Sometimes the right gift can be life-changing ...<br><br>On the solstice, Rory’s grandfather gives him a pocket watch he claims will have Rory’s life sorted and his problems solved by Christmas. Rory starts out skeptical, but when he reconnects with an ex he never thought he’d see again, he has to admit there might be some holiday magic at work after all.<br><br>Deacon’s life is in shambles, and he’s returned to Syracuse for a fresh start. Running into Rory again feels like much more than a coincidence, and neither of them can deny the passion between them is still smoldering. With the watch behaving oddly at just the right moments, Rory and Deacon might receive the gift of a lifetime ... if they’re willing to accept it.

A Timely Gift

“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking.”


“We weren’t right for each other.” Christ, were we not right for each other. I thought he was a good guy, and I bent over backward to make him happy. But I was blinded to the fact that it was all one-sided. A gentle nudge on my thigh made me look up at Deacon. He was blatantly staring, expecting more. “When mom got sick, he was resentful of the time I spent with her. So I cut him loose.”


I shrugged. He kind of was. But not because of that. He was demanding and callous, but at least he never lied. “Or honest. He told me he wanted to see me more, that I wasn’t there for him enough. But I had other priorities, so I told him to go. He did.”


“No. We weren’t to that stage yet.” I shot him a grin. “What’s with the twenty questions?”


He shrugged but unabashedly held my gaze. “I want to know you again. That’s all.”


Chapter 10