Guest Post - Nikki Lynn Barrett - The Secret Santa Wishing Well

Have you ever been inspired by someone, or something that it just stayed in your mind?  I love it when inspiration hits me. And you never know when or where it will happen. As a writer, I've learned the hard way to carry notebooks with me. I've got a mini one in my purse, I keep one by my bedside, every where I can so that if an idea hits me right then and there, I can jot it down. I've got tons of little notes EVERYWHERE about ideas, lines, titles, blurbs...Ahh, the rambling minds of a writer.

And sometimes, I wrote a simple thing down, leave it somewhere, and forget.

I find it when I least expect it, look at it, and say “What in the world is this?”  Because there are hardly any other details.

Speaking of inspiration- that's kind of the theme for my debut contemporary holiday romance. The hero, Jacob Winston, doesn't have the inspiration this year for Christmas. He's got a lot on his plate and just doesn't feel it. One sweet little boy's wish stays in his mind, and when that little boy comes back to make sure his wish comes true, Jacob is in awe.

That wish had nothing to do with toys, or anything a six year old might want. No, he made a wish for someone else. From that inspiration, Jacob took that and did something so wonderful for that boy and his family.

I get inspired by someone all the time which then makes me want to do something for somebody else.

It's in the air.

What inspired you to perform an act of kindness upon someone else unexpectedly? I'd love to hear your stories. 

The Secret Santa Wishing Well

Nikki Lynn Barrett

Published by: Nikki Lynn Barrett

Contemporary holiday romance

about 55,000 words

184 print pages.

The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn't seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish...

Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter's existence and doesn't provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben's kind actions lead a stranger to them.
Ah, but it's Christmas time and the magic has begun.

When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger.

With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past.

Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.

It didn't take long for her to come back. Jacob moved to the living room, standing and waiting. When he saw her coming, he closed the gap between them. Before he could could think twice, he touched her shoulder gently, wanting to thank her for the evening.

But instead of talking, he leaned in and kissed her. Just a light kiss. Gentle. Friendly.
Until she responded. She had her arms around him, pulling him for another kiss. Deeper. Sweeter. She tasted so sweet. Her need made him swell. He could do this all night. Jacob pressed her against the wall, their kisses deepening with urgency. He ran his fingers through her fine hair. Hers wrapped around. his neck, rubbing lightly.

Jacob pulled back abruptly. “Cheyenne," he ground out. “We have to stop.” Before I lose it. He didn't want to stop. He never expected her to reciprocate like this. Wow. Maybe it wasn't one sided after all. Jacob sighed.

That halted everything. She pulled away, looking at him with wide, beautiful eyes. “I'm sorry. I pushed. You must think I'm a fool. I thought, when you kissed me...” Cheyenne attempted to move out of Jacob's embrace. Oh, damn. She thought he didn't want her. He did, oh, how he did.

“No, no. Honey, that's not it at all. Kissing you was magical. Amazing. But we just met. I don't want to take things too far. But I would love to see you again.” He pushed back loose strands of her hair that hung over her face when she'd moved. She looked so vulnerable. Was she going to cry? Oh hell, he wouldn't be able to handle it if she did. The last thing he wanted was for her to be upset with him.

“I'd like that, too. It was a wonderful, amazing day, and I have you to thank for it.” She nearly whispered the words, choking up on the last part. “God, I'm a mess. I'm sorry. There's been so much going on, and my signals are going crazy at the moment.”

Yours aren't the only one, Jacob thought. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, typing in her name in the contacts and handing it to her. “Can I have your number?”

She laughed. “Of course.” Her fingers brushed his as she took the phone from him, tapping in her number. She handed it back to him. Electric shocks of awareness zipped through him. His gaze lingered on her, knowing he needed to get the hell out of here before he lost it completely.

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