Title: Christmas Collusion
Series: Shellington Series
Author: K.L. McLoughlin
Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 1, 2021
Why is it so easy to encourage those closest to us to find love but so hard to choose love for ourselves?
After colliding into and spilling coffee all over gorgeous Greg, Patty agrees to go on a fake date with him to make up for it. Greg hopes this will silence his meddling, matchmaking daughter, Mandy, who really should be focusing on her own non-existent love life. Little does he know…
Mandy is having a hard time focusing at work. Justin, the new office hottie, is proving to be a huge distraction. When Mandy learns that Justin has a wonderful single aunt, her meddling ways kick in. Trying to keep things professional — and ignore her lusty feelings for Justin — Mandy asks him for help in setting up his aunt with her dad. Fighting his own growing attraction, Justin agrees, but he is keeping a big secret from her, one that could push her away forever.
Four lives become hilariously intertwined through misunderstandings and mistaken identities.
The next morning Patty knew what Shelly was walking into, but she couldn’t stop herself. Every decent potentially date-worthy item of clothing she owned was strewn about her bedroom. Tops, pants, skirts, dresses, shoes, boots. Her dresser was littered with chains, bracelets, rings, earrings. She was still in her PJ’s and her hair had yet to see a brush. She had managed to brush her teeth. But other than coffee nothing had made it into her stomach which was roiling unhappily. She knew as she answered the door that her eyes must look as wild as her hair. There was no point in hiding the truth from her best friend. Shelly loved her anyway.
Shelly looked at her through the open door. “Okay, so this is a little worse than I expected. But I’m here now.” Shelly came in and took off her coat. “Let’s get to work.”
She rounded her shoulders as she scrunched her face. “I should start by saying I’m sorry about the bedroom. I tried to start without you.”
Shelly looked her up and down. “I take it, it didn’t go very well.” Shelly pushed up her sleeves, “Not to worry. I’ve got your back. We will just take this one step at a time.”
Shelly walked back to the master bedroom and gasped. “It looks like the scene of a crime.” She turned to her best friend. “It’s dinner, Patty. How can you be this messed up over dinner? You eat every day.”
She groaned. “You think I don’t know that I’m not being rational?”
“Rational? Try sane.”
“But I like him, Shel. He’s smart and easy to be around. He makes me tingle and when I’m being honest with myself, I really like the tingle.”
Shelly put her arm around her as they faced the disaster before them. “Okay, first date, tingles, and nerves. The outfit has to be textual, something that feels good to the touch. Luxurious and tactile. Sexy underneath.”
She shook her head. “I don’t have sexy underneath. I have comfortable underneath. I’m not ready for him to see underneath.”
“Not for him to see,” Shelly waved her hand. “This date anyway, but for you to feel sexy and desirable. That will show even if he doesn’t get more than a good night kiss. It’ll help your confidence. Trust me. Now go hop in the shower while I figure out some options for you to consider when you don’t look like you just survived a hurricane.” Shelly hugged her. “We got this.”
She exhaled. “Thanks, Shel. You’re the best. Okay, I’ll go make myself human, shouldn’t take too long.”
“I admire your optimism,” Shelly teased.
“Ha ha.”
Best Man Indeed (Shellington #2) – releasing August 1, 2021
Best Man Instead (Shellington #3) – releasing September 1, 2021
Best Man Forever (Shellington #4) – releasing October 1, 2021
I was raised outside of Ottawa, ON Canada and was lucky enough to have my horse in my backyard. The first thing I ever remember wanting to do was tell stories, but I was told that there was no money in it, so I moved on — to the incredibly lucrative career of elementary education. After taking a break from the work force while raising my boys, I returned (somehow) to work in securitized real estate: educating investors and keeping track of a lot of details.
I’ve lived in Massachusetts; Northern California; British Columbia, Canada; Southern California; and now Nevada. I love it here in Nevada and would really rather not move again for a long time. 2020 was an interesting year but what I’m most grateful for is that it allowed me to dive back into my passion for writing.
I’m blessed to be married to the love of my life and with our dog O’Malley we endeavor to live our best lives. I love to cook; you’ll see pictures of food all over my Instagram. I love dogs, horses, hiking, and writing. Nothing is more fun than when my characters misbehave requiring me to re-plot the rest of the book.
