The Cop Who Stole Christmas (Tall, Hot & Texan) Read online

  Dear Readers,

  He’s back. Who? Mark Donaldson. Tall, hot and Texan, Mark is the hero in The Cop Who Stole Christmas. But some of you may remember that in Gotcha! he was Jake Baldwin’s partner. Now, when I wrote Gotcha! I didn’t exactly plan to write Mark’s story. He was just a hot single cop who was a bit mysterious. I guess that’s all it took to get some readers interested, because the emails rolled in asking when Mark’s book was going to be released.

  So when I was plotting a new book, I decided poor Mark had been hidden away in the closet of my mind for too long. It was time for him to come out and play. (“Play” being the operative word.) So I took him out, dusted him off, and started poking around in the guy’s past to figure out exactly who he was and what deep-seated secrets he was keeping. And I found some doozies, too.

  Of course, I had to find the perfect heroine for him to play with, and Savanna, with her own list of issues, came to mind. I also wanted to write a Christmas story, so I set the book in December and Santa showed up on the very first page. Of course, in spite of the fact that he’s sort of stealing Savanna’s car, the book has all the warmth you’d expect from the holiday season. Add the romance, a murder to solve, tons of laughter, and, well, you’ve got a Christie Craig book.

  But don’t forget to read the excerpts in the back. You’ll find the first four chapters of Texas Hold ’Em, the last book in the Hotter in Texas series—which releases January 25th. As always, Austin manages to get himself into deep trouble. But it’s just so much fun watching him try to dig himself out. You’ll also get a peek at the first pages of my novella Saved at Sunrise, which is about Della Tsang, a sassy vampire. Della, with spunk to spare, is taking over the point of view of my young adult paranormal romance series, Shadow Falls, written under my pen name, C. C. Hunter. This spinoff series, titled Shadow Falls: After Dark, will be out in April of 2014. The e-novella, Saved at Sunrise, is now available wherever ebooks are sold.

  I want to give a big thank-you to all my readers. In the future, I’ll be pulling some other secondary characters from the closet of my mind and writing their books soon. So stay tuned and check out my website for upcoming releases. Oh, and . . . Happy Holidays!

  Love,

  Christie

  Rave Reviews for Christie Craig!

  Gotcha!

  “The mystery and romance plots fit seamlessly into a witty and fast-paced novel that’s easy to read and satisfying to the heart.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Filled with plenty of action, delightfully quirky characters, a mean villain and a rocky road to romance, Craig’s novel is an entertaining tale that holds the interest from the first sentence to the final word.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Funny, fast-paced, and full of suspense, Craig’s latest will delight her fans as well as fans of Janet Evanovich and Harley Jane Kozak.”

  —Booklist

  Weddings Can Be Murder

  “A story that twines emotions and feelings with sizzle and steam, all wrapped around bits of humor . . . Weddings Can Be Murder combines passionate and intense characters with a plot that’s well balanced and fast moving. It’s edgy and fun.”

  —Once Upon a Romance

  “Although the plot is threaded with sassy humor, a lighthearted touch, and misaligned lovers hinting strongly of Shakespeare, a deranged psychopath, a trail of murdered brides, and threats of real danger keep the story on the suspenseful side. Craig’s lively story puts a new spin on weddings and will appeal to those who like their lethal tales with a little humor on the side.”

  —Library Journal

  “Once again Craig brings a wonderful story to life with a number of likable and interesting characters. There’s a quite decent mystery, a fair amount of suspense and two lovely romances.”

  —Romantic Times Book Reviews

  “Ms. Craig delivers a well-paced and well-plotted mystery that will keep you guessing to the last page without compromising the happily-ever after romantic ending.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Humor runs rampant . . . Christie Craig takes the reader on a ride between laughter and fear. The pace is as quick as the quips. While the characters moan and complain about their various love dilemmas, they share humorous banter, making this trip to love a racy road.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “If you want a sexy that will put a smile on your face, a Christie Craig book is the way to go!”

  —Night Owl Romance

  Divorced, Desperate and Deceived

  “The fun—and action—never stops in the enchanting Divorced, Desperate and Deceived. Christie Craig’s prose practically sparkles with liveliness and charm in the exciting conclusion to her stunning Divorced, Desperate and Delicious Club trilogy.”

  —Joyfully Reviewed

  Divorced, Desperate and Dating

  “This sequel to Craig’s Divorced, Desperate and Delicious is another delightfully entertaining novel with an intriguing mystery. Peopled with interesting new characters and familiar old ones, it also has its share of animal friends that add a lot of humor and warmth to the story.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “I was simply delighted by this breezy, snappy, good-time story . . . This book is sure to brighten your day.”

