Four For Christmas by R. G. Alexander

at the worn out, dog-eared paperback and gestured toward it. “What are you reading? Is it another science fiction novel? Are you the one who reads those?”
    He laughed. “Usually, but not this time. I’m rereading last year’s gift from Nicholas, to tell you the truth. It’s about a southern girl and her grandfather. Nick loved it. This was actually his copy, which is why it looks so abused. The girl in the story kind of reminds me of you.”
    Thankful that she was wearing a t-shirt, she pushed back the covers and got off the bed, walking toward him with a sudden, wary heaviness in her heart.
    Chris was still talking. “He said this was the first book ever written by the author, and in his opinion the best. That it was like someone poured their whole heart out into this one book, so that there wasn’t enough left for the others.
    She had a heart. She knew because it felt like a fist was squeezing it to death. “What’s it called?”
    “ Grandpa Bale’s Southern Tales . It was written by a G.V. Bale, so maybe it was about a family member—“
    She grabbed it out of his hand. “How did you know? I don’t even have a headshot in those books.”
    The look in Chris’s blue eyes was genuine shock. “What?”
    Even if she did believe he didn’t know what she was talking about, there were too many coincidences these last few days to be believed. “This is my book that I wrote about my grandfather. I’m G.V. Bale. Georgia Virginia Bale.”
    A voice in the doorway had her turning in her tracks. Flynn. “You’re kidding me. I thought G.V. Bale was a man. You actually wrote Southern Tales ? I can’t believe it.”
     Georgia was in shock. “You read it too?”
    Flynn frowned, insulted. “Of course I read it. We all did. It was our Christmas present from Nick. “
    “Unbelievable.” Georgia wasn’t sure why she was so upset. Or why all these new doubts were swirling around in her mind. In the whole state of Colorado, she rescues and is rescued by three men who know Connie, know about her relationships, and offer Georgia a blissful night of her dreams. And to top it all off their dead brother had sent them her book for Christmas? She was expecting a hidden camera at any moment.
    “Where’s my phone?” She rummaged through her bag, ignoring the two silent men and muttering to herself. There’d been no signal for the last few days, but the storm was over now. “I’m going to get Connie to tell me the truth. Did she tell you about me? Who I was? Was that why you were all so damn…” Perfect?
    “What, Georgia?” For the first time since they’d met, Chris sounded angry. He stopped her from searching and turned her around to face him. “ You told us you were a writer. We took you at your word that you weren’t hiding anything from us, because we didn’t hide anything from you. What is going on in that head of yours? Do you think we do this all the time? That we share our family traditions, ourselves with every tourist that passes through?”
    She flinched. No, she didn’t. But it was Christmas. And she and Christmas had a steady track record of awful. Secretary flasher had only wanted to impress his co-workers with his published girlfriend. He’d admitted it himself. It’s not like it hadn’t happened before.
    Chris let her go and shook his head. “You couldn’t have written that book, Georgia. That book is all about love and trust, family and magic. It was why Nick loved it. You don’t seem to believe in any of that.”
    He walked out of the room, leaving Flynn standing in the doorway and her in the middle of the room, her book at her feet. She felt like she’d just been run through with a kitchen knife.
    “He didn’t mean it, Georgia. He’s just hurt. He was already worried you’d wake up this morning saying last night was a mistake. Worried we’d pushed you too far. Maybe that because we all wanted you, we’d all lose you.”
    She looked over her shoulder in time to see Flynn lean his