publishers Weekly on When We Met

“Ms. Mallery masterfully weaves new characters into the fabric of Fool’s Gold, but always catches us up on the lives of its very unique residents. Fool’s Gold has a certain rhythm that makes it a warm, homey place with a little bit of magic.”

—Fresh Fiction on Thrill Me

“Mallery delivers another engaging romance in magical Fool’s Gold.”

—Kirkus Reviews on Just One Kiss

“The wildly popular and prolific Mallery can always be counted on to tell an engaging story of modern romance.”

—Booklist

“Mallery infuses her story with eccentricity, gentle humor, and small-town shenanigans.”

—Publishers Weekly on Summer Days

A Kiss in the Snow

Susan Mallery

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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I’m one of the luckiest authors in the world. Seriously, I have the best readers anywhere. This book is dedicated to the delightful, creative and fun Kim V.R. I’m thrilled that your girls’ week friends, radiation friends and Inez got you addicted to romance, and I adored meeting you.

And…

To reader Paula B.,

who asked that this book be “dedicated to

my son Tom B. for making my dream come true.”

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Title Page

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

“HELLO, NANCEE.”

Nancee Smith shrieked, jumped and spun toward the unexpected voice. For a second all she saw was the sheer size of the intruder. The icing spatula she waved seemed woefully inadequate as a weapon. Then she blinked and focused, only to realize she wasn’t in any danger—at least not physically. Emotionally was a whole other story.

“Shep?”

Her throat tightened as she spoke the man’s name. Jesse Sheppard—known as Shep to his friends—had blown in and out of her life for the past ten years. They had more than a past. They were practically a Lifetime movie franchise.

She pressed a hand to her chest—as if that would help her breathing slow. “What on earth are you doing here?”

“Here as in Fool’s Gold or here as in your great-aunt’s kitchen?”

Good question. “How about both?”

His gaze settled on the spatula. “You planning to run me through with that?”

“It’s not sharp enough to do any damage.” Not that she wanted to physically hurt him. Not exactly. She set the icing tool on the counter and waited for him to explain his presence. Which shouldn’t take long. Shep had never been much of a talker.

They’d met her first summer in college. She’d taken a part-time job with the forestry department. Mostly manning the welcome center, where she warned visitors not to feed the bears or light fires outside designated camping areas. Shep had been one of the permanent rangers, and he’d had her from the second their eyes had met.

She supposed every woman had one of those kind of men in their lives, and if they didn’t, they should. She’d tried to play it cool, but there was no way she could resist his broad shoulders or green eyes. He’d been tall, muscled and mostly silent, but when he’d smiled...well, her heart had filled in what he hadn’t said.

They’d spent the summer together. When she’d had to go back to college in September, he’d promised to stay in touch. Only he hadn’t. He’d moved on, and she’d thought she had lost him forever.

Three years later, he’d shown up in her life, only to leave again. Two years after that, he’d done it for the last time. She’d sworn she was over him. Over as in done. With a capital D. Finito.

Yet here he was, in her great-aunt’s kitchen.

She leaned against the counter, determined to let him speak first. No more filling in the silences for him. No more assuming his quiet “I love you” meant anything other than, Hey, let’s make wild, passionate love for a few weeks and then I’m leaving you.

“I work for Fool’s Gold search and rescue, and I teach a couple of night classes at the community college. Biology.”

She felt her mouth drop open. Teach as in teach? “You finished your degree?”

He nodded.

“And got a master’s?”

Another nod.

“In biology?”

One shoulder rose, which she took to mean yes. The man really should learn American Sign Language. Then he could communicate fully without speaking a word. But more pressing, how could she not know these things about him? Shep had been such a significant part of her world for so long, yet she hadn’t known he’d finished college?

“I thought you just did the forest ranger thing.”

“That, too.”

The timer dinged, and she pulled a tray of cupcakes out of her great-aunt’s commercial-size oven, then stuck in the next batch. She turned back to Shep.

“How did you get to Fool’s Gold?”

“By truck.”

She refused to smile. Instead she kept her gaze on his face and waited.

“I interviewed for the job and was hired.”

Which made sense but didn’t answer any of her questions. Why here? Why now? For a brief second she wondered if he’d taken the job because of all the times she’d talked about the town when they were together. But that was ridiculous. It wasn’t as if she’d had any influence on him. His chronic leaving was proof of that.

