Red Truck Rendezvous
The Ornamental Match Maker
Danni Roan
Copyright © 2020 Danni Roan
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 979-8654038050
ASIN: B08BDVMXJ9
Cover design by: EDH Graphics
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Introduction
Pablo Jimenez counts his blessings every day. He has his own humble auto repair shop, a family who loves him, and some good friends for a bit of fun. What he doesn’t have and doesn’t need is a pretty, pesky customer with a classic truck with a mind of its own.
Portia Princeton loves all things auto. From her racy Jaguar to her vintage RV, now all she needs is for her classic truck to be restored in time for Christmas. With nowhere else to turn in the backwoods of Michigan, she limps her way to Pablo’s Garage as a last resort. Will she get exactly what she wants or what she truly needs?
Find out if Mrs. Claus can bring two lonely hearts together with a hint of magic and a whole lot of fun in this Christmas in July romance.
Short, sweet, sassy, and a little Santa on the side.
For more books in this series visit the series page:
The Ornamental Match Maker
Here's what all the buzz is about:
Mrs. Claus is all about spreading Christmas cheer — especially to the many lonely hearts seeking friendship, love, healing, second chances, and that special someone to call their own.
To help each lovely heroine and dashing hero find their perfect match, Mrs. Claus mails them a magical holiday ornament. From a carousel horse that matches the exact horse, a hero will be found riding to an iced angel just like the cookies a dreamy chef bakes, each ornament has a real-world counterpart that, if followed, will lead to true love.
From historical to contemporary, from heartfelt to humorous, each of these sweet romance stories ends in a festive happily ever after that will leave you wanting more — so be sure to check out all the titles in our Ornamental Match Maker Series as they release.
Chapter 1
Portia Princeton shifted the old truck into low, flinching at the harsh grinding noise emitting from the transmission box. An auto lover from an early age, she knew that taking the 1942 Ford service truck on the road before having it restored had been a bad move, but she couldn’t resist. After all, the engine had cranked over without hesitation, and even with the faded paint and spots of rust, the truck hadn’t hesitated to pull her vintage trailer north.
Daddy had warned her not to start off on this trip before having her little rig completely refurbished, but Portia couldn’t wait. She had been dreaming of this trip all winter, and whatever inconveniences rose from her haste could be easily overcome with a bit of cash.
“Come on now, Sweetie,” Portia’s light voice drawled, willing the weary truck to keep chugging toward the great lakes area. “We’ve come too far to stop now.”
A loud backfire made Portia squeal, as a strange shudder vibrating through her seat, made her groan. “Just a little farther, just a little farther,” she chanted, leaning forward and peering out the windshield, her aqua eyes flickering in the sun.
If she could find a garage, perhaps she could get Sweetie patched up. Even if she had to leave the truck with the mechanic for a few days, she still had her vintage trailer to stay in. There had to be a garage somewhere out here in the middle of nowhere. Portia would find a good place to camp, get the work done, and be on her way once more.
The truck shimmied again, and Portia realized that she wouldn’t make her spot at the Michigan State Park today, but a few days amidst farms and lakeshore might be lovely.
The ancient, faded-red truck inched to the top of the hill, and Portia reached out a hand patting the dash as if the truck were an obedient dog. “I knew you could do it!” her voice filled with delight as the truck began to roll slowly down the opposite slope.
Scanning the plains below, a flicker of color caught the young woman’s eye, and she stuck her head out the open window for a better look, her ash-blonde curls buffeting her face.
The unassuming barn with the wood-shingled mansard roof was anything but inspiring, but the large rusty sign that read ‘garage’ in big letters made Portia’s heart skip a beat.
Pulling her head back in the window as the truck picked up speed, the young woman grabbed the gear shifter, shoving the truck into third, and waiting for her momentum to slow. A heavy clunking sound vibrated from the gearbox, and the whole vehicle shimmied as it continued to barrel toward the bottom of the hill.
Portia’s knuckles grew white as she fought the gear knob, struggling to yank it into place. She was going too fast. She was going to overshoot her goal and probably crash. Her rush to hit the road was about to spell disaster.
Stomping on the brake pedal, Portia gripped the wheel in well-manicured hands. She had been driving fast cars for half of her twenty-four years and knew what she had to do, but with the unreliable transmission, she wasn’t sure it would work. “Come on, Sweetie,” she pleaded. “Don’t give up on me now.”
***
“Pablo! Pablo! Where are you?”
“I’m here, I’m here!” A dark-haired man in a pair of
