Fabricated Christmas Read online

  Fabricated Christmas

  Glenna Maynard

  Contents

  Blurb

  Introduction

  1. —Finnick—

  2. —Maisy—

  3. —Finnick—

  4. —Maisy—

  5. —Finnick—

  6. —Maisy—

  7. —Finnick—

  8. —Maisy—

  9. —Finnick—

  10. —Finnick—

  11. —Maisy—

  12. —Finnick—

  13. —Maisy—

  14. —Maisy—

  15. —Finnick—

  16. —Maisy—

  17. —Finnick—

  18. —Maisy—

  Epilogue

  Christmas of Love Collection

  Acknowledgments

  About Glenna

  Also by Glenna Maynard

  Fabricated Christmas Glenna Maynard ©2020 All Rights Reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, business, establishments, locals or events is entirely coincidental. Any reference to real events, business, organizations or locals is intended only to give the fiction a sense of realism and authenticity. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise – without prior permission in writing from the author.

  The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Cover: Alluring Write Productions

  Created with Vellum

  Blurb

  Rule #1 - Never date your boss.

  Rule #2 - Under any circumstances never ever sleep with your boss.

  Rule #3 - Rules were meant to be broken.

  Finnick Wilder is rude and conceited. He's a jerk with a capital J who also happens to be devilishly handsome and my boss.

  I despise him, but when he says jump, I ask how high.

  Him dropping to one knee and proposing ranks way above how high I can jump.

  His demand for a fake fiancée crosses the line between fiction and reality. Yet, it seems like fate under the mistletoe.

  Introduction

  Welcome to Santa Claus, Indiana where Christmas isn’t just a holiday, it’s a way of life. Join these 12 amazing authors with 11 wonderful books as they bring you some instalove, a little mystery, and maybe some thriller, for a romance filled holiday!

  The community of Santa Claus was designed in 1849. The story of how it received the name of Santa Claus has roots both in fact and legend. In January 1856 the town applied for a post office to be installed.

  On June 25, 1895, as part of a nationwide standardization for place names, the post office name was changed to the one word Santaclaus. The town's unique name went largely unnoticed until the late 1920s, when Postmaster James Martin began promoting the Santa Claus postmark. The name was changed back to Santa Claus on February 17, 1928. It was then that the Post Office Department decided there would never be another Santa Claus Post Office in the United States, due to the influx of holiday mail. The growing volume of holiday mail became so substantial that it caught the attention of Robert Ripley in 1929, who featured the town's post office in his nationally syndicated Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon strip.

  Learn more about this unique town here: https://santaclausind.org

  To finding love in unexpected places.

  1

  —Finnick—

  Flipping through the stack of applications I let out a breath and scrub a palm over my face. The blades of the small fan on my desk whir, blowing the corners of the papers up.

  “Still no luck?” My mom dips her head through the doorway of my private office.

  I lay my hands over my chest knitting my fingers together as I lean back in my black leather chair. “Nope.”

  “What about that one…you know,” she presses, making the motion of big boobs over her chest.

  I shake my head. “If I hire Amanda, Sean won’t get any work done for staring at her ass all day.”

  “Gross.” Auden darts past Mom.

  “Hey, meanness. How was school today?”

  “Boring.” She rolls her eyes. “We have to memorize a gazillion words for the spelling bee. I don’t like it.”

  “I tell you what. You ace the list and I’ll think about letting you have that sleepover you’ve been going on about for your birthday.”

  “Really?” Her eyes light up, stars dancing behind her green orbs.

  “Why not?”

  Her arms sling around my neck as she climbs into my lap. “You’re the best.”

  I give her a hug. “Go get started on your homework. We’ll head home in about an hour once I finish up.”

  Auden runs off, and Mom hesitates to follow her.

  “What? Whatever it is, spit it out. We both know you’ll call me later to gripe if you don’t get it off your chest. So out with it. Let me have it.”

  “When are you going to put yourself out there again? It’s been three years.” Her voice lowers. “Kenya remarried and is having another baby.”

  “I know. Auden informed me she’s getting another brother.” My ex-wife is on her second husband since our divorce was final three years ago. And she’s on baby daddy number three. Another reason we fight about custody so much. She’s not setting a good healthy example for Auden. I don’t want her being raised to think you trade your men out like worn shoes. Thankfully the judge thought I was the better parent and gave me full custody with her having access to Auden every other weekend. It doesn’t hurt that I am well versed in the law being I make my living as a divorce attorney. And because I’m not a complete dick, we alternate holidays and birthdays.

  “Don’t you want to find someone to share your life with?”

