Excerpt Sunday: NEW RELEASE Unwrapping Scrooge

In honour of my new Christmas romance, Unwrapping Scrooge, which makes its official debut tomorrow from Decadent Publishing, I have selected a funny little exchange between my hero, the eccentric Kale, and his debonair literary agent, Byron - who is so good, he nearly deserves his own story!

“‘Allo, ‘allo!”

Byron let himself into the top flat and strode in with his usual brusque manner. More often than not, Kale simply ignored interruptions such as knocks, so the cheerful agent had long ago simply decided it was a waste of time to attempt it. Luckily, Kale had taken to leaving his door unlocked as it was easier than listening to his agent beat it down every Monday for their regular coffee break meetings.

“In here!” Kale called, without looking up from his typewriter keys as he finished off the last bit of dialogue to the scene he was completing.

“Why didn't you tell me what you had downstairs?” his disgustingly chipper friend tossed at him in mock accusation. “Not willing to share?”

Lost in thought, it took a moment for the words to penetrate Kale's creative bubble. “What?”

“Molly and Colby,” Byron expanded, “Your little Canadian friends.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and removed his glasses with a sigh. “Ah, yes...I should have guessed it wouldn't take you long to discover them.”

“You might’ve helped a mate out and made some introductions.”

“I don't even know them, myself.” He replaced his glasses and leafed through his new pages as if disinterested.

“Well, they seem to know you well enough.” Byron chuckled. “Middle-aged wool-clad writer...sounds about right.”

“What?” He glanced up from the papers sharply. “Who said that? About me?”

“Don't worry,” Byron cooed mockingly at what sounded like mild hurt in his voice. “Your Molly stood up for you admirably.” He turned to the coffee maker with a chuckle.

“Hardly my Molly,” Kale countered. “We've only met a few times around the building.”

“Well,” Byron said, smoothly, “she wants to get better acquainted, it seems. You, or should I say we, are invited for what promises to be an old fashioned Canadian Thanksgiving Day meal that Molly is cooking especially for their nearest and dearest.”

“Canadian Thanksgiving? Both of us invited?”

“Yes, and you sound like a mildly handicapped parrot today—what's wrong with you?”

Kale cleared his throat and shrugged. “So, when is this Thanksgiving, exactly?”

“I don't know,” Byron said. “But it doesn't matter. I'm your agent, and I say you're free. And you're going.”

“Why?”

“Because you're nothing but bones, and you never get out enough. And I got the distinct impression that Molly would throw me out the window if I dared show up without you. My God,” his agent added, “finally—after ten years of knowing you, could you be showing some interest in a female worth knowing for longer than a couple hours at a stretch?”

Kale just gaped at him.

“Kale and Molly sitting in a tree....” Byron sang under his breath as he switched the coffee maker to brew.

And, as promised, one lucky commenter on this post will receive a free PDF of this book. Today's comment topic, in light of the upcoming Christmas season, is "What is your favourite Christmas story or movie?"

So, drop on in and let me know, and then swing by tomorrow for the official release when I announce the lucky winner of a free PDF copy of Unwrapping Scrooge, my brand new release from Decadent Publishing!