Chapter One

Every passing second taunted Jazz, reminding her that time was running out. Her gaze kept darting between her wristwatch and the labyrinthine mall map. With only ten minutes left before the shopping center closed its doors for the night, her sense of urgency intensified. Frantically, she scanned the alphabetized list of shops on the glowing map. And then, like the guiding light of a benevolent deity, her finger landed on the intended store.

On the second floor. “Shit!” She sprinted toward the escalator, her erratic panting competing with the clunk of her boots against the tiled floor.

A woman with two pint-sized offspring drew her eyebrows together. She quickly hustled them away, throwing Jazz a disapproving glare over her shoulder.

“Oh no, I’m sooo sorry. I didn’t see the kids,” Jazz said, hopping onto the escalator, mortified.

Great going, Jazz. Swearing in front of children!

After a few deep, steadying breaths, her jangled nerves finally settled, and she stepped on the escalator. Ascending like a champion sprinter, Jazz stumbled briefly at the top but regained her composure with an awkward flick of her body. Scanning the area with a hint of embarrassment, she searched for the store, conscious of the curious glances from passersby who had witnessed her less-than-graceful moment.

Despite how many times she’d visited the mall, she had no idea a small Greek variety store existed. As if by some magnetic force, the unmistakable presence of George’s Variety, the last shop on the righthand side down the corridor, hijacked her attention.

Ah, there it is.

Like a beacon calling out to her, the vibrant hues of blue and white, reminiscent of the bold Greek flag, practically dared her to resist the allure of this enticing shop at the end of the long hallway.

I must have been blind not to have noticed it before. Then again, I don’t normally come up this far into the mall.

She cast a quick glance at her watch. Only eight measly minutes stood between her and successfully retrieving her grandmother’s order before the mall closed its doors for the night. And there was no way in hell she was going to flub this mission. No sirree. If she did, her dear grandmother would surely make a rug out of her hide for having forgotten one simple favor of the day.

As she sauntered through the mall’s upper level, a frenzied flock of procrastinating shoppers bumped past her like a game of bumper cars gone wild. She inwardly smiled, relieved to know she wasn’t the only one arriving at this ungodly hour. Although she didn’t bang into anyone like a charging bull.

The onslaught of snowplows assigned to battle the snow-covered streets had transformed the usual hustle and bustle of normal traffic into a maddening maze of bumper-to-bumper mayhem, a major factor in Jazz’s tardiness. Not to mention she remembered the errand at the last minute. Jazz was certain even the most patient of sales clerks would curse up a storm at the sight of this onslaught of I’m-so-sorry shoppers.

With each step forward, the twinkling lights and vibrant holiday decorations that adorned each storefront captivated her. The designers meticulously had crafted each detail to lure shoppers through their doors. Among all the displays, however, one in particular stole her attention—a charming scene for children. A majestic tree swathed in red and green garland stood proudly in the center. Playful decorative child-size mannequins donned the latest holiday trends, surrounded by an array of misplaced hats and mittens. A chorus of plush teddy bears sat by the mannequins’ feet, all decked out in coordinating ensembles. Atop a lengthy shelf, mischievous Christmas elves danced and frolicked, spreading joy and cheer to all who passed by.

But it was the endearing plush duet of a white bull terrier and a black and white Shih Tzu dressed in Santa hats in the bottom corner that nearly caused her to stop in her tracks. She always dreamed of adopting those particular breeds, a dream her grandmother had vetoed several times, claiming they would “stink up the house.” Yet she knew Sophia loved animals.

Whatever…I’ll get you to change your mind one day, Grandma.

Back to the task on hand, she hurried along like a sprinter—her body leaning forward and both arms slashing through the air like a triathlete in training—when she spotted someone pulling the metal shutters of the targeted store.

Oh nonononono!

She rushed forward, startling the man. “No, please, wait. It’s not closing time yet.” Before the older, but distinguished-looking man pulled the doors completely shut, she sprinted inside the store. “I’m so sorry. I was supposed to be here earlier, but the weather and traffic didn’t cooperate. It’s horrible out there. I’m here to pick up—”

“I’m sorry, but we’re closed,” the man said, gently placing his hand on the back of her shoulder and guiding her out of his store.

“Please,” she wailed like a spoiled brat, her voice laced with desperation, as she halted abruptly. I’m pathetic. “You don’t understand. I made a promise to my grandmother, my Greek grandmother. She’s going to kill me if I don’t pick up her package. You don’t want to be an accomplice to murder, do you?” She puckered her lips into an adorable, yet slightly petulant, pout and couldn’t care less. Her tears were on full standby, ready to cascade down her cheeks at a moment’s notice if he didn’t show an ounce of sympathy. Oh, those salty droplets were prepared to make a grand entrance, tumbling down like a waterfall—should he fail to meet her expectations. When it came to not disappointing her grandmother, she had no shame and would go to great lengths.

A scowl twisted his face, brows furrowed in frustration, but he halted in his tracks. Letting out a deep exhale, he demanded in a soft tone, “What’s her name?”

“Sophia Andropoulos.”

As if someone had flipped a switch, the man’s entire demeanor transformed, and his warm smile lit up, illuminating his dark brown eyes. “Ah, Sophia, yes, yes. Come in,” he said, practically dragging her back inside by the arm. He paused to make sure the entrance was fully closed before saying, “I get Sophia’s present.” His eyebrows, a perfect match to his hair’s salt and pepper hue, busted out a comically choreographed shimmy as he pivoted toward the rear of the boutique.

Umm, odd. And present? Not package?