“Why are you in my aunt’s kitchen?”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “Didn’t Gladys tell you? I’m her handyman. I take care of things around here. Keeping her driveway clear when it snows, fixing leaky pipes. I put up her Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. That kind of thing. She’s a cool old lady.”

“Don’t let her hear you call her old. She’ll scalp you.”

Nancee rubbed her eyes. She’d only been in town for two days and was still trying to adjust to all the changes in her life. She was tired, a little crabby and confused to be facing the only man she’d never been able to forget.

“How are things with you, Nancee?” he asked.

How was she? How was she? Was he kidding?

“You want a recap?” she asked, her voice sharp. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

She picked up the icing spatula again. It wasn’t much, but holding it made her feel a little more in control.

“Let’s see. The last time I saw you, or rather didn’t see you, I was standing in a chapel in Las Vegas. Where you were supposed to marry me. I’m not sure if you remember that we planned to elope.”

The muscles in his face tightened, but otherwise he didn’t react. “I remember.”

“Good. Because I do, too. So after you left me at the altar, I went back to law school and finished there, then got a job in DC. I met a really nice guy named Sean, and eventually we moved in together. Well, it turns out he wasn’t as nice as I thought. Three months ago the FBI, Homeland Security and a whole bunch of other people showed up at our condo to arrest him for suspicion of terrorism. They were also investigating me. Which was the coolest thing ever.”

She could hear her voice rising but couldn’t seem to control it. Nor could she stop shaking. She clung to the spatula.

“I was quickly cleared, but let me just say having that happen really did a number on my career at the law firm. Then I had to hang around until the various agencies said it was okay for me to leave town. About then Sean was released on bail, so I could break up with him. Oh, I tried to take my cat, but technically he’s considered Calvin’s owner and wouldn’t let me. Even though he’s never once cared about Calvin and that cat is all I have.”

Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away. “Then I got fired for, you know, living with a terrorist suspect and then I came here. I’m staying with Gladys until I can figure out what to do with my suddenly broken life.” She pointed to the dozens of cupcakes on the counter. “In the meantime, I’m doing contract work for a local bakery. At least it’s practically Christmas and everyone is in a cupcake-buying mood.”

She took a step toward him. “So that’s how I am, Shep. Just peachy. Except for, you know, being investigated by the FBI, being fired and losing my cat. And you?”

“I’m fine.”

“You never were much of a talker, were you?” She threw down the spatula and told herself to breathe.

“No. I’m more of a doer.”

Shep closed the space between them. Before she could figure out what he was planning, he cupped her face in his large hands and pressed his mouth to hers.

At the first touch of his warm lips, all her worry faded. There was only this moment and the magic of this man. He’d always had the power to transport her, to convince her with a single kiss that everything was going to be just fine. It wasn’t, of course, but for those few seconds, she could relax and simply be. Then he drew back and reality crashed in on her. She pushed him away.

“You should go,” she told him.

“All right.” He turned toward the door, then looked back at her. “It was nice to see you. I hope we run into each other around town.”

She was less sure about wanting that. Shep had always been trouble for her. What was that old saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Well, she was zero for three with Shep. Giving him a fourth chance didn’t make her stupid, it made her pathetic. No way, no how. She was done. With a capital...oh yeah. She’d already promised herself that.

“I can’t do this again,” she told him. “Not now.”

“I know,” he told her. “I get that. I won’t be in your way.” He paused, as if he was going to say something else.

I’ve always loved you. I never forgot you. You’re the woman of my dreams. Any of those statements would have been nice, she thought wistfully. Ridiculous and unbelievable, but nice. What he said instead was, “Have a nice day.”

And then he was gone.

CHAPTER TWO

NANCEE’S MOTHER HAD been a congresswoman. She remembered her mom being gone a lot and people stopping to ask her questions wherever they went in town. They hadn’t had much time together as a family, and then Nancee’s mom had been diagnosed with cancer and died soon after.

Nancee’s father, a pediatrician, had done his best to comfort his young daughter, but he’d had his own pressing work schedule. Summers had been difficult—with Nancee out of school and her father busy with his patients, the solution had been for Nancee to spend those three months with her great-aunt Gladys in Fool’s Gold.

Nancee had always loved the town. There were plenty of kids for her to play with and tons to do with all the festivals and a lake and hanging out with her favorite relative. Gladys wasn’t one for rules. She believed in seizing the moment—which meant staying up late to watch a meteor shower or having pancakes for dinner. So for five glorious years, Nancee had spent all her summers in Fool’s Gold.

