Holiday Hearts Volume 5

The 1st of 3 books in this collection: 1-800-NEW YEAR

Chapter One:

I think I fancy you.

Shanice Williams sat in her rustic farmhouse kitchen, absorbed by the text flashing across the dating app on her cell phone.

She'd received a private message from Todd.

She kneaded her forehead and sighed.

Todd who?

And he fancied her? How? He'd never even met her.

She winced. Surely there were better pickup lines.

While she searched her brain for a suitable response, she peered out the window over the sink. The early morning sun rose higher in the sky, illuminating the fields. The timbered barn was located on the hill beyond, its green metal roof gleaming. A khaki-colored stone firepit sat nearby. Feathery snow powdered the grass, confirming the December wintry weather.

Still there? Todd inquired.

She didn't reply.

At the suggestion of Candee Winchester, her friend and Realtor, Shanice had joined Cupid Aplenty, a dating website, and uploaded a selfie. In the photo, her dark skin glowed, enhanced by a brush of deep-pink blusher, and her headful of black hair peeked from beneath her trademark white beanie. The words, "A Patch of Heaven," the name of her landscaping company, were embroidered on the brim in vivid green.

"I'm a professional landscaper. Consequently, I appreciate the outdoors," she'd described herself. "Faith in God is important, as well as family, friends, and old-fashioned morals. I own a super cute cat who is often erratic and reckless, and I'm an animal lover. Oh, and my ideal match is a knight in shining armor with scruples and ethics."

Still there? Todd asked again.

Unsure how to respond, she scanned his profile.

Todd Herring. A normal-looking fellow flashing a mouthful of dazzling white teeth. His shaggy blond hair glistened with platinum highlights.

Did he dye his hair? She speculated on that while another of his texts rolled in.

I bet my new kitten would really like your cat.

She wasn't certain whether to laugh or cry.

Do you have a favorite indoor restaurant, or are you the outdoorsy type? he asked.

Huh?

Twice, she reread his question. Apparently, Todd had zeroed in on her cat and ignored her profession.

Outdoorsy, she typed.

Wanna go on a date sometime?

Her fingers hovered over the phone's keyboard. Why, oh why, had she joined an online dating service? Was she that desperate?

The recent breakup with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian, had been difficult. They'd grown apart, and she'd never felt as if he actually listened to her or valued what she'd accomplished. Besides, he wasn't the type of guy who liked to stay in one place. He preferred to travel, whereas she was a homebody.

Candee insisted Shanice was a romantic at heart—pointing out her fondness for reading sweet romance books.

People took solace in different things. For some, it was eating comfort food, such as meat loaf and mashed potatoes, or chocolate, or wintergreen puff candy. Shanice favored the optimism, promise and happy outcomes of romantic novels.