A Sweet Paradise Holiday Reunion (Paperback)

Chapter 1
“Tucker! Where are you going?”
Ignoring Blaire’s call for him, Tucker ducked out of the ballroom and into the hallway. There had to be a place he could get some air. This place was more suffocating than his five-hundred-square-foot apartment, and that was saying something.
There were Christmas decorations everywhere. It was as if the decorator for this place had thought people actually wanted it to look like Jolly Old Saint Nicholas threw up all over.
“Tucker!”
A hand tugged at his wrist just before Blaire launched herself into his path. “You can’t just leave like that.”
“I can’t? Who said?” His eyes got wide, and he lowered his face closer to hers. “Do you think Santa is going to put me on the naughty list?”
She made a face, her hands now on her hips. “You know why. This is the last article of the year you have to write. If you make Kane Jordan upset, he’s gonna call the office and complain.”
Tucker brushed past her. “I’m sure if that happens, you can smooth things over with Daddy.”
Blaire gasped, and he grimaced. That hadn’t been a fair statement. Blaire had done a lot to work her way up the ladder at the magazine. Everyone knew her father was harder on her than he was on anyone else. And yet… it still annoyed him that Aaron Davis had chosen his daughter to go on this trip.
Tucker couldn’t bring himself to turn around and face her after that crack about her father. She’d probably just brush it off anyway. She was like that. No one was as happy and spunky as Blaire Davis. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out where she got it from.
Probably her mother.
Aaron Davis was the most stoic man Tucker had ever met. He was good at business and even better at personal relations, which was why he had people like Kane Jordan calling in favors.
Sweet Paradise Resort was nice. Anyone with eyes could see it.
But was it worthy of an article in the last profitable magazine printed in New York? Not likely.
Tucker shoved his hands deep into his pockets and continued on his way to the elevator. Fresh air. That was what he needed right now. He couldn’t stand the smell of cinnamon and pine any longer. He didn’t want to see the twinkling lights or the vibrant greens and reds that filled every corner of his vision.
Most of all, he didn’t want to talk to people who were so in love they couldn’t form even one coherent sentence that didn’t involve how lucky they were to have found their soul mate.
Soul mate. Ha! He thought he’d found his, but around this time last year, Annika had called off their wedding without so much as an explanation besides them being too different.
They’d been engaged for nearly a year. Annika knew him better than anyone—well, except for a handful of the people who he worked with.
Tucker punched the elevator button with his thumb, scowling as it lit up. One whole year, and he was still in a rotten mood over having his heart broken. It didn’t matter that he buried himself in work. He still couldn’t get past the ache in his chest. Annika had left a scar bigger than that eyesore of a Christmas tree that sat in the lobby.
The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped inside. Just before they closed, Blaire jumped through the opening.
Tucker glanced up at her with a bored expression. “Not this again.”
She crossed her arms, staring at him with what she probably thought was an intimidating look. “We’re only going to be here for two nights. I get that you hate the holiday and all, but you were the only one available for this gig. You could have said no, but you didn’t. So suck it up and do your job.”
He arched a brow. “You really need to work on your pep talks. I’d give this one a solid C, though.”
Blaire let out a groan and stomped her foot, drawing his attention to it briefly before he lifted his gaze to her face.
“Seriously? How old are you again? I wasn’t aware that your father hired toddlers.”
“Yeah? Well, I wasn’t aware my father hired the Grinch, but here he is in all his green glory.”
Tucker snorted. That was the very first time she’d attempted to fight back. He would have been impressed if she hadn’t gone with something so outdated. “With all due respect, I’m only representing the magazine when I’m interviewing.” He gestured around the metal cage in which they stood. “You see anyone I have to interview? No? Well, then, I don’t have to be on my best behavior. I don’t appreciate Mr. Davis sending his daughter to babysit me when I could have handled this all on my own.”
Blaire scowled at him, her lips pressed tight. Her eyes flashed with fury, but at least she wasn’t trying to compare him to the abominable snowman.
The doors opened behind her, and he moved to exit, but she blocked him. He frowned. “Excuse me.”
She shook her head. “I’m not letting you leave until you agree to change your attitude.”
“You’re not my mother.”
“No, I’m not. But I’d wager if your mother saw the way you were acting, she’d put you in your place too.”
Adam edged around Blaire on her other side, taking her off guard. “Don’t presume anything on a subject you know nothing about.” His mother was a whole different issue upon which he had no intention of dwelling.
He charged through the lobby and made it outside just as the first snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground. Something was off about it, though. Outside, with white flurries in the air, he had assumed the temperature would be cold enough to nip at his skin. But it wasn’t.
There was almost a strange warmth surrounding him—as if he wasn’t in the mountains at all. It was as if he were in a picturesque snow globe instead.
The ice-skating rink before him was filled with several people of all ages. Christmas music blasted from the speakers. The sidewalks that led around the property would soon be dusted in white.
Tucker should probably have felt something—the spirit of the holidays that everyone talked about.
And yet he felt nothing. There was no joy in his heart this time of year. December was just like any other month. He’d get this puff piece written then go home and hide away from the world until the new year. That was the best he could do under the circumstances.
Tucker leaned against the brick building and let his eyes close for a moment.
Deep breaths.
He could do this. It was like Blaire had said. It was only going to be two nights. Then they’d be on their way and out of this holiday prison.

(Prequel) Saving Paradise Resort
1. Christmas Honeymoon For One
2. Merry Mistletoe Wedding
3. Christmas Cookies and Coworkers
4. Made for Mistletoe Mix-up
5. A Sweet Paradise Holiday Reunion