Her Christmas Hero. Lorraine Beatty

      

      A Small-Town Christmas

      Gemma Butler has a grand vision to transform Dover, Mississippi’s fledgling Christmas celebrations and bring visitors to the town. It’s also the single mom’s last chance to provide for her son and revive her event planning business. But Gemma’s not the only one with something to prove. Linc Montgomery has the weight of the family business on his shoulders. And he’ll go down swinging before he’ll let anyone disrupt the traditions he holds dear. Yet when a storm threatens to destroy the holiday, he’ll join forces with the beautiful planner and discover she just might be the love he’s been searching for.

      “I’ve never shown anyone this place before.”

      The vulnerability she saw in Linc’s expression tugged at her heart. “I’m honored. It’s a beautiful location. It would be a lovely family estate.”

      “I’ve had plenty of offers to buy it. But I’ll never sell.”

      “I can’t blame you. Living here would be wonderful.” Gemma slipped her hand into his, and he squeezed it gently, her breath catching with his gaze. There was a softness, a longing, as if he’d pulled back a curtain and allowed her to see something deeply personal.

      “I wanted you to understand.”

      “Why?” Did he want her to care?

      What if she made another mistake? What if Linc wasn’t all he appeared to be?

      No. She’d better douse this attraction with a bucket of common sense and keep her focus on the only things that really mattered. Evan and the Christmas events.

      Then Linc smiled. Common sense vanished like morning mist in sunlight.

      She was in big trouble. Big, big trouble.

      LORRAINE BEATTY was raised in Columbus, Ohio, but now calls Mississippi home. She and her husband, Joe, have two sons and five grandchildren. Lorraine started writing in junior high and is a member of RWA and ACFW and a charter member and past president of Magnolia State Romance Writers. In her spare time she likes to work in her garden, travel and spend time with her family.

      Her

      Christmas Hero

      Lorraine Beatty

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Relieve the troubles of my heart

      and free me from my anguish.

      —Psalms 25:17

      To the best brothers anyone could ask for.

      John, Steve, David and my sweet Ken.

      Love you guys so much. You have blessed my life.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Dear Readers

       Extract

       Copyright

Chapter One

      Linc Montgomery stepped out onto the front porch of his family home, inhaling the cool October air deep into his lungs. His gaze drifted over the green lawn that sloped to the tree line and beyond. The view never failed to siphon the tension from his body and soothe his soul. And he needed both right now. Leaning one shoulder against a fluted porch post, he prayed for strength to get through the day. The death of his father a month ago had shaken him to the core, and the grief at times was overwhelming.

      He growled and exhaled a heavy sigh at the sound of an approaching car. He couldn’t handle another well-wisher dropping off food that probably wouldn’t get eaten. He appreciated their kindness and concern, but he didn’t have it in him today to make nice. A nondescript domestic silver sedan appeared between the old oaks that lined the long winding driveway. He didn’t recognize it. In a town the size of Dover, Mississippi, it was easy to identify a person by the car they drove.

      Linc straightened and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, struggling to dig up a smile and a grateful attitude. The car drove past the main house and pulled to a stop a hundred yards away in front of the cottage that stood under the oak grove. The cottage had been his grandmother’s home in her later years, and was used infrequently as a guesthouse now. No one was supposed to be there.

      Jogging down the front steps, he strode across the lawn, watching as a woman and a young boy emerged from the sedan. She walked confidently onto the porch and unlocked the front door. He had no idea what was going on, but he wasn’t about to let it continue.

      “Hey!”