{"product_id":"2940157234041","title":"Home, Hearth \u0026 Heaven","description":"Alexa Jordan is no fan of the holiday season--Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa--doesn't matter. She has no use for the celebrations because they stress family and that's the one thing she doesn't have. When her brilliant plan to travel on Christmas Day backfires due to a snowstorm in Atlanta, Alexa is in no mood for any more mess. The absolute last person she wants to see is the one man who makes her feel out of control.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Lucas Massino spies his pretty coworker acting like the last kid selected for a team, he jumps at the opportunity fate provides and offers her a place to stay. He's had a man-size crush on Alexa since they first met, but no matter how he turns on the charm she keeps him at arms' length.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlexa is no fool and spending time with someone she knows is preferable to being in a hotel with strangers. But alone, the two cannot fight their mutual attraction. Alexa chalks their behavior up to one of convenience, but Lucas knows better. He just has to make Alexa realize she's his heaven and he's her home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEXCERPT:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat the hell? Spatula still in hand, Lucas burst into the mudroom. At the sight that greeted him, he skidded to a stop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis father wheeled three bags of luggage inside. \"We rented a car.\" He held the door open for the two women who shook snow from their coats before stepping across the threshold. \"Everything okay, Luc? You're standing there acting like we committed a mortal sin by coming inside our own home.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLowering the spatula, Lucas' brain jumpstarted as he watched three bodies remove coats, hats and gloves. \"Why didn't you call?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We wanted to see you before you returned to Chicago.\" His mother stretched upwards to kiss his check. \"No need to call if you're already here, honey.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucas sighed, all plans to spend day and night inside Alexa vanishing like ice sickles on a warm day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Your dad and I were planning to stay in Miami until the airport reopened, but then you called to say you were in town.\" She hugged him tightly. \"We were lucky to nab a one-way rental.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNonna wiped her booted feet on the sisal rug. \"My first road trip.\" She settled on the padded bench. Silver strands graced her darker than midnight hair pulled into her customary bun. Her round face was unlined, a testament to drinking a daily glass of wine she claimed. He didn't know if wine attributed to smooth skin or not but whatever kept her going was fine with him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucas rested the spatula beside her before kneeling and removing her footwear. \"You've been on plenty of trips with Pops.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe crossed herself. \"Yes, God rest his soul, but those were sex trips.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucas smirked. He learned early Nonna didn't possess a filter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis father shook his head. \"Mamma...\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Pooh on you.\" The older woman waved her ringed fingers in the air. \"How do you think you got here if your father wasn't hitting it every chance he got?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Mamma!\" His father said a bit louder this time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucas shook his head. His own mother barely controlled her laughter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNonna flexed her socked feet. \"It amazes me how everyone is hung up on folks talking about sex but everyone sure enjoys getting some. Speaking of...who's the girl?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucas rose. He wished he could revert back to the days of his childhood when he was utterly convinced that if he said he was invisible he truly was.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What girl?\" His father paused from hanging coats on the hooks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What girl, Isabella?\" His mother echoed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Luc knows.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThree interested parties swung their attention his way. Yep. Definitely not getting back between Alexa's legs today. Lucas grabbed the spatula as if he intended to use it ward off the questioning squad. \"I can explain.\" Great. Now he sounded like a teenager caught in a compromising position.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What girl?\" His mother asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNonna laughed. \"You're easy, Luc. Just like your father.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis father adjusted thin wire frames on his nose. \"What's your grandmother talking about?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his youth, his father's gesture normally preceded a punishment. Lucas peered at the kitchen, spotting the double plates and glasses. \"I brought someone home.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis mother beamed as if she'd received life-changing news. \"Honey, that's great.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis grandmother smirked with a knowing glint in her eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe trio trudged into the kitchen with Lucas following behind them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis father glared. \"Son, did you disrespect your mother's house?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucas' brows shot upwards. Considering how many times and ways they'd disrespected the dwelling, his father might ban him from the family structure for life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNonna washed her hands at the island sink. \"Luc, your father wants to know if you two young folks smacked it, flipped it and rubbed it down.\"","brand":"Tamara Hunter","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47083809407216,"sku":"2940157234041","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940157234041_p0.jpg?v=1764097248","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940157234041","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}