A Date with an Elf Read online

  Praise for A Date with a Turkey

  This is a sweet and sexy story about overcoming the past and finding love with the help of some matchmaking parents.

  —Gillek2

  HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!

  —Jennifer Pierson

  Super cute, sweet, and fun enemies to lovers quickie!

  —KindleKat64

  We have wonderful witty banter, chemistry, romance, a cute young boy, meddling moms and am impromptu date that may be more than either one expected!

  —Michelle McMullen

  Praise for A Date for the Masquerade

  Owen and Ensley’s journey to their own Happy Ever After fits in wonderfully to this cute novella series. The authors have hit a grand slam with both this story and this series.

  —Crystal W

  I really loved the mystery that came with this book. There is something sexy about two people totally falling for each other, yet have no idea who the other really is.

  —Christina W

  A lovely little novella that took its own sweet time to kick into gear but when it did there was no stopping it, it smoldered its way to a much-deserved conclusion.

  —Books Laid Bare

  Praise for A Date for the Regatta

  Loving this dynamic duo and their wonderful dating series.

  —Michele McMullen

  Full size enjoyment in pint size stories. These two authors have really created something special here.

  —Marybeth

  This was a good story, and a great addition to the series, complementing the ones I've already read. This is a fun, light feel-good romantic comedy.

  —Ree

  Get ready to set sail for romance! Hot, and sweet with a splash of angst, this voyage is one highly satisfying ride. Five stars for this must read.

  —One More Chapter

  I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, and heartbreak.

  —Renee Entress

  Praise for A Date for the Fair

  I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, second chances, and heartbreak.

  —Renee Entress

  A heart felt novella you will want to read over and over.

  —Krista Ricchi

  I love a good reunited story.

  —Tina

  I've been hooked on The Dating Series from the jump, and while I LOVE everyone of them to date, I always crave more the moment I finish each of these novellas.

  —Jennifer Pierson

  Can I get a funnel cake please? Lol I love how you get swept up in these stories.

  —Jennifer Millaway

  I am becoming addicted to these quick fun romances that the authors are releasing.

  —Trudy Dowling

  Praise for A Date with a Foodie

  I’ve been left hungry, wanting for more. Deliciously romantic, and although it is short it will satisfy your appetite for romance.

  —Yoneidis Martín Martínez

  Ok as a foodie I loved this book!!!! A quick read as always and fun.

  —Jennifer

  This romance is one tasty morsel that will have you savoring every turn of the page.

  —One More Chapter

  One way to my heart is food...and this book delivers just that.

  —Christina Wilson

  Praise for The Dating Series

  McLaughlin and Dover give sex appeal a heart.

  —Isha Coleman

  In less than 100 pages, theses 2 authors have made me laugh, blush and fall in love with their characters.

  —Yoneidis Martín Martínez

  I loved it, I couldn't stop laughing and smiling!

  —Dana for Bloggin’ With M. Brennan

  The Dating Series has been, by far, my favorite reads of the year. I’ve devoured them all and can’t wait until the next one comes out.

  —Crystal

  Praise for Society X

  There are no words to describe how much I LOVED DARK ROOM. My two favorite authors come together to write an EPIC SEXY story! Parker is off the charts SEXY!! I couldn't get enough of him!

  —Amy, Goodreads

  Two of the most amazing authors come together to write this hot and steamy story.

  —Tamara, Goodreads

  Let loose your inhibitions, because being in the Dark Room will have you googling to see if one is near you.

  —Lexy at All Is Read

  After Dark Room, book one in this series, I was expecting BIG things from this book. Dark Room was a top read from me. I am a huge L.P. Dover fan and an even bigger fan of Heidi McLaughlin... but man these two ladies together are dynamic.

  —Brianna at Renee Entress’s Blog

  You know this book is going to be hot when they give you a warning before you start the reading the book! What I love about this book is it's ability to surprise me. I should know by now to never underestimate Heidi & LP when reading their books.

  —Annie, Goodreads

  What a steamy and hot read!! It started out steamy and sweet and ended with suspense and excitement!! Loved it!!

  —Kim, Goodreads

  Out of all the Society X novels, Play Room is hands down my favorite. I loved Alexandria and Kai together. They were sweet almost from the moment they met. This series was addictive from the start, and although it's over I look forward to what these two authors come up with next.

  —Rebecca, Goodreads

  Heidi McLaughlin & L.P. Dover deliver once again!! Loved the latest in the Society X series! Okay let's break this down shall we?!

