Mountain Man Grumpy Santa
(2025)(The fifth book in the Mountain Men of Pineville series)
A novel by Debra Elise
A snowstorm, a one-bed cabin, and a fiery, curvy teacher test a reluctant Santa to a night of passion and possibilities.
SEBASTIAN
I’ve been betrayed by my nephew.
He’s ten. So, I’ll eventually forgive him.
But forgive the men of my former Ranger unit? Or more accurately, their wives who decided to interfere in my personal life?
Well, they could forget about the special art piece I was working on for their veteran and first responders retreat, the Triple R Lodge. No one needs their interfering matchmaking, especially me.
But now I’m roped in to playing Santa, and the woman I now have to spend my free time with is driving me crazy.
She's the teacher and she's fast becoming my secret addiction, even as I pretend otherwise.
And I really don’t want to wrap my hands up in her long red hair every time she opens her full lips just so I can silence her sharp and sassy wit by kissing her until neither of us can breathe.
Nope, not one bit obsessed about doing that.
ZOE
My fifth graders are so excited about performing their original Christmas play this year. And even better, Josh’s uncle is the perfect Santa. Which I secretly hoped he’d volunteer for the part.
But Baz isn't happy about it.
The former ranger turned artist rarely speaks, although his hot gaze tells me he’s interested.
Maybe.
Some days it’s hard to tell if all that squinting is because he’s annoyed with me or it’s just his way of flirting.
But there’s something about Baz that makes me want to stir him up at every practice.
Then, our well-meaning friends decide to throw a party for the fifth graders and their families after the play and what I see changes everything I thought about Sebastian Johansson.
He’s not who he wants everyone to believe he is — grumpy and happy alone.
But will he let me past his guarded heart even as I open mine for the first time?
***This fast-paced steamy novella features a grumpy introverted silver-fox mixed-media artist, and a devoted cat dad, with a reverse Santa complex; and an extroverted, sassy, curvy teacher devoted to her students, and poking the super-hot Santa look-alike whenever they’re in the same space.
So, who’s going to fall first?
SEBASTIAN
I’ve been betrayed by my nephew.
He’s ten. So, I’ll eventually forgive him.
But forgive the men of my former Ranger unit? Or more accurately, their wives who decided to interfere in my personal life?
Well, they could forget about the special art piece I was working on for their veteran and first responders retreat, the Triple R Lodge. No one needs their interfering matchmaking, especially me.
But now I’m roped in to playing Santa, and the woman I now have to spend my free time with is driving me crazy.
She's the teacher and she's fast becoming my secret addiction, even as I pretend otherwise.
And I really don’t want to wrap my hands up in her long red hair every time she opens her full lips just so I can silence her sharp and sassy wit by kissing her until neither of us can breathe.
Nope, not one bit obsessed about doing that.
ZOE
My fifth graders are so excited about performing their original Christmas play this year. And even better, Josh’s uncle is the perfect Santa. Which I secretly hoped he’d volunteer for the part.
But Baz isn't happy about it.
The former ranger turned artist rarely speaks, although his hot gaze tells me he’s interested.
Maybe.
Some days it’s hard to tell if all that squinting is because he’s annoyed with me or it’s just his way of flirting.
But there’s something about Baz that makes me want to stir him up at every practice.
Then, our well-meaning friends decide to throw a party for the fifth graders and their families after the play and what I see changes everything I thought about Sebastian Johansson.
He’s not who he wants everyone to believe he is — grumpy and happy alone.
But will he let me past his guarded heart even as I open mine for the first time?
***This fast-paced steamy novella features a grumpy introverted silver-fox mixed-media artist, and a devoted cat dad, with a reverse Santa complex; and an extroverted, sassy, curvy teacher devoted to her students, and poking the super-hot Santa look-alike whenever they’re in the same space.
So, who’s going to fall first?