The Christmas Crusade

  THE CHRISTMAS

  CRUSADE

  by

  Shanna Hatfield

  Copyright © 2015 by Shanna Hatfield

  The Christmas Crusade

  Copyright © 2015 by Shanna Hatfield

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For permission requests, please contact the author, with a subject line of "permission request” at the email address below or through her website.

  Shanna Hