The Grump

I love my job. So when a grumpy grouch wants to shut us down, I'm ready for the fight of my life.

I was heading for serious career burnout until my dream job came true. Making pralines for a living has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. So it comes as quite a shock when I find out that the owner wants to shut down the LeBlanc-Broussard confectionery because it's not profitable.

My hope is that I can win him over. Once he realizes how integral the confectionery is to the city, to the very makeup of New Orleans he's bound to agree, right?

Wrong.

Xander LeBlanc is a grump, and it's questionable whether he has a heart at all! Though I'm ashamed to admit I was blindsided by how hot he is — definitely a 10+. Unfortunately, his personality is a zero. All he's concerned about are profits and not the charitable work the business is known for.

But suddenly, Xander begins to show up at various events we sponsor. When he arrives at the children's hospital where I hand out treats during the holiday season, I see an entirely new side to him when he starts playing The Grinch for the kids! When he takes me home later that evening things between us escalate. He confesses that he's been attracted to me from day one and let's just say, the man has hot skills in bed.

But the inevitable closing of the confectionary still weighs heavy on my mind and I don't know if I can separate the two. Can I love a man who wants to take away the only joy I have in life? But the bigger question is…

Can I melt the ice around his heart and find my way inside it for longer than a few nights?