BOOK ONE: UNWRAPPED
His to unwrap. His to keep. Derrick Fox only wants one gift beneath his Christmas tree--his best friend, Mia Patterson. Clueless Mia thinks he's only interested in a friends-with-benefits deal. Even worse, she thinks that's all she wants, too.
BOOK TWO: CUPID'S MISTAKE
He's looking for stability. She wants a good time. Will Cupid's arrow find its mark this Valentine's Day, or will their pairing prove to be Cupid's biggest mistake? Unwrapped: Mia hopes super-sexy best friend Derrick will agree to be her first. He hopes she'll lose her heart. Cupid's Mistake: Party-girl Allison and super-serious Ben meet through a dating service. Will Cupid's arrow hit its mark or will they be Cupid's biggest mistake?
Reviewers' Thoughts
"Unwrapped is a story of true friendship, true passion, and true love. What unfolds is a tale to touch your heart." -Lori Lyn, Author
"Cupid's Mistake is. . . a fast-paced read. . . the perfect light romance. . ." -Amy Brantley, A Girl And Her Kindle
Trailer for Cupid's Mistake, Book Two in Christmas Wishes, Valentine Kisses: http://youtu.be/qHVJi3qHph0
Excerpt
After eight years of friendship, this was it—the last time some other guy was going to get in Derrick's way, the last time a suave, posturing jackass was going to hurt Mia. She'd been hurt enough, and whether she realized it or not, he loved her. He was ready to prove it.
""Everyone said I'd feel better when I lost the weight."" Mia swiped at the mascara running down her face, smearing it into mini-Rorschach-style blotches, before selecting another cherry. ""But I don't. Everything hurts. I was happier when I was fat.""
""You were never fat, Mia."" Derrick controlled the surge of fury with effort, a muscle going in his jaw. If he could get his hands on Barry-fricking-Anderson right now. . . Goddamned metro-sexual sleaze bag.
""Never."" Allison pulled Mia's head to her shoulder, stroking Mia's long brown hair. It shone in a waving mass down her back, the same glossy shade as the candy Mia stuffed defiantly in her mouth.
Allison, a true redhead with pale skin lightly freckled from the sun, exchanged a glance with Derrick. The look in her big blue eyes mirrored his urge to commit acts of violence against the creep who'd done this to their best friend.
Newly svelte and newly single—again—Mia leaned against Allison wearing an ancient peach-colored t-shirt three sizes too large and enormous ratty grey sweatpants, her bare feet tucked beneath her legs. The sweats cinched at the waist by an unraveling drawstring, cut off at the knees and used to belong to Derrick.
Damned if he'd ever looked as good in them as Mia did, though.
He pretended exasperation every time she snagged another piece of his clothing—an activity she'd made a regular habit of since their freshman year at UC Irvine—but secretly he liked seeing her in his castoffs. There was something unspeakably intimate about her wrapping herself up in a shirt he'd worn.
Now, four years out of college, she'd managed to sneak at least half his wardrobe into her own closet.
Derrick kept his attention on the conversation, but his fingers itched to run through Mia's silky hair. Her dark strands tangled with Allison's rioting bronze curls, a chocolate and caramel river glinting in the sunlight beaming through the windows. Mia's lightly tanned skin sported bright red splotches brought on by the crying jag.
Beautiful as Mia was, she'd never been a pretty-princess kind of crier. If he got the chance, he'd make Barry pay for every splotch.
""You're beautiful and funny and sexy,"" Allison was saying, her tone firm. ""Any guy would be lucky to have you.""
""Then why didn't he want me?"" Mia's whimper effectively killed the sensual vibes running beneath Derrick's skin and resurrected the anger.
""Because Barry's a jerk."" Derrick snapped the words like bones breaking under a heavy fist. And he wanted to hit something. Or someone. Barry.
He'd kill Barry.
""He's an idiot,"" said Allison.
Mia buried her face in her hands. ""I practically threw myself at him.""
""He's an idiot and a jerk, and he doesn't deserve you."" Derrick made his voice particularly harsh to emphasize his point, while Mia's tears scored trails of acid across his heart. He cracked his knuckles.
He'd enjoy killing Barry.
About Chantilly White
Chantilly was raised in southern California, an only child who spent her days acting out favorite scenes from beloved fairytales, writing her own fantasies—including her first two-hundred-page novel at the age of eight—and reading everything she could get her hands on. Childhood favorites were soon followed by romance novels full of adventure, seduction, and desire, which heavily influenced her beliefs about life and love.
Always a storyteller, Chantilly holds a degree in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of California, Riverside. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three kids and three unruly cats.
