Harlequin Holiday Collection - Four Classic Seasonal Novellas

like a cake or pie. But he was a health fanatic, or so it seemed. His lunches were always the good-for-you kind.
    A grin stretched across her lips. She knew just what to get him.
    Something he hadn’t bothered with in a really long time.

Chapter Eight
    Jacob set the newspaper aside. He mulled over the offerings on television. Scanning the channels would be a waste of time. Holiday movies and television shows. Even the news would focus on the holidays.
    He surveyed his living room. Small, utilitarian. He’d bought the modest bungalow after relocating here permanently from Durango. Traveling back and forth as he helped Callie McBride set up the new Kenner City crime lab hadn’t been so bad. But once the lab was operational and he’d decided to stay on, moving had made more sense.
    What little family he had left—a brother and an aunt—were back in Durango. But each had a large family to keep them busy, so he didn’t go back often. Besides, he was occupied here. Callie needed him. The lab needed him.
    What else did he need?
    Nothing to speak of.
    Jennifer had taught him well. He’d loved her for five years and lived with her for four of those. Then she’d left him. Simply came home from work one day and said she’d met someone new. Someone who didn’t spend all his time at work. Someone who wanted to start a family now . Someone completely opposite from Jacob.
    That had been eighteen months ago. The last he’d heard, she was married. Her first child on the way. He was happy for her.
    Work fulfilled him as nothing else could, even Jennifer. Jacob stood and walked to the front window. Darkness had fallen and the streetlamps had awakened. Yes, he had loved Jennifer. But not the way she had needed him to. He wasn’t sure he was capable of that depth of emotion.
    His mind drifted to Olivia Perez and immediately his heart rate reacted. A frown furrowed his brow. What was it about the woman that got under his skin? He’d known her scarcely two months. She was a colleague, for heaven’s sake. Not once in his career had he been attracted to a coworker. Even Jennifer had not possessed the ability to distract him from his job. She would be the first to say so. But Olivia… The dark hair that hung nearly to her waist made him want to run his fingers through it. Jennifer had worn her hair short. She’d always said it was more practical. There was nothing practical about Olivia’s long mass of silky tresses.
    He fisted his hand at the thought of touching her hair. He had once. Accidentally. His fingers had tingled, his pulse had raced. The whole concept was ludicrous. As if that wasn’t bad enough, her big hazel eyes tugged at him. Made him want to reassure her whenever she looked stressed or frustrated.
    The whole scenario was utterly foolish. He was not a schoolboy, far from it. Yet when she came near he felt exactly like one.
    Perhaps it was time for a change. He certainly wouldn’t go back to Durango. But there were other places in the Four Corners area. Places where he wouldn’t have to see her every day. Where he wouldn’t hear her soft, velvety voice, or the sweet sensual laughter that pulled at his senses.
    Something to think about.
    A car pulled to the curb up the street, just past his driveway. He couldn’t quite determine the make since a well-shaped spruce lay atop its roof. A Christmas tree, he realized. Most of his neighbors already had their trees. The lights twinkled nightly from the windows.
    Someone visiting a neighbor, he supposed.
    The car door opened, but the brief light from the interior prevented him from seeing if it was a man or woman.
    He started to turn away but then the figure, tree in tow, stepped into the pool of light near his sidewalk. For one second he was certain his errant thoughts had prompted a delusion.
    But, no, it was her .
    Olivia Perez marched up the sidewalk to his door, lugging a Christmas tree.

Chapter Nine
    Olivia rang the bell twice. No answer. She was certain she was at the right house. His SUV sat in the driveway. There were lights on inside. The glow filtered through the drapes.
    Nice place, she decided. Classic bungalow with a generous porch for summer evenings. The stucco was painted a rich earthy brown with tan trim. The door was a mellow gold with a distinctive Spanish flare. Very nice place.
    If he wasn’t home, she would just die. She could leave the tree and a note on his porch, she supposed.
    The door opened.
    She held her breath.
    “Olivia?” He