  —Amber, Goodreads

  The Dating Series

  A Date for Midnight

  A Date with an Admirer

  A Date for Good Luck

  A Date for the Hunt

  A Date for the Derby

  A Date to Play Fore

  A Date with a Foodie

  A Date for the Fair

  A Date for the Regatta

  A Date for the Masquerade

  A Date with a Turkey

  A Date with an Elf

  A DATE WITH AN ELF

  THE DATING SERIES #12

  Copyright © 2020

  Heidi McLaughlin & L.P. Dover

  All rights reserved.

  The right of Heidi McLaughlin to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  COVER DESIGN: MadHat Studios.

  EDITING: Briggs Consulting

  Contents

  1. Bree

  2. Caleb

  3. Bree

  4. Caleb

  5. Bree

  6. Caleb

  7. Bree

  8. Caleb

  9. Bree

  10. Bree

  More Books from Heidi & L.P.

  Also by Heidi McLaughlin

  Also by L.P. Dover

  About Heidi McLaughlin

  About L.P. Dover

  1

  Bree

  It’s December 1st, the beginning of the best time of the year. Actually, the second week of November is my beginning because I decorate my house for Christmas. I’m not the only one in my small town of Meadowbrook, Virginia, to go all out for the holidays. It’s a tradition here to put Christmas lights on anything
and everything you can. It’s one of the things that makes this time of year light-hearted and enjoyable. People say if you put your decorations up early it makes you happier. I fully stand by that theory.

  “Bree, how much is this one?” Mary-Anne asks, pointing up at a brand-new snowy landscape painting I just hung on the wall today. She works at the bank across the street and is one of my regulars. Since it's December 1st, all the ladies she works with wear their ugly Christmas sweaters every day until Christmas. Mary-Anne always has the craziest designs.

  She doesn’t know I’m the one who painted the snowy landscape. About fifty percent of my gallery paintings are ones I did myself, only I like to keep it a secret even though I do put my initials in the lower right corner. The rest of my gallery's art is from artists I’ve found from my travels who have agreed to let me sell some of their work. I love scouting out new talent.

  I walk up to Mary-Anne and smile. “Oh yes, that one is lovely. The price is two hundred and fifty dollars.”

  Many people like to walk into the gallery and tour it, which is perfectly fine with me. I’m happy to see people enjoying art the way I do.

  Mary-Anne stares at the painting with her eyes narrowed in contemplation. I can tell she’s seriously thinking about buying it. The last picture she bought was a still life of a fruit bowl she wanted for her kitchen. I was proud of that painting. It was a bright Saturday morning, and the sun hit my fruit bowl exactly right. I brought out my easel and got to work. You never know when the inspiration’s going to hit.

  Mary-Anne breaks out into a smile. “I’ll take it. Let me hurry and pay so you can get ready for Santa.”

  “I would be happy to,” I say, laughing. “The kids are probably already lining up in town square to see him.”

  We walk over to the cash register, and she hands me her card. “I think it’s sweet you still dress up as Santa’s elf. Your grandfather is looking down on you and smiling right now.”

  “I hope so.” I charge her card and hand it back to her. “I loved working with him when he played Santa. Seeing how happy it made all the kids made it that much better.”

  Mary-Anne giggles and follows me over to the painting. “I wish my kids were younger when your grandfather was Santa. I think he’s the best one this town has ever had.”

  Eyes burning, I carefully pull her painting down off the wall. “Thank you. That means a lot, Mary-Anne. My grandfather loved volunteering his time for the kids. He looked forward to it all year.” I take one last look at my painting. “Do you want me to package this up for you?” I ask her.

  “Oh, no, sweetheart. There’s no need. I’m going to lay it down in my backseat and take it straight home.” She holds out her hands and gently takes the painting.

  “Thank you for stopping by Mary-Anne. I’m glad you found something you liked.”

  She snorts. “Seriously, Bree? I like everything in your gallery. If I could afford it, I’d buy them all. I’m so glad you opened this place. I wish your grandmother could’ve seen it. She and your grandfather used to travel around to all sorts of art exhibits.”

  Since I was their only grandchild, they took me on several of their trips. It’s what made me fall in love with the arts. My grandparents were the ones who sent me abroad to an art school in Barcelona. After my grandfather died of cancer a couple of years ago, and my grandmother six months later, they left me a huge inheritance. With that money, I opened the gallery so everyone could enjoy art the way they did. I never thought it would take off the way it has, but people really like my paintings. I plan to offer more variety once I find the right artists to showcase. I’m hoping to find just that before my Christmas exhibit opens up.