  —Beyond Her Book Blog, Publishers Weekly

  “Christie Craig has penned a humorous tale that is one part suspense and all parts fun.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Christie Craig is the jewel of my finds when it comes to new authors to add to my favorites list. Her characters draw you in immediately, make you care about them in no time flat, and her humor is to die for.”

  —The Good, The Bad, and The Unread

  Divorced, Desperate and Delicious

  “This is an entertaining fast-moving mystery and romance peopled with interesting, likable characters, as well as warm cuddly animals. The main romance, as well as the secondary ones, are delightful, and the suspense is well done. This is an all-around enticing and fun story to read.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Christie Craig delivers humor, heat, and suspense in addictive doses. She’s the newest addition to my list of have-to-read authors . . . Funny, hot, and suspenseful. Christie Craig’s writing has it all. Warning: definitely addictive.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Nina Bangs

  “Suspense and romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat . . . until you fall off laughing . . . Christie Craig writes a book you can’t put down.”

  —RITA finalist Gemma Halliday

  “Readers who enjoy Jenny Crusie and Janet Evanovich will fall head over heels for Divorced, Desperate and Delicious, a witty romantic adventure by debut author Christie Craig . . . A page-turner filled with humorous wit, sexy romance and just enough danger to keep you up long past midnight.”

  —RITA Award-winning author Dianna Love Snell

  “. . . an exceptionally funny, fast paced, snappy read with unusual humor that will make you laugh.”

  —Huntress Reviews

  “I would compare this book to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, but Divorced, Desperate and Delicious is even funnier and a thousand times sexier.”

  —Night Owl Romance

  “Divorced, Desperate and Delicious is funny, witty, suspenseful, and very entertaining . . . This is a wonderful book. The characters are charming, and there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Christie Craig has a winner.”

  —Romantic Reviews Today

  I Need You

  The pounding started on his door. “Shit.” His gripped his cup tig
hter.

  Just because she knocked, didn’t mean he had to answer.

  The doorbell chimed.

  Then he heard her. “I know you’re in there. I saw you looking out your window!”

  Frowning, he went and opened the door. A gust of 34-degree wind blew in and reminded him all he had on was a pair of boxers.

  Her gaze shot to his eyes, then slipped down to his bare chest, and then inched down a bit more, where it lingered around the belly button for an appreciative second, and then shot back up.

  His gaze bypassed her blue, beauty-masked face and gooey hair and shot to the V opening of her robe, slipped to the swell of her exposed breast and stayed there.

  She clutched her robe tighter to hide the nice view. He didn’t do a damn thing to cover up. Let her look. It was all she was going to get from him. All he was going to get from her.

  He took a slow sip of his coffee. “Yeah?”

  “I need you,” she bellowed, sounding breathless.

  He choked on the hot liquid.

  Good line. It had been too long since a woman told him that, but this was a first. Never had it come from one painted like a smurf.

  The Cop Who Stole Christmas

  A Tall, Hot & Texan Short Novel

  Christie Craig

  The Cop Who Stole Christmas

  Christie Craig

  Copyright © 2013 by Christie Craig

  Material excerpted from Texas Hold ’Em copyright © 2013 by Christie Craig.

  Material excerpted from Saved at Sunrise copyright © 2013 by Christie Craig

  Cover design and illustration by RM Brand

  ISBN: 978-0-983890-29-4

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of both the copyright holder and the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Acknowledgments

  To my agent, Kim Lionetti, who helps me make it happen. To my hubby, who years ago taught me that love deserved a second chance. To my assistants, Shawnna Perigo and Kathleen Adey, for helping me along this publishing path. To friends Susan C. Muller and Betty Hobbs for helping me whip this manuscript into shape. You guys are the greatest.

  Dedicated to my father, Pete Hunt,

  from whom I inherited my first-class,

  fine-tuned art of bullshitting.

  It helps writing fiction.

  Love you, Daddy.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Other Books by Christie Craig

  Excerpt from Texas Hold ’Em

  Excerpt from Saved at Sunrise

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  “Get your hand off my bumper!” Savanna Edwards clutched her pink, nubby housecoat to her chest against the frigid December air as she bolted across her yard to her driveway. Cold mud oozed between her toes.

  “Did you hear me?” she yelled over the sound of “Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer” bellowing out of the wrecker. She came to a sudden stop, her breath catching with shock at the sight of the man hooking up her Honda.