  “You mean like hiring Amanda.” I chuckle. “No thanks. I am happy. I’ve got my career and Auden. I don’t shit where I eat.” What my mother may or may not know is I’ve fucked Amanda a few times over the years since I’ve been single, but she’s not the kind of woman a man settles down with. I knew the minute I saw her application what she was up to. She’s been hinting for months that she wants more. A relationship. I’m not going there. She’s good for letting off steam and getting off but nothing more than that. Wife material. I think not. Fuck buddy is pushing it.

  I’ve tried to cut loose of her for months, but she keeps popping up when she knows Auden is at her mom’s place like a crazy ass stalker, and I know them when I see them. I cross crazy assed bitches constantly in my line of work.

  “I worry about what will happen to you and Auden. You need a good woman to take care of you. Both of you.”

  My brow shoots up. “And you think Amanda is gonna be that woman?”

  “I don’t know. I worry about you being lonely.” Mom pushes any woman that even looks at me longer than ten seconds, on me. Wanting me to settle down, give her more grandkids. She should have had more kids herself if she wanted so many grandchildren. One kid is plenty.

  “I’m a grown ass man. I can take care of myself.”

  “You’re right, son, but no matter how old you get as your mother it’s my job to worry after you.”

  “I love you, Mom. Now get on home. I’m sure the old man is waiting on his supper.”

  “All right.” She gives me one last exasperated glance before she goes.

  I knock the stack of applications into the trash can that sits next to my desk. I don’t know what my problem is. I should get it over with and pick someo
ne but none of them feel right for the job or the office. Sean’s girlfriend was doing a decent job holding down the secretary role but when their relationship went sour, I had to let her go. I would have kept her on, but she was causing shit in the office any time a female client came in with a case and Sean had to meet with her in or out of his office. I couldn’t have a hostile work environment, no matter how well she did her job. I hesitated to hire her in the first place because I knew that shit would happen. It’s been three weeks. I need to replace her and fast. Only problem is no one is qualified enough who has applied for the position. It’s not easy to convince anyone who isn’t from Shamrock to move here willingly. Paralegals don’t just magically fall out of the sky either.

  I stroll to the doorway of my office. I glance out to see Auden sitting at the reception desk frowning over her textbook.

  The bell to the front door chimes. I give up on finding someone to replace Mallory to see who’s coming in at closing. I’m ready to get home and kick back with a beer. I stroll to the main entrance and my blood boils at the sight of Amanda with a basket of cookies from Brina’s bakery.

  “Hey there.” She shoots Auden a fake smile and my girl stares back at her scrunching her nose up at the big busted, raven-haired woman like who are you. “I brought your dad and you some treats.” She places the basket on the edge of the desk. Auden has never seen me with anyone but her mom. She’s used to having daddy all to herself.

  “Outside now,” I growl, not wanting to make a scene in front of my daughter.

  “Okay…” Amanda draws the word out but saunters out the door swaying her hips like I’m supposed to be hypnotized by the jiggle of her ass in those tight jeans she’s wearing. So damn tight I wonder how in the hell she even got them on in the first place. Shit must be difficult to breathe in.

  Outside she leans against the side of the red brick building. “What’s up?” Her thin red lips spread into a smirk.

  “How many times have I told you not to come around my kid? We had a few good times but that’s all we had. Stay away from me.”

  “What do you mean? I thought we had something good going, Finn. I came by because I figured you’d made a decision about hiring me so we could spend more time together.”

  How did I never notice how clingy this chick is? “Aren’t you listening? I said stay away from me and stay the hell away from my daughter,” I snarl in her face.

  She frowns. “I don’t get it, it’s been months, it’s time she knows we’re together, especially if I’m going to be her stepmom someday.”

  Hearing her refer to herself as Auden’s stepmom makes me lose my cool. “Listen, you need to stay away from my daughter. We were never a couple. I fucked you. That’s it. Take your psychotic fucking ass off my property. Don’t set foot back in my office. Lose my number. Now.”

  “But I need you to escort me to my family reunion.”

  “Not my problem. You crossed a line today.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “Don’t give a shit. Now get gone.”

  “Wow.” She laughs. “You’re a real prick. Did you even hire someone?”

  My gaze lands on this chick strolling down the sidewalk toward us with her nose buried in the Shamrock Gazette. Something about the red and black polka dot dress she’s wearing makes me smile. Looks like a damn ladybug. Everything about her seems out place. “Yeah. Her.” I stroke my chin and step into her path. “There you are. You need to finish your paperwork.”

  “Huh?” The newspaper drops and I’m met with a gorgeous face partially hidden by thick black sunglasses.

  I motion my head slightly. “Come on, we need to get this wrapped up so you can start next week.”

  Her brows knit, but she folds her newspaper, tucking it under her arm as Amanda gapes at us. I take the woman by the hand, noticing how soft her skin feels against my rough palm, and tug her into the office. Amanda glares at us but thankfully gets in her car and leaves.