The man, seemingly in his early seventies, moved with remarkable agility, defying the limitations of age with every step. With a towering height of six feet plus, he stood tall and lean, defying the stereotype of a stooped and shrunken elder. Hints of gray peeked out from his sideburns, adding to his seasoned appearance. Tiny wrinkles crinkled around his eyes, but they only enhanced his youthful energy and vigor. In no time at all, he was back and standing in front of her. Jazz stared at the item in his hands, puzzled. With a charming smile, he placed it in her hands.

“A newspaper?” She had me all stressed out for a newspaper?

His grin spread, each corner of his mouth stretching to its limits. And his eyes? They kept glancing at the newspaper like it was a top-secret document. “Greek newspaper. The present is very important for my Sophia.”

“Your Sophia?” Jazz’s left eyebrow shot up like a startled dog about to get smacked by a cat as she fixated upon him with a spellbinding look of curiosity.

His wide smile quickly faded, and he was back to his Mr. Leave-We-Closed demeanor once more. Rather than accept payment, he simply asked to say hello to Sophia. No, make that Say hello to my Sophia. This time, he motioned toward the door instead of push-leading her out. He pulled open the cage door, and she walked out, still dumbfounded by not only the package being a newspaper, but his My Sophia comment.

Grandma, you’ve got some explaining to do.

With a soft click, the heavy iron door of George’s Variety store swung shut, sealing off the vibrant displays and trinkets within. The man behind the bars, still wearing a kind smile, peered out at her through the intricate metal mesh, waved, and then turned away.

O-kay then.

“Attention, shoppers…doors will close in five minutes. Please make your way to the main entrance to exit the mall. If you do not exit before the doors close, you will need to wait for the security guard to unlock them,” announced the shopping center’s PA system.

Jazz giggled, interpreting that as Shopaholics, listen up! Store’s closing, so gather your stuff, strut down to the main exit, or risk staying here overnight. Say bye-bye to shopping and hit the road…now!

Shaking her head, still thinking about the My Sophia comment, she shoved the Greek newspaper into her bag. A heavy sigh later, she made her way down the escalator, the heels of her boots clicking against the metal steps. As she stepped off, she stumbled forward slightly, her body jolted by an unexpected collision with someone from the side. Her phone and bag flew out of her hands, scattering across the floor.

Everyone’s in a rush.

Like you weren’t?

Her conscience was a persistent, heavy burden that clung to her like a leech she desperately wanted to flick off. Alas, no dice.

“I’m so sorry, Miss. I was distracted and didn’t notice you there. Are you okay?” the bumper asked, genuine concern laced in his words.

As she snatched her phone and bag from the ground, her gaze swept up to the man’s piercing blue eyes, and all background noise faded. Jazz’s breath caught in her throat as a rush of molten fury coursed through her veins.

* * * *

Jake Alexander Monroe couldn’t tear his gaze away from Jazz Andropoulos, the woman who always made his heart race and his palms sweat in equal measure. And, of course, fate had to play a cruel joke on him by throwing her in his path before he could even pick up the phone and explain himself. As her fiery gaze settled on him, it was as if the universe was trying to send him a message—a warning not to let her slip away again, or punish him for the way he had left her. Jazz’s glare intensified, and he instinctively took a step back, away from the venom oozing off her stare. He knew she wanted to greet him with a killer slap, and he wouldn’t blame her.

Two years had passed, yet she still had the power to leave him breathless, just like a sudden blow to the gut, reminiscent of the first time he saw her. Her auburn hair had grown longer, framing her face like a fiery halo, cascading around her shoulders. But it was those piercing green eyes that still held the same captivating intensity he loved, although they were shooting daggers full of Hell’s fire at the moment. Still, amid her blazing anger, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her plump, petulant lips, brought together in a fearsome pout, tempting him to either flee for safety or foolishly lean in for a kiss. He did neither, but remained levelheaded.

If she was trying to keep her emotions in check, she was failing miserably if the piercing attack-dog stare was any indication. With a swift movement, Jazz shoved the cell phone into her bag and did the unexpected. She turned around and left, not even gracing him with a single syllable.

“Jazz, please, wait,” he shouted, almost tripping several times as he chased after her through the winding corridors. The woman could move faster than a cheetah on steroids when she was pissed. With a burst of determination, he caught up to her just as she reached the exit, and he swiftly opened one of several doors to let her pass.

With her jaw set, she snapped, “I’ve been opening doors for quite some time, Mr. Monroe. Don’t need or want your help.” With a saucy flick of her hair, she strutted past him and flung open the door to his right, emerging into the bitter chill of the night. “And if you follow me, I’ll yell assault…asshole,” she added, not sparing him a single glance. She wrapped her scarf snugly around her neck, clutched her bag closer to her body, and swiftly made her way across the parking lot.

Jake didn’t pursue her like a smitten puppy but kept a watchful eye from the mall’s entrance to make sure she reached her car safe and sound. The thick, falling snow covered the night in a glowing white cloak, with only a few gleaming stars poking through the ashen sky. It wasn’t hard to see which car she headed to—the same one she had when they first went out; the florescent green buggy with its dependable but noisy muffler. Old yet reliable, since it was still on the road. Or so he hoped. With the car taillights now on, he continued to watch as she backed up and then drove away.

Jake spun around and beckoned to the guard. The burly man fished out his keys and unlocked the inner door of the mall, allowing Jake to make his way back inside as the few remaining customers exited.

“Did you forget something, Mr. Monroe?” the middle-aged guard asked.

“No, Henry. Just going back up to the office for some papers for a meeting tomorrow morning.” He took a glance back at the parking lot before turning around. “I need to clear my schedule until after the holidays. Need to right a wrong from the past.”

“Right, sir, just like in that famous Christmas tale?”

Jake chuckled. “As long as one of those ghosts doesn’t end up being me.”

Pre-order your copy of my contemporary romance today at:

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Apple Store ~ Kobo ~