The Christmas Crusade

THE CHRISTMAS

CRUSADE

by

Shanna Hatfield

Copyright © 2015 by Shanna Hatfield

The Christmas Crusade

Copyright © 2015 by Shanna Hatfield

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, please contact the author, with a subject line of permission request at the email address below or through her website.

Shanna Hatfield

shanna@shannahatfield.com

shannahatfield.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is an ebook, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Acknowledgment

To Kat -

Thanks for taking me under your wing all those years ago

and teaching me the fine art of laughing at myself.

You are a treasure!

Praise for Shanna Hatfield

"From contemporary to historical Hatfield can write any genre she wants and I will read it! The romance level is clean but the chemistry and kisses are smoking hot! With characters that are endearing and you feel a real emotional connection with, Hatfield has a way of writing a story that anyone want would want to read!"

~ Books Are Sanity.

Are you searching for a clean romance with humor, a spine-tingling romance with some hunky, genuine cowboy on the side? There is no doubt that Shanna Hatfield knows how to write clean romance that is nothing but pure romance that incurable romantics like me crave.

~ My Devotional Thoughts Book Reviews.

Chapter One

Granddad, this better be a joke. Kathleen Kingsley held her cell phone to her ear with her shoulder while slipping her credit card back into her wallet and dropping it inside her oversized bag. A subtle nod of her head acknowledged her thanks to the barista at the coffee shop she frequented six days a week. Rushed, she picked up her double shot espresso and moved away from the counter.

Kat dropped the lid from the cup in the trashcan and took a sip of her drink. She pushed open the door, stepping outside into the crisp autumn air. Portland in the fall was spectacular, especially on a day when the typical rains that drizzled down on her favorite Oregon city failed to appear.

I assure you, dear girl, it is far too early in the day for joking. This sponsorship meeting completely slipped my mind. I meant to tell you about it earlier. It is essential for you to be there. Lewis Kingsley cleared his throat. Kat pictured him sitting at his pristine desk with the day’s projects stacked in a neat pile to his left while his favorite pen, a gift from her grandmother, rested at a precise forty-five degree angle to his right.

Fine. I’ll take care of it. Kat barely managed to hold back a sigh. Tell me again where I need to be and what time.

Our executive conference room, in thirteen minutes. You best put some hustle in it, Kat. I’ll have Molly...

The cell phone’s battery chose that moment to die. Kat stared at it in frustrated annoyance.

For a moment, she considered tossing it down on the sidewalk and stomping it into tiny pieces. Nothing had gone right all morning.

First, the alarm failed to go off. After scurrying out of bed, she’d jumped into the shower and shrieked as cold water pelted her skin. The landlord promised to fix the problem with the hot water heater. Obviously, he hadn’t accomplished the task.

Despite pounding it multiple times on the bathroom counter, her flat iron refused to splutter to life, so her hair dried into thick waves instead of the sleek, straight locks she preferred.

Hungry and harried, the only thing she could find to eat for breakfast in her bare cupboards was a stale chocolate chip cookie.

Finally making it out the door, she remembered an important file she’d left on the kitchen counter. Although she’d already flagged a cab, she ran back up to her apartment to get the file only to return outside to find no cabs in sight.

Rather than drive her car through the heavy morning traffic, she ended up walking seven blocks to the coffee shop. Her feet already hurt and it wasn’t yet eight o’clock.

The surprise meeting only added to her irritated state. Kat dropped her cell phone into her bag and made a mad dash across the street.

The spiked heel of her shoe caught in the metal grate covering a drain before she made it onto the sidewalk. Trapped, she almost toppled to the pavement before regaining her balance. Two quick jerks broke off the heel. Ready to shout in frustration, she rolled her eyes heavenward.

Once she removed her foot from the shoe, she yanked it out of the grate and studied the dangling heel. It would be impossible to hurry to the meeting wobbling on one four-inch stiletto.

Of all the days for this to happen, Kat muttered as she took off her other shoe. Barefooted, she dashed down the block and around the corner to Harchett Industries where she worked as the vice president of public relations.

The doorman tipped his head and held the door open for her to enter. Good morning, Miss Kingsley.

That is entirely debatable. Kat grinned at the friendly man. She’d known him since she started visiting her grandfather at the tender age of three at the corporation he’d joined as a founding partner. Can you do me a huge favor, Carl?

It would be my pleasure. Carl smiled at her with genuine sincerity, a rarity in a building full of people focused solely on their careers.

Please call Molly and tell her to bring my spare shoes with her. She’ll know where to meet me.

Consider it done. Carl tipped his head to her again and placed the call to Kat’s receptionist. As she raced across the lobby, Kat heard him ask Molly to bring the shoes.

A frantic glance at her watch confirmed she had seven minutes left to make it to the conference room on time.

She detested being late. The trait was one she’d inherited from her grandfather. He, of all people, should have known calling her at the last minute to attend a meeting would leave her rattled.

Kat stepped onto the elevator and swallowed a groan when Miles Donovan greeted her with an attentive smile.

Relentless in his pursuit, Kat shuddered at the thought of him ever catching her. Despite his good looks and position in the company, she did not intend to date him.

From what she could surmise, his primary interest in her stemmed from a desire to position himself favorably with her grandfather.

Good morning, Miss Kingsley. Miles shifted closer to her as the elevator stopped and more people entered.

Mr. Donovan. Kat nodded curtly, trying to balance shoes in one hand, coffee in the other, and keep her toes from being stepped on in the crowded elevator.

As the elevator stopped again and more people entered, Miles moved directly behind her. She didn’t appreciate the way he brushed against her and she certainly didn’t approve of his overpowering cologne. The scent was so strong, she wondered if he’d taken a bath in it before leaving for work that morning.

The crowd jostled as the elevator stopped on the next floor. Miles took the opportunity to bump into her, squashing her into the front corner.

He leaned close and the warmth of his breath brushed over her ear. You ready to take me up on that offer for that best night of your life?

Kat fought down the urge to shudder in revulsion. She purposely stepped back on his foot, pushing down on his toes with her heel. Abruptly, he stepped away from her.

She frowned. Last I checked, the world hasn’t ended and you aren’t the last male on the planet. Both of those events would have to come to pass before I’d take you up on that offer. Even then, it would require careful consideration and immeasurable desperation.

Anger splotched Miles’ face in mottled shades of red. He looked like a spoiled child who’d held his breath too long. A deep chuckle to her left made Kat smile although she didn’t glance back to see who’d heard her comment.

Don’t play games with me, Miss Kingsley. Miles grabbed her wrist as the elevator reached the next floor.

The only game I’m going to play with you is to see how fast I can get you fired if you don’t let go of me. Now, leave me alone. Kat hissed and jerked her arm away, spilling coffee all over the jacket of her suit.

A scream worked its way up her throat and threatened to escape through her tightly pressed lips as she stepped off the elevator. Endeavoring to gather her composure with coffee dripping over her hand, she turned to see if Molly waited for her and bumped into someone, sloshing more coffee out of her cup.

I’m so sorry! She looked into her bag, hoping to find a stray napkin or tissue as the person walked away.

Molly appeared beside her and shook her head. Well, you did say you were thinking about changing up your look. The girl’s brown eyes twinkled with humor as she took the coffee and shoes from Kat then gave her a wad of napkins she snatched from an intern walking by with a heavy-laden coffee tray.

Kat mopped the liquid from her hand, shed her jacket and accepted the shoes Molly handed to her. It was a good thing she typically wore dark suits. The black shoes she slipped on perfectly matched her slim black skirt.

"I’ll send your jacket