Even after Nancee started college and her summers were filled with things like jobs and getting dumped by Shep, she and Gladys had stayed in close contact. They talked on the phone, texted and commented on each other’s Facebook pages. Gladys might be pushing eighty, but she was sharp, funny and a bit of a flirt when it came to younger men. All of which Nancee loved. Gladys had always been there for her. These days her aunt had given Nancee a place to run to when things had gone south with her terroristic ex and her career. Which explained why she hadn’t started shrieking the second her aunt walked in the door, even though the older woman had given her no warning that Shep had moved to Fool’s Gold.

“I got a giant bag of Cheetos,” Gladys said, setting a reusable grocery bag on the counter. “And vodka. You’re going to need both to help you settle in.”

Gladys was about five-four, with white hair. She wore false eyelashes, lots of jewelry and plenty of makeup. She’d married young and been widowed at forty. There had been plenty of money, and Gladys could have gone anywhere, but she’d chosen to stay where she’d been raised. She’d joined the city council. Nancee was sure she made more than her share of trouble both politically and personally.

Annoyance battled with a wave of love. Nancee surrendered to the latter because honestly, who else would have bought her Cheetos and vodka?

“Are there more bags in the car?” she asked.

“Yes, and you can get them.” Gladys shook off her coat. “It’s snowing again. I’m going to have to get the driveway cleared for the third time this week.”

Nancee went into the garage and retrieved the groceries.

“I thought we’d make lasagna tonight,” Gladys told her as she settled on a stool at the kitchen island while Nancee put the groceries away. “It’s my favorite, but it’s silly to make it for one.”

“You could make it for Shep,” Nancee said as she put a carton of ricotta in the refrigerator.

Gladys didn’t even blink. “Did he stop by? He said he might.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“I thought of it, but then I decided you needed a nice surprise.” Gladys’s expression turned impish. “I know he’s your young man, but you have to admit he’s very impressive. Those shoulders. That butt. Delicious.”

Nancee winced. Her aunt did like younger men, which she mostly found amusing. But when Gladys talked like that about Shep, it was just plain unsettling.

“You should have warned me. I almost had a heart attack.”

“Nonsense. You come from sturdy stock. Besides, after that asshat Sean, you need Shep back in your life.”

“What part about ‘he left me at the altar’ is unclear?” Nancee used little air quotes as she spoke.

“He had his reasons.”

“Yes, he leaves. That’s his style. I suppose I deserve as much blame for trusting him.”

Gladys shook her head. “I wouldn’t be so quick to judge him. He’s been in town over a year. That’s a long time.”

“It won’t last,” Nancee said firmly. “And even if it does, what he does with his life means nothing to me. We’re not together. We’re just old friends. Former friends. Exes. Whatever. I’m moving on with my life.” She pointed to the cooling racks covered with cupcakes. “I’m busy.”

And she was. The amazing Gladys had given her a single morning to sleep in before taking her to meet Shelby Mitchell—the owner of Flour Power. The thriving bakery did a big mail-order business. Nancee had baked cupcakes, Shelby had tasted, then hired Nancee on the spot. Now Nancee had a challenging baking schedule through Christmas, which was exactly what she wanted. The cupcake work kept her days filled but allowed her plenty of time to think. She had to figure out her next act. Did she want to go back to being a lawyer or make cupcakes her life’s work? Or was what she needed something else entirely?

“You can’t ever be too busy for a man,” her aunt pointed out. “And Shep is all that.”

He was, Nancee admitted, if only to herself. All that and more. The things he did to her body should be illegal. But more than that, he had a way of making her feel safe. She liked who she was when she was around him. He was funny and kind and...

“No,” she said firmly. “It’s not happening. He leaves. He can’t help it.”

She remembered her first summer with Shep, when they’d been so eager to know everything about each other. He’d told her about growing up in foster care but had glossed over the specifics. It wasn’t until their next incarnation that she’d learned the horrible details. How he’d been confined to a single small room with no windows and no light. How his foster father had left him tied up in a chair for days at a time. How he’d run away at fifteen and had never gone back.

She understood why he felt he had to keep moving, but that didn’t change the outcome. That she had been left standing in front of an officiant, waiting to become Mrs. Jesse Sheppard, while he’d taken off for parts unknown.

“So you’re over him?” Gladys asked.

“Completely.”

Her aunt handed her the bag of Cheetos. Nancee ripped them open and grabbed a handful.

“Mostly,” she said before taking a bite.

Gladys reached for the vodka. “If you’re sure.”

“I am. Well...almost.”

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