Rochelle Alers - Christmas at the Château

Dom turned his head, successfully hiding the smile struggling to emerge.

He didnt know why, but he hadnt expected to overhear the ribald curse that had flowed so effortlessly from Viola. Thats good to know because then that would definitely negate us becoming friends.

Viola narrowed her eyes, reminding him of a cat ready to attack. Do you always test your friends?

Most times I do.

Why, Dom?

Because I have trust issues. The admission had come out unbidden. And if he were completely forthcoming with Viola, then he wouldve said his distrust was with women. It didnt matter whether they were platonic or intimate, hed made it a practice to keep them at a distance.

Bad breakup with a girlfriend?

No, he said truthfully. It was a marriage that ended with irreconcilable differences.

She blinked slowly. Well, youre not the only one with trust issues.

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Bainbridge House, where the restoration of the French-inspired chteau is still ongoing and will be for the next year or two. During that time all, or almost all, of Conrad Williamsons heirs will convert their fathers ancestral estate into a hotel and wedding venue.

Viola Williamson, a professionally trained chef, is reluctant to join her brothers until she is passed overonce againat the Michelin-star restaurant where she has worked for several years, and it is then she decides its time she supervise her own kitchen. However, what she doesnt anticipate is becoming friends with the abandoned estates enigmatic caretaker, Dominic Shaw, unaware that the lives of her adoptive father and Dominics are inexorably entwined over many generations.

Dom has trust issues, but there is something about Violas free-spirited personality he finds irresistible despite their trading barbs during their first encounter. Declaring a truce, they decide friendship is better than verbally sparring with each other, but at no time can he forget that Viola is heiress to an estate worth millions and his role is to maintain her familys property.

What begins as friendship evolves into friends with benefits. As Viola plans the reception dinner for her brothers and best friends Christmas wedding at the chteau, an encounter with another family member the night before the event shatters her fairy-tale world. She then fears losing the only man she has ever loved at the most festive time of the year.

I hope you will enjoy Christmas at the Chteau as Viola and Dom overcome obstacles to find their own happily-ever-after.

Happy reading!

Rochelle Alers

Christmas at the Chteau

Rochelle Alers

Since 1988, nationally bestselling author Rochelle Alers has written more than eighty books and short stories. She has earned numerous honors, including the Zora Neale Hurston Award, the Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Theta Zeta Chapter. A full-time writer, she lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island. Rochelle can be contacted through her website, www.rochellealers.org.

Books by Rochelle Alers

Harlequin Special Edition

Bainbridge House

A New Foundation

Wickham Falls Weddings

Home to Wickham Falls

Her Wickham Falls SEAL

The Sheriff of Wickham Falls

Dealmaker, Heartbreaker

This Time for Keeps

Second-Chance Sweet Shop

American Heroes

Claiming the Captains Baby

Twins for the Soldier

Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

Contents

V iola Williamson shifted on the cushioned rocker and closed her eyes. I cant believe Im a Jersey girlonceagain, she mused.

It wasnt that there was anything wrong with living in the Garden State, but after growing up in Belleville with four older brothers, Viola had attended culinary school in Hyde Park, New York, and after graduating had moved to the West Village where shed become a city girl in every sense of the word. There were times when she even found herself wearing all black year-round.

Turning on her heel, she left the balcony and closed the sliding screened-in doors behind her. Walking to the bedside table where shed left her cell phone, she tapped a number. It rang twice before there was a break in the connection, and she smiled when she heard her best friends voice.

I thought youd still be asleep.

Thats not happening anymore, Sonja.

When shed worked at The Cellar, she usually slept in late because most days she didnt get home until well after midnight, and then it would take a while for her to wind down from the nonstop frenetic activity in the restaurants kitchen. Shed shower and then get into bed to watch a recap of the days news and, on occasion, a movie shed missed. It would be close to dawn before she would be able to fall asleep.

Taylor reminded me last night that your mother was leaving for her cruise today.

The car service picked her up a few minutes ago. I know this is going to sound crazy, but now that Ive moved in with her, I really like hanging out with my mother.

Sonjas sultry laugh came through the earpiece. Its the same whenever I spend time with my mother. Even though were mother and daughter, its different because weve come to relate to each other as adults and whenever we have discussions, nothing is off-limits or even taboo. I told my mother that Taylor is the only man that

Dont say it! Viola interrupted, laughing. I truly dont need to know what goes on between you and my brother in your bedroom.

Sonja also laughed. Get your mind out of the gutter, Viola Williamson. Thats where I draw the line because I have no intention of talking about my sex life with my mother. I wanted to say that Taylor is the only man that Id want to father my children.

Viola ran her fingers through her curly hair. Well, that can become a possibility in the future. Shed recommended architectural historian Sonja Rios-Martin to her brother to assist him on the Bainbridge House restoration project. No one had been more surprised than Viola when Sonja admitted that she and Taylor were living together and had planned to marry at the mansion the following Christmas.

Thats going to be sooner than later because Taylor and I have decided to marry this Christmas now that your mother is going to be stateside at the end of the year.

Viola curbed the urge to do a happy dance. When did you two decide this?

Last night. Your mother gave us her cruise itinerary and even though shes going to be away for Thanksgiving, she plans to return to the States for six weeks beginning the first week in December. I told Taylor that Ive always wanted a Christmas wedding and that if he can restore the smaller ballroom, the first-floor kitchen and a few of the second-story bedroom suites for out-of-town guests, then theres no reason why we cant have it at the chteau. But, before we make any more plans, Id like to ask if you would stand as my maid of honor.

Viola paused, unable to speak because she was still attempting to process Sonja talking about marrying her brother at the end of the year. It was now mid-September and that meant they had three months to plan a wedding and reception. Of course, she said once she recovered her voice. Im honored that youve asked me to be your maid of honor.

A beat passed before Sonja said, Id also like to ask another favor. I