Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Marley Jacobs is hidden away in the mountains for a reason. His scarred face scares people away, and his grouchy disposition doesn’t help. But when a beautiful woman literally crashes into his life, he’s claiming her for himself. With a possession he didn’t know was possible, he’s going to make sure she’s bound to him in every way imaginable.
Welcome to Cheerful, a town that loves Christmas almost as much as it loves Happily Ever Afters. This is the place to be if you need a hefty dose of holiday cheer, or you’re looking to have your stocking stuffed. Grab your coziest pajamas and hot chocolate because it’s about to get festive
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Chapter One
BELLE
Is this day almost over? I check the time, and it’s dragging by. I’ve got two hours to go, which might as well be forever. At least the view is kind of nice. I get to watch the white fluffy flakes fall from the sky through the window. The window isn’t in my office because I don’t have an office. Technically I sit outside of an office, but I have my own desk, so that’s nice. That’s about the only nice thing around here.
I didn’t know the marketing world could be so intense, but I guess my karma was instant. This is what happens when you fudge your qualifications on your résumé. You get in over your head. Although I should be good at handling being in over my head at this point. It seems I always find a way to get myself in these situations.
The thing is, I thought I’d be in over my head with spreadsheets or whatever assistants to assistants do. I thought I’d set up schedules and write things on Post-it notes. I guess this goes back to being careful what you wish for.
To be honest, I’m shocked I've lasted this long. They must have not called my references. There’s only been one job that I haven’t been fired from, and that was the coffee shop. Right now, I’m really missing that place.
I thought this position was going to be a dream job. Well, the pay was a dream. It was more than I ever made even when working two jobs at a time while going to school. This job is salaried, and I thought it had normal work hours. Normal as in nine to five. I was hoping I could keep a second job at the coffee shop since I worked there all through college. Nope.
At this job, I’m always on the clock. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, if James calls, I’d better answer the phone. He’s not even the big boss. He’s the boss’s assistant, and I’m his assistant. I’m thankful for not being the big boss’s direct report, though, because she’s way scarier than him. One scorching look from her could linger on you all day. Okay, nights too. I’ve had a few nightmares.
I get that I’m kind of a mess, but everyone here makes me so freaking nervous. It feels like I’m playing a part more than I’m supposed to be here. I’m pretending to fit in and that I can be a professional assistant. If that were the case, I wouldn't be hiding at my desk after I just broke the fancy new espresso machine. Which would bust me on another lie.
When I said I worked at a coffee shop, I didn’t mean that I made coffee. I cannot be held responsible for other people's assumptions. At the coffee shop I mostly restocked and ran the register. They tried to teach me how to make coffee, but I couldn't get the hang of it. I did, however, make the best drawings on the cups, and everyone loved me. It was why I worked the register. I could remember all the regulars and their orders, just not how to make them. My old boss Shelly told me I brought personality and happiness to the coffee shop, and that made me feel like I was part of a team.
That’s the way I thought it would be here, but everything I do is a dud. I’ve tried to make treats for the office three times. The first time cinnamon rolls and then bagels. I made them fresh and had to wake up extra early. Nobody ate them.