“Common sense tells me to walk away now,” Emma whispered. “You have a reputation for never going out with an employee.”

      “I never have,” Zach answered. “That doesn’t mean I can’t.”

      “That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I want this job.”

      “Don’t quit on me,” he replied, his voice raspy and quiet. A muscle worked in his jaw. “I’ll double your salary.”

      “Double my salary?” she repeated, shaking her head.

      “You don’t need to pack and go. Don’t walk out over a few casual kisses.”

      Exasperated and stung over his dismissal of kisses that had shaken her, she stared at him. “Those kisses weren’t casual to my way of thinking,” she whispered.

      She stepped close, put her arm around his neck and placed her mouth on his, kissing him with all the heat and fury she felt over his dismissive attitude. In seconds, she broke off the kiss and looked up with satisfaction.

      “I’d say your body’s reaction isn’t casual, either,” she said, catching her breath.

      Dear Reader,

      Depending on circumstances, holidays can be painful or joyous, and Midnight Under the Mistletoe is about those opposing feelings.

      For some, Christmas is a family celebration. It is a kaleidoscope of events and people, funny moments, happy ones, touching occasions, unpredictable occurrences and as the years go by, the holiday is laced with memories of loved ones and good times. This story, as well as one of the characters, reflects that view of Christmas. Also, the story is about the breaking away of the hardened shell of someone’s hurt and loneliness acquired through too many disappointing childhood Christmases.

      Watch handsome billionaire Texan Zach Delaney’s life transform when Emma Hillman pours her love of Christmas into his life. His stunning secretary, who is a total opposite in personality and completely off-limits to him, becomes the biggest temptation of his life. What happens when a man who has always skipped Christmas falls in love with a woman who is the embodiment of the December celebration?

      Thank you for selecting Midnight Under the Mistletoe.

      Happy holidays to all!

       Sara Orwig

      About the Author

      SARA ORWIG lives in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.

      Midnight Under

      the Mistletoe

      Sara Orwig

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      With special thanks to

      Stacy Boyd, Shana Smith and Maureen Walters.

      May you have a blessed and joyous holiday.

      One

      Another secretary to interview.

      Zach Delaney stood at the window of his west Texas ranch and watched the approaching car. This candidate was prompt. He had heard this one lived in Dallas, was single, only twenty-four, a homebody who insisted on weekends free to go home. She wanted a week off before Christmas and two days after Christmas. If she could do the work, it was all right with him. He didn’t know her, but she had worked more than two years at his Dallas office, which held the corporate offices of his demolition company, his trucking company and the architectural firm he owned. She’d risen fast and was highly recommended.

      As Zach watched the car approach the house, he thought about the other secretaries he’d interviewed and the conversation he’d had with his brother Will, who had stopped by an hour ago.

      He remembered Will laughing. “I know you—you’re probably about to go up in smoke from boredom.”

      “You’ve got that right. I feel as if I’m a prisoner and time seems to have stopped,” Zach replied, raking his fingers through his thick, brown curls.

      Will nodded. “Don’t forget—you’re supposed to stay off your feet and keep your foot elevated.”

      “I’m doing that most of the time. Believe me, I want my foot to get well.”

      Will smiled. “You should have just stayed in Dallas after Garrett’s wedding earlier this month. You haven’t been cooped up like this since you were five and had the mumps.”

      “Don’t remind me.”

      “That was twenty-seven years ago. I don’t know how you’ve made it this long in demolition without getting hurt.”

      “I’ve been lucky and careful, I guess.”

      “If you don’t end up hiring today’s interviewee, I’ll send someone out to work for you. If I had known the difficulty you’re having finding a competent secretary, I would have sent one before now.”

      “Thanks. One secretary lasted a few days before deciding the ranch was too isolated. Another talked incessantly,” Zach grumbled, causing Will to laugh. His brother’s brown eyes sparkled with amusement.

      “One of those women hovered over me and told me what to do to take care of myself. Actually, Will, instead of hiring a secretary to help go through Dad’s stuff, maybe we should just trash it all. Dad’s been gone almost a year now and this stuff hasn’t been touched. It’s not important. The only value that stuff can have is sentimental. That makes it worthless as time passes.”

      “We don’t know for sure there isn’t something of value in those boxes,” Will argued.

      Zach nodded. “Knowing our father, he could have put some vital papers, money or something priceless in these boxes, just so someone would have to wade through them.”

      “You volunteered to go through his papers while you recuperate from your fall. You don’t have to.”

      “I’ll do it. The secretary will help go through all the letters and memorabilia while I also keep up with work. You became guardian for Caroline and you handled a lot of the dealings to bring our half sister into the family. Ryan’s knee-deep in getting his new barn built while commuting back and forth to his business in Houston. Besides, I’m the one incapacitated with time on my hands. I’m it, for now. I don’t know what got into Dad, keeping all this memorabilia. He would never have actually written a family history.”

      “Our father was not one you could figure. His actions were unfathomable except for making money. He probably intended to write a family history. In his old age I think he became nostalgic.” Will headed toward the door and then paused. “You sure you don’t want to join us for Thanksgiving? I’ll send someone to get you,” he added, and Zach was touched by Will’s concern.

      “Thanks, but no thanks. You enjoy Ava’s family. Ryan leaves soon to spend Thanksgiving with the latest woman in his life—I can’t keep up with which one this is. I’ll be fine and enjoy myself all by myself.”

      “If you change your mind, let me know. Also, it’s less than six weeks until Christmas. We’re going to Colorado for the holiday. Do you want to come along? We’ll be happy to have you join us.”

      “Thank you.” Zach grinned. “I think I’ll go to the house in Italy. It’ll be beautiful there and you know I don’t do Christmas.”

      “So who is the beautiful Italian lady? I’m sure there is one.”