Thinking with his head and not his heart is an occupational hazard for Professor Leland Hansen. He does fine as a researcher dealing with statistics and experimental designs and guiding doctoral students through the dissertation process. But affairs of the heart are another matter. Leland teaches at a small, religious college in New England, and the anxiety of losing his position over his lifestyle eventually causes a painful breakup with the one true love of his life, Cliff Emerson.<br><br>When Cliff calls a few weeks before Christmas to announce he’s getting married, Leland accuses him of dredging up the past and their conversation ends badly. As time grows short, Leland sets out to win Cliff back, though he fears he may already be too late. Will they reunite at Christmas or will Cliff be lost to him forever?

All I Want for Christmas

“I’m yours, hook, line, and proverbial sinker.” Ray pulled something from his pocket—a sprig of mistletoe—and held it over their heads. “What more could you possibly want?”


More. Much more, Cliff wanted to say, but found himself caught between a rock and a branch of holiday mistletoe. He was a goddamn sucker for the holidays.


Leland was sitting at his desk, still preoccupied with the past while a stack of semester exams languished in the present.


After their last lovemaking session for the weekend in the small bedroom of Leland’s cottage, Cliff had dressed haphazardly with his tie slightly askew and his shirt somehow caught in the zipper of his leather jacket. He’d been working it back and forth with little success when Leland pulled him into a tight embrace. “Wish you didn’t have to leave.”


“So about next weekend,” Cliff said, his hand reaching down toward his jacket, giving the zipper a few more unsuccessful tugs.


Chapter 5