  “Um…I think there’s been a misunderstanding…I don’t know you.” She purses her lips together and shoves her sunglasses up her forehead resting them on the top of her blonde hair. She’s got the prettiest smoky gray eyes I’ve ever seen. They remind me of clouds in a thunderstorm. Fuck me where did this tempting angel come from? She’s gorgeous.

  “Can you answer a phone?”

  “Well yeah.”

  “Good.” I grin. “You’re hired.”

  “I didn’t apply.”

  “Don’t care. I need someone. Are you available?”

  “For?” She’s looking at me like I’m crazy and hell maybe I am, but I know one thing right now and that’s that I want her ass in my chair answering my phone.

  “Answering the phones and scheduling appointments to start with.”

  Her lips roll inward. “I guess so.” She stares past me at Auden. Her eyes wide, face pale. If I wasn’t so pissed off right now, I would laugh. “I don’t babysit.”

  “Not part of the job. All I need is you to have my coffee ready and hot when I get here in the mornings and to answer my phone.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yeah. The pay is shit and the hours can be long if I have a big case.”

  “Can I have weekends off?”

  “If you agree to make sure I get lunch at noon every single day.”

  “That’s fair. Is that my desk?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can I dress how I want to?”

  I take in the sight of her legs in them heels she’s sporting that say fuck me six ways to Sunday. Fuck yeah. “Yeah sure, whatever. So you’ll do it?

  The intriguing woman glances around making a weird face that I can’t get a read on. “Why not. When do I start?”

  “Monday, be here at eight sharp.”

  “Okay then. So since you’re my boss, what’s your name?”

  “Finnick Wilder. You?”

  “Maisy Carsten.”

  “Welcome to Wilder’s.” I grab the cookie basket and hand it to her.

  “I don’t eat sweets.” Maisy presses the basket back into my chest.

  “Who the hell doesn’t eat sweets?”

  “I don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Her body tenses, posture going straight. “Because I just don’t.”

  “You aren’t from around here, are you?”

  “Not exactly, why?”

  “Because everyone and I do mean everyone loves Brina’s cookies. People come from all over to get them.”

  “Then I guess I’d better try one then.”

  “But you don’t eat sweets.” I snatch the basket away as she goes to reach for it.

  “Dude, seriously?”

  “I don’t think you deserve a Brina cookie. You don’t like sweets, so you won’t appreciate it.” Auden gives me a funny look. Shit, I’m flirting in front of my kid. This never happens to me. I never get all twisted up over a woman, but something about this Maisy gets me all riled up.

  “I said I don’t eat them, not that I don’t like them.”

  “Give her the cookie, Dad,” Auden chirps, giving me a toothy grin.

  “Fine,” I say with a huff and hand a plastic sleeve over. I watch her take her time to open the wrapper. Bringing the chocolate chip goodness to her nose she inhales the scent before taking a bite. Her lips stretch wide, a moan slipping between them that sounds so damn erotic the sound travels straight to my cock. It pisses me off. I shove the basket toward her. “Here. See you Monday.” I stomp off to make sure I don’t do anything stupid like hit on her in front of my kid. What the hell did I get myself into?

  I shake my head and text Kenya to see if she’s going to be picking Auden up from here or the house. It’s her weekend.

  I don’t need to be getting tangled up with my new hire, but damn if she isn’t pretty to look at and fun to spar with.

  2

  —Maisy—

  Heaven explodes in my mouth. It’s been so long since I’ve had real sugar or anything swe
et that I’ve almost forgotten how good chocolate tastes. This barbarian of a man shoves the basket of cookies in my arms and stomps out of the reception area. The little girl sitting behind the desk shares his gorgeous green eyes. Grinning at me while twirling her pencil between her fingers she stares at the cookies.

  “Would you like one?”

  Her chin lifts and she nods.

  “That guy. The suit. Is he your dad?”

  “Yep.”

  “Is he always like that?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Right. I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other then if I’m going to work here, huh?”

  Another nod.

  I hand her three cookies. “What’s your name?”

  “Auden.”

  “That’s pretty. You can call me Maisy.” The kid doesn’t say anything more, and I take it as my sign to leave. I leave the basket of cookies on the edge of the desk and exit the building. This morning when I woke up, I was hoping to find something to do with my time in this small town. When I chose Shamrock, I didn’t realize just how small town this place truly was. They have like four streets. I dressed up and walked to Main Street from my motel to get a late lunch at the local diner. There I acquired a newspaper to start looking for a job and a place to live. I don’t really need a job, but I think it’d be suspicious for a single woman to move to nowhere and not have employment. Working at an office answering phones isn’t my idea of fun, but I had asked the universe to give me a sign and well I guess this is what the world is giving me. Finnick Wilder. A devilishly handsome man with a bad attitude.