  Santa Claus was stealing her car.

  “I heard you, lady.” Crouched down at her bumper, his long white beard dangled between his knees. He even donned the traditional red suit with the floppy hat sporting a white ball. When he finally looked up, his eyes widened.

  The cold snuck beneath her robe, and afraid something might be showing, she tightened the housecoat around her. A chilly gust of wind tossed a heavy strand of mayonnaise-laden hair onto her forehead. That’s when she remembered she also had on a neon blue facial mask.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” She’d heard the clanking while soaking in the tub—her Saturday morning pamper-me ritual. Having just replaced her mailbox after the neighborhood juvenile delinquents had smashed it to smithereens, she’d bolted out of the tub thinking she’d caught the hoodlums red-handed. It hadn’t been delinquents she found, but a wrecker backing up into her driveway behind her car.

  Santa stood, his eyes roaming over her. “Just doing my job, Ma’am.”

  “That’s my car.”

  “Title Mama would argue that fact.”

  “Title Mama?”

  “You give them a title, they loan you money? You pay ’em back, no problem. You don’t pay ’em back, you get me.”

  “I didn’t borrow money using the title.” Even as she said the words, doubt formed in her gut. Her ex was a certifiable asshole, but he wouldn’t have stooped this low, would he?

  Oh, hell, who was she kidding? Clint had brought his intern into her house while she’d been at the hospital with her dying mom. He had no stooping limits.

  He walked to his truck and pulled out a clip board. “Read it and weep.”

  Savanna glanced at the papers. There it was—her heart plummeted—her ex-husband’s signature on the contract. She really did feel like weeping.

  When she looked up, Santa was back to work hooking up her car. “Stop! Please. This is a mistake. I got the car in the divorce. So if someone gave him a loan on it, it was . . . illegal.”

  The wrecker driver’s eyes cut up to her. “I hate it when that happens.” He actually sounded sincere.

  She felt the skin-firming, pore-reducing mask tighten her face. “Just let me call my ex and get this resolved. Please.”

  “Sorry,” he muttered.

  Blinking back the sting of tears, she saw a curtain in the house across the street flutter. Her gaze shot to the neighbor’s front door. Was he coming to her rescue? If anyone could help, he could.

  After ten seconds of no one walking out, her gaze shot back to Repo Santa. “Look, he got the house, I got the car. It wasn’t even fair, but I didn’t want the house after . . .”

  He stood up again. The Jolly Ol’ Soul’s knees popped, even though he didn’t look that old. “You seem like a nice lady. A little weird maybe.” He stared at her face. “Really weird, but I have a job to do. I’m Santa, I give to those who are good and take away from those who are bad.”

  “I haven’t been bad.” Her heart pounded. She knew if she didn’t calm down she was going to hyperventilate. Or worse, she would fly into a complete rage and start kicking St. Nicholas’ ass. She could see the headline now: Local florist bashes Santa.

  Her gaze cut back to the house across the street. She paid city taxes, the city paid her neighbor. That meant he basically worked for her. Tightening her robe’s belt, she high-stepped it across the street hoping to make it before Santa got away with her car.

  • • •

  Mark Donaldson backed away from the window, and stared at the steaming cup of coffee he held. Santa versus Smurf. Had to be a dre
am. He took a long swig of coffee, gave the caffeine a second to do its magic, and then looked out again.

  He wasn’t dreaming.

  And now his blue-faced, hot-looking neighbor was hot-footing it across the street. He dropped the curtain. She couldn’t be coming over here, could she?

  He peeked out again. Yup. She was. The pounding started on his door. “Shit.” His gripped his cup tighter.

  Just because she knocked, didn’t mean he had to answer.

  Blowing on the too-hot coffee, he waited for her to leave, hoping she’d assume he wasn’t at home, or was still in bed. As the pounding continued, he surmised his neighbor was behind on her car payments and . . .

  The doorbell chimed.

  Then he heard her. “I know you’re in there. I saw you looking out your window!”

  Frowning, he went and opened the door. A gust of 34-degree wind blew in and reminded him all he had on was a pair of boxers.

  Her gaze shot to his eyes, then slipped down to his bare chest, and then inched down a bit more where it lingered around the belly button for an appreciative second, and then shot back up.

  His gaze bypassed her blue face and gooey hair and shot to the V opening of her robe, slipped to the swell of her exposed breast and stayed there.

  She clutched her robe tighter to hide the nice view. He didn’t do a damn thing to cover up. Let her look. It was all she was going to get from him. All he was going to get from her.