I turn her around to nestle into me from the side and hold her tight to me, one hand on her belly. “I love you, Jane. And I love you too, little pumpkin,” I say, kissing her belly.
“I love both my pumpkin kings,” she says, rubbing her belly.
I can’t wait to meet our baby boy, I can’t wait for his sisters to meet him, and I can’t wait to see what all of our tiny pumpkins grow up to be.
Whatever happens, Jane and I will be here for each other, growing with care everything that we’ve planted.
About the Author
Abby Knox lives a dual life. Fantasy Abby would love to live on a farm with goats, bees, chickens, donkeys and alpaca, making her own soap, yarn, honey and cheese. Reality Abby has no desire to do actual farm work. So, the ever-pragmatic Reality Abby keeps Fantasy Abby happy by putting her into adorable little works of romantic fiction with her pretend hobbies. Both Abbies hope you enjoy her sweet, sexy — sometimes a little over the top and weird — storytelling.
Keep up with the latest news with Abby’s newsletter!
Say hello at
Also by Abby Knox
Need more stand-alone short reads and novellas?
Check out Abby’s other titles!
Butter Queen
Fighting For Dylan (book four in a six-author MMA series!)
Hot Off The Press
The Halloween Bet
The Christmas Pickup
From the Small Town Bachelor Romance series
Take Me Home
Game Face
Written in the Stars
Walk With Me
Stay the Night
Come and Get It
Nephilim’s Captive: A Divine Giants Romance. (Book One of seven in the paranormal romance series Sons of Earth and Heaven.)
Duets
Pumpkin and Spice
Comfort and Joy
***
Marrying Up
Shacking Up
***
Maid for the Billionaire
Made for Marriage
***
Doctor Dave
Officer Max
***
Saved for Me
Matched for Me
***
Off-Season Stud
Midsummer Fling
***
His Vinyl Vixen
Her Hi-Fi Hunk
***
Fencing Her In
Doing Him Good
Need more stand-alone short reads and novellas?
Check out Abby’s other titles!
Butter Queen
Fighting For Dylan (book four in a six-author MMA series!)
Hot Off The Press
The Halloween Bet
The Christmas Pickup
The Greenbridge Academy series
Swim Coach (book one)
Grumpy Dad (book two)
Benefactor (book three)
Headmistress (book four)
Queen Bee (book five)
Bake Sale Queen (book six)
Snowplowed
An excerpt from Abby’s next stand-alone holiday romance, coming December 2, 2020!
With my camera case at my side, I find a table inside the warm diner, buzzing with townsfolk full of holiday spirit. Feeling begins to return to my numb fingers, allowing me to check over my baby as soon as I sit down.
She’s fine; her lens is just a little wet from the snow, so I dab her off while I wait for a menu. My now-vintage film camera, who I call Sally, has been with me from the beginning of time, it seems like. She’s been through much worse weather than this, but I want her to last until I’m dead, so I have to be careful.
“Your camera OK?”
I reply, “I think so. This is the first time I’ve ever take photographs outside in a snowstorm.” I stop fussing with Sally and put her away, then turn to the waitress who’s speaking and trying to hand me a menu. “Polly,” her name tag reads.
Polly the waitress laughs good-naturedly and says, “Listen, big fella. This is no snowstorm. This is a light dusting. Just you wait.”
The suggestion of snow falling heavier than it is tonight makes my feet shiver inside my sopping wet socks.
“Note to self: buy snow boots,” I say, before ordering a burger and a large strawberry shake.
What can I say? It’s my first time experiencing snow. Born and raised in LA, I’ve never set foot in the stuff, and I’m ill-prepared for this weather.
Just as I’m making a mental list of all the rest of the cold-weather outer gear I’m going to need on this trip, the mayor strides in. He sees me and heads over to my table; I already know what he wants.
“Very nice tree lighting ceremony, Mr. Mayor. Got some great shots; I think you’ll be pleased.” We chat briefly about other events around town leading up to Christmas, most of which were already included in the brief when the town council applied for the arts grant. The grant program is the entire reason I’m here, and I’ve read up on everything there is to know about the town. But the mayor likes to talk, and I don’t mind listening.
Thankfully, Polly delivers my food in a few short minutes, and I secretly hope to be left alone to fill my growling stomach in peace.
No such luck. Not only does the mayor not walk away when I start to chow down on my burger, but also my whole world gets turned upside down when she walks in.
An angel has just drifted out of the snow and into my life, wearing a puffy winter coat, a stocking cap with a pom-pom almost as big as her face, and the biggest, ugliest snow boots I’ve ever seen. Not that I know jack about snow boots. Her long hair peeks out from under her hat, all of it wet from snow. She politely wipes her boots on the mat by the door while she looks around the room eagerly, waving to people she knows.
I completely forget my manners and stare. The mayor follows my gaze and makes a joyful noise.
“You’re in luck, son! There’s Ruby right now, the one I was telling you about. You need to make sure she’s included in the collection for your exhibit; she’s a pillar of the community.”
Suddenly, I’m not hungry anymore. All I can think about, all I want, is to talk to her. Ruby.
I’ve never seen anyone like her before.
“I’ll make damn certain not to miss her, sir,” I say, not taking my eyes off of Ruby. “I’d remember if she ended up in one of my shots, that is for sure.”
I watch as Ruby receives a hug from Polly the waitress, who asks if she wants the usual. Ruby nods and
