By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Lexi Post

He set out to prove the future
was far worse than she imagined.
Now he wished it wasn’t.

Thanks to his shock tactics and pessimistic attitude, Scottish spirit guide Malcolm MacLachlan’s job is on the line. What else did they expect from a former Glasgow Watchman? For his final assignment, he chooses his partner based on the probability of success, and Joy Collingwood is the very best. That he can prove to her the future isn’t all puppies and marshmallows is an added bonus.

Joy is thrilled to help Malcolm, but their different methods threaten the success of their collaboration. If they can’t find some common ground, they’ll fail. What she doesn’t expect is that their common ground will be her bed and her deepest secret will be revealed.

Yet her secrets are nothing compared to Malcolm’s and their revelation could jeopardize everything…including her heart.

Once again Cameron has selected spirits to visit his wife on Christmas Eve. Well he chose Malcolm and had him select who to work with. That he picked Joy was a surprise to Cameron since they are so very different.

Malcolm is all about the ‘Scrooge’ type spirit of the future and Joy tends toward the more pleasant aspects.

Cameron’s wife Holly has become used to these visits as Cam has recruited her to help the spirits involved. This time was no different.

I think I’ve failed to mention Mac, their cat. For some reason when Cam visits to prepare Holly for the spirits, the cat can see him and he can actually pet the cat. That shouldn’t be possible, and that’s something that Joy and Malcolm find puzzling from the start.

This is a favorite scene.

She grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re going to play the role of Scrooge’s Spirit of Christmas Future. Don’t you think that’s a bit over dramatic? Not to mention far too English for a Scotsman?”

He turned toward her. “I was simply acknowledging your observation on my timeliness.”

She chuckled. “Now you really sound like an Englishman.”

At his scowl, she turned away, biting her cheek to keep from laughing.

The clock began to strike the ninth hour.

“Shall we?” She looked back at him. Hooking her arm within his, she pulled him forward even as his eyes widened. She was too excited to meet Holly face to face to care what he thought.

As they stopped in front of their assignment, two things struck her one after the other. The first was that the little design in Holly’s snowflake pin was a fairy and beautifully etched.

The second thing was that while Holly was still asleep, the large gray cat sat on its own chair staring at them.

Malcolm leaned in. “That cat shouldn’t be able to see us.”

She nodded, just as surprised as him.

When the grandfather clock stopped chiming, they both stared as the gray cat walked onto the arm of his chair, jumped across the short distant to the other chair where Holly slept and pounced into her lap, effectively waking her up.

“What? Really Mac?” She grabbed him up and as she lifted him onto the arm of her chair, she noticed them. “Oh, hi.” Her gaze flitted to the clock before coming back to them. “Sorry. I never seem to be able to stay awake for Christmas Eve visitors. You must be Malcolm and Joy.”

Joy smiled. “That’s quite all right. You’ve had a long day, I’m sure.”

“What a beautiful dress. I could never wear something like that.” Holly sat straighter as she looked down. “Oh and I love your boots. I need to find a pair of those.”

“Thank you.” Cameron’s wife was a delight. She seemed very comfortable with them.

Holly turned to Malcolm. “Malcolm, if we’re going to fly away together, you must show me your face. The hood thing is all fine for drama, but we’re on the same team here.”

Joy pursed her lips to keep from smiling.

Malcolm acquiesced to Holly’s request and dropped his hood back, revealing his scruffy chin in profile. Joy’s body took notice, and she suddenly wished he’d pull it up again. The man was walking sensuality, at least to her.

“Holy crap!” Holly faced her. “Did you know he was this hot?”

Luckily, Malcolm saved her from having to answer that. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Holly. Are you ready for your journey to begin?”

Holly continued to stare at Malcolm.

Joy cleared her throat. “Holly. Holly?”

Finally, Holly turned toward her. “Yes?”

“Malcolm asked if you’re ready to begin your journey?”

Holly looked back at Malcolm then returned her gaze to her. “Absolutely.” She rose from the chair.

“Wonderful.” Joy waited as Holly’s gaze flitted back toward Malcolm before finally returning to her. She didn’t really blame her. His dark good looks took some getting used to. “This visit is a little different because we’re the Spirits of Christmas Future, which means that you’ll see things no one else will know for years.”

“And I must promise to not reveal anything I see, right?”

Malcolm nodded. “Aye. If you don’t think you can keep these secrets, we’ll have to skip the visit.”

Holly scowled at him and crossed her arms. “Excuse me. I didn’t reveal a single thing I learned from Coco and Ian’s visit. I’m sure I can keep secret whatever you choose to show me.”

“You must be sure.”

Holly gave an exasperated sigh. “I promise.”

The cat took that moment to meow loudly. Holly turned back. “What, Mac? You have plenty of food and your litter box is clean. What else could you want? I’ll only be gone minutes your time, if that.”

Joy watched in fascination as the cat seemed to accept Holly’s answer and proceeded to jump onto the seat of the chair Holly had just vacated and lay down. “Really, Mac?” Holly turned to face them. “He demanded that he take my chair over there, forcing me to use Cam’s. Now suddenly, he wants Cam’s chair back?”

Joy shook her head. “Usually animals can’t see us. He’s a very special cat.”

“Believe me, I know. Even Cam doesn’t know why he can pet Mac.”

Joy froze. That was impossible. She glanced over at Malcolm, who was looking at her as well. Somehow, she knew he agreed that something was afoot. They’d have to talk about it on their first break.
Post, Lexi. Temptations of Christmas Future (A Scottish Christmas Carol Book 3) (pp. 39-42). Lexi Post. Kindle Edition.

Now the visits they have in store for Holly cause the spirits taking frequent breaks in disagreement. They also have them finding out things about each other, including the fact that Joy has dreams of Malcolm.

While they do manage to get their point across to Holly they also succeed in forming a relationship.

Very emotional for Holly as she realizes what she’s done so far really isn’t enough. For the spirits, well they are amusing, sometimes irritating and definitely sizzling.

Oh and we still don’t know what’s up with Mac the cat…sigh.

5 Contented Purrs for Lexi!

Lexi Post

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of erotic romance. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she’s read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi’s first love is romance novels. In an effort to marry her two first loves, she started writing erotic romance inspired by the classics and found she loved it. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides an erotic experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.