The Twelve Dates of Christmas

SUSAN MEIER

Литагент HarperCollins EUR

The perfect business arrangement? When entrepreneur Ricky Langley offers Eloise Vaughn the help she needs, in exchange for her attending twelve Christmas parties as his date, she can’t refuse. Yes, Ricky’s handsome, and devastatingly charming, but this is about business. If only her racing heart would get the message! Ricky has his own reasons for hating Christmas. But with each date that passes Eloise opens his eyes to the spirit of the season…and opens his heart to a totally different future….

“I don’t even know your last name.”

“It’s Langley.”

He smiled at her. Those silky brown eyes held her prisoner.

“And yours?”

“Vaughn.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Eloise Vaughn.”

“If I’m going out with you twelve times, then I’m getting twelve dates’ worth of help.”

“Deal.”

She took in his handsome face. The fine lines that created his chiseled features. Those beautiful brown eyes.

A strange feeling worked its way through her. Real attraction.

Which would only wreck their deal and was the last thing in the world she wanted.

“This is where I draw the line. I’m fine walking myself upstairs.”

With that she turned and strode into her building. She wouldn’t risk being alone with him outside her apartment door when there was so much goodnight-kiss potential. She might be strong, but she wasn’t perfect. She’d learned a long time ago that a smart woman didn’t tempt fate.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Susan Meier

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

SUSAN MEIER spent most of her twenties thinking she was a job-hopper—until she began to write and realised everything that had come before was only research! One of eleven children, with twenty-four nieces and nephews and three kids of her own, Susan has had plenty of real-life experience watching romance blossom in un-expected ways. She lives in western Pennsylvania with her wonderful husband, Mike, three children, and two overfed, well-cuddled cats, Sophie and Fluffy. You can visit Susan’s website at: www.susanmeier.com (http://www.susanmeier.com).

For my sisters …

May we always take care of each other the way Olivia, Eloise and Laura Beth do.

Contents

Cover (#u44036977-8869-5616-abe0-a401c39e478c)

Introduction (#u5adf3011-5cdc-5bb1-b486-74a33a800b9c)

Title Page (#uce385ae4-fe3c-5190-b4eb-5aebeca2e243)

About the Author (#u8c1eac0e-84b0-5402-9017-797952b4967b)

Dedication (#u6a11d91d-6a22-5299-a47d-bc2043c3a155)

Contents (#u35ed263c-daaa-5c5e-96d7-0d57dcc7b08b)

CHAPTER ONE (#u6b5ca991-4828-5451-a076-558c3a4f82bc)

CHAPTER TWO (#u922afb0d-0158-5107-98c9-6736646fab10)

CHAPTER THREE (#u3fe8fceb-68f9-5a4e-b0cf-f16e29e3c79e)

CHAPTER FOUR (#ue2982c17-4738-591a-b5be-ca788e608e99)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_be7486f8-ac86-5329-8937-7f3125d431d5)

THERE WAS ALWAYS too much month left at the end of Eloise Vaughn’s money.

“Here, put these crackers in your purse.” Laura Beth Matthews gathered a handful of crackers from the party buffet of their newly married friend, Olivia Engle, and shoved them at Eloise.

She gasped. “So now we’re reduced to stealing crackers?”

“Five crackers are lunch.”

Eloise sighed but opened her Chanel purse and let her roommate dump the crackers inside.

“I’m sorry, Coco.”

Laura Beth said, “Coco?”

“Chanel...” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

Hoping no one saw the crackers falling into her purse, Eloise glanced around the Christmas party at the women wearing shiny cocktail dresses in shades of red and green and the tuxedo-clad men. Subdued gold and silver decorations gave the