True to his name, Ryan Holliday loves Christmas, as proclaimed by the tinsel and lights adorning his bar, Bangers and Mash. Sadly, the town Grinch, Paige Taylor—a woman who’s locked him in the friend zone—missed the memo. When he notices her mood unaffected by the trimmings, he makes it his mission to help her find her holiday spirit. Who knows? His good deed might even coax St. Nick into granting Ryan’s long-held Christmas wish to win her affection. Any joy Paige Taylor might’ve known during the holidays had been killed by years of tense family affairs. For her, this year’s “Season of Stress” would be even worse thanks to her parents’ efforts to reunite Paige with her cheating ex-fiancé. In their eyes, his money and influence made up for his flaws. In fact, they blamed her for boring him with her dedication to her career as a history professor. At this point, even Henry VIII appealed more than modern men, which meant she shouldn’t flirt with the sexy bar owner insisting she party with the ghost of Christmas present. Ryan seduces her over Christmas trees, cookies and shopping but will the Christmas magic they find together last beyond the New Year? Note: This novella was originally part of the Heating Up the Holidays box set published November 2016.