Jolly & Jaded

<p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><u>Elsie</u></strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Running my coffee shop is one thing. Running the town's Christmas marketplace? That's been my dream forever.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>This year I finally get my shot-twinkle lights ugly sweaters full festive takeover.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Only problem? Grant Anders.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>My late brother's best friend. The grump who shows up every day with that scowl... and has now been assigned as my co-planner.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>And let's not forget-I've secretly loved him since we were kids.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>It'll be a Christmas miracle if I make it through without falling harder than ever.</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><u>Grant</u></strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I've spent six years avoiding Elsie Marshall-because loving her from a distance is the only thing I've ever done right.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>She's my best friend's little sister. The girl I failed.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Now she's running the Christmas market-and I've somehow been roped into running it with her.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Late nights. Close quarters. And all the feelings I've spent years trying to bury.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>She deserves joy magic everything good.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I just hope I don't become the reason she loses any of it.</span></p>