Read the first chapter of A Wife For Christmas.
Vivian Ebanks clenched and unclenched the fist in her lap, plastering on a fake smile as she addressed her employer’s troubling statement.
“What do you mean I should take the week off?”
Her eyes drifted over the rows of bottles, their multi-colored liquids glimmering in the muted overhead lights, as she pondered his statement.
Cameron Grant chuckled, and she pursed her lips, glad he couldn’t see her expression.
“I’m getting married in a week, Vivian. Thanks to you, I have an excellent wedding planner taking care of the details, so you don’t have to.”
Great. She was being punished for her efficiency.
“I’d be an asset to Robyn this week.”
She’d been working with Robyn Fischer for the last six months to plan the destination weddings for the Porter twins and their fiances.
Although, to be honest, after the first few weeks, Robyn hadn’t needed her help. She’d shadowed the woman to ensure she was doing a good job, and she was.
“This is not negotiable, Vivian.” Cameron’s voice was unwavering. “Weren’t you the one who chastised me for not taking a break?”
“I didn’t chastise you, exactly…” she trailed off as she remembered the embarrassing conversation.
It was a wonder her billionaire boss hadn’t fired her. She probably had Mackenzie to thank.
Since Cameron began dating Mackenzie, he had become a new man. One who was insistent she take a vacation she didn’t want. If she’d known his plan, she’d have remained in Portsville until the day before the wedding.
“Accept this as a Christmas gift from me and Mackenzie, and no logging on to do anything.”
She gritted her teeth at the mention of Christmas. While she appreciated her Savior’s birth, people’s altered behavior during this season baffled her.
Until last year, she and Cameron had been in the same camp, treating it as just another day. She tried once more to get him to see reason.
“But sir—”
“No buts. Your temporary assistant is more than capable of covering in your absence. We plan to check with Robyn to verify that you’re not hovering or offering to help her.”
Vivian rolled her eyes as Cameron disconnected the call. What was she supposed to do for an entire week, surrounded by lovebirds with no work?
She drummed her fingers against the smooth wood of the bar counter as she considered ways to occupy her time or sneakily defy Cameron.
It wasn’t that she was anti-love. It was wonderful when people fell in love, but she didn’t plan to be one of them. She was content to go home after work to her apartment.
A picture of the neatly maintained space flashed in her mind, making her a liar. It was a place to sleep, nothing else. Perhaps she’d find a hobby.
A man in a business suit slid onto the stool beside her.
“I couldn’t help overhearing your predicament.” He leaned in too close for comfort, his malty breath heating her cheek. “I’d be happy to keep you company.”
“No, thank you.” She recoiled, holding her breath, not wanting to inhale the sickly sweet fumes emanating from him.
He winked at her, and her stomach churned with disgust. “We can loosen up together.”
“No.” She hardened her tone. “My boyfriend wouldn’t like it.”
“Where is he?” The man smirked like he knew she’d manufactured her male friend.
“He’s coming.” Her eyes wandered the room, seeking someone to rescue her.
Her gaze passed over most of the patrons, discarding them as too wrapped up in their issues to worry about hers.
Please, Lord. I don’t want to be stuck with this man all night.
She could return to her room. But that supported Cameron’s point she didn’t have a life. He hadn’t said those words, but her mind filled them in.
The man signaled the bartender. “We need beers.” He held up three fingers. “One for me, my friend, and her imaginary boyfriend.” He cackled, slapping his thighs as if he’d made the funniest joke in the world.
She scooted off the stool. Being a loser was better than hanging around with this drunk.
“Oh, don’t go.” The man grabbed her arm. “I was playing.”
“Let me go, sir.”
“No.” His eyes narrowed. “When a man buys you a drink, you drink it.”
“The lady said she wasn’t interested.”
Her knees wobbled with relief at Robert Porter Junior’s familiar voice. His authoritative tone was as welcome as the man’s foreboding presence.
Thank You, Lord.
Vivian shook herself free from the drunk man’s suddenly limp fingers. She didn’t blame him. Robert was an intimidating man.
“See,” she slipped her trembling arm through Robert’s, “I told you my boyfriend was coming.”
Robert arched a brow but didn’t refute her claim. She appreciated his willingness to step in as a temporary fake boyfriend, though the broody man was not her type…if she had one.
“Shall we go for dinner?” She smiled up at him, her eyes wide with pleading.
He nodded once. “Stay away from my girl.”
Robert’s growl was so convincing that the man slithered to his stool without another word.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Robert placed a hand on her lower back. The heat of his palm sent a delicious awareness zipping through her. “Let’s go somewhere else.” He scowled over her shoulder and Vivian was grateful she wasn’t the recipient of his glare.
Vivian followed Robert into the cool evening air. The perfection of his timing had her praising God.
Still, she dropped his hand when they were away from the building. His nearness affected her in a way she didn’t want to investigate.
“Care to explain what that was about?”
A sharp gust of air rippled over her exposed skin, making her shiver as she wrapped her arms around herself. She should have brought a sweater.
“I wasn’t in the mood for company.”
“So you invented a fake boyfriend?”
When he said it like that, she felt like an idiot. She angled her chin.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Robert snorted. “If you don’t want to be picked on, maybe you shouldn’t dress like a…” he gestured to her outfit. “What are you wearing?”
Vivian glanced down at herself. Her mint green pantsuit was as immaculate as it had been when she’d dressed earlier, thinking of getting some work done while she had dinner. “There’s nothing wrong with my clothes.”
She was fastidious, aware that sometimes you only got one impression. Once people made a snap judgment about you, it was hard to change their minds.
“I thought personal assistants wore practical clothes, making it easy for them to blend into the background?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. He disapproved of her outfit because it was stylish? Unbelievable.
“And I thought soldiers had manners, or at least treated women with respect?” She straightened her jacket, though there was nothing wrong with it. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay out of your way.”
She spun on her heels and stalked away from him. Insufferable man.
A Wife For Christmas
Table of Contents
In the season of hope, love is the gift they never expected.
RJ Porter arrives at the resort for his sisters’ Christmas Eve weddings with one goal: stay under the radar, fulfill his duties, and disappear again. RJ, a military intelligence agent recovering from a career-threatening injury, is grappling with his future. He has no patience for holiday cheer or romantic distractions.
Vivian Ebanks loves her job as a personal assistant and is eager to help plan the perfect destination wedding for her boss. But when ordered to treat the week as a paid vacation, she’s reluctant to relax—especially when the brides’ family, including the moody RJ, pulls her into their holiday festivities.
As Christmas approaches and RJ and Vivian are drawn together through shared experiences and family celebrations, they find themselves wrestling with their pasts and futures. With faith guiding their hearts, can they open themselves to God’s greatest gift—love—or will they let their fears keep them apart?
A Wife for Christmas is a Christian contemporary romance with strong faith themes.
Read the other books in the series