  “Well, I appreciate it,” I say in all honesty. “I love it when people like what I have here.”

  Mary-Anne holds the painting close. “Trust me. I’ll be back when you have the Christmas exhibit open. I bet you sell out of everything this year.”

  That would be amazing. “I hope so,” I tell her. “I have a lot of new stuff to showcase.” Which I do, but I’m hoping to have something different to add to the appeal. If only I could find what I’m looking for.

  “Can’t wait.” She waves and heads for the door. It’s almost seven o’clock, the closing time for the gallery and the opening time for Santa’s visits in the town square. I rush to the back of the store to my office and change into my elf costume. I’ve been volunteering as Santa’s helper ever since I was twelve years old when my grandfather took the job. He played Santa right up until the year he died. One of my father’s good friends is now our Santa, and I promised to keep up my elf duties. I don’t mind volunteering my time; it brings me joy. If my father looked anything like Santa Claus, I know he would’ve taken the position, but he’s too skinny and when he tried to grow a beard, it looked patchy. Needless to say, he wouldn’t have made a good Santa.

  Once I’m dressed, I have ten minutes to lock up the store and walk over to the middle of town square which is only a block away. The bell on my front door dings, and I already know who’s in my gallery by the little girly squeal.

  “Are you ready to see Santa?” I call out as I walk out of my office. When Brittany sees me, she squirms out of her mother’s arms and runs over, her blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders. I scoop her up into my arms and kiss her cheek. “Hey, sweetheart. Did you have a good day at preschool?”

  Lindy chuckles. “Her teacher said all she talked about was how she was going to see Santa tonight and that her Aunt Bree is his elf.”

  I’m not really Brittany’s aunt, but I love her just like she was my niece. Her mother is my best friend and has been ever since we were in elementary school. Since I don’t have any siblings even to be an aunt, it’s nice to have the honorary title.

  Brittany giggles. “Can we go now? I want to see Santa.”

  I set her down, and she bounces on her feet. Lindy nods toward the door. “There are so many people out there tonight. You wouldn’t believe who I ran into.”

  “Who?” I ask, grabbing the store keys from behind the cash register.

  She waggles her eyebrows. “Justin Hastings. He’s in town for the holidays and looking cute and single. He asked about you.”

  Rolling my eyes, I point to the door. “Not going to happen, Lindy. I’m not interested in a Christmas booty call. Justin lives in Georgia and only visits his parents on the holidays.”

  “What’s a booty call?” Brittany asks, her big eyes staring curiously at me.

  Mouth gaping, I look at her and then at Lindy. “Ooops. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  Lindy picks Brittany up in her arms, and I open the door for them. “Aunt Bree is just talking about a phone call, honey. She doesn’t want to talk to Justin.” Then she gasps and nods toward all the Christmas lights on all the shops. “Look at the lights. Aren’t they pretty?” Lindy glares at me and then smiles. “Now that she’s in preschool, she listens to everything. It’s getting harder for me and Trent to spell things out because she knows what we’re talking about.”

  We both laugh, and I ruffle Brittany’s curls. “She’s a smart one.”

  Downtown Meadowbrook is breathtaking. Twinkling lights adorn every doorway and window, all the trees are decorated with white lights and ornaments, and there’s always a group of carolers that sing around the town square.

  “I wish it could be like this all year,” I say.

  Brittany squeals. “Yay! And get presents too.”

  I wink at her. “Exactly. It just so happens I have a couple of things for you underneath my tree at home.”

  Her eyes twinkle, and she claps her hands. Every time I’m around her, it makes me want kids of my own. Unfortunately, life hasn’t given me a chance yet.

  “When was the last time you talked to Mark?” Lindy asks, her expression curious.

  Thinking of him makes my stomach clench. I was with him for three years, and I loved him. I thought we would get married and start a family, but when he shared his disinterest i
n having kids, I couldn’t see myself giving up that dream. He wouldn’t budge, and neither would I.

  “He called me on Thanksgiving,” I reply blandly.

  “And?” she prods. “What did he say?”

  Releasing a heavy sigh, I avert my gaze to all the people gathered around the town’s gigantic Christmas tree. Santa’s sleigh is just on the other side, where I know there will be a gazillion kids lined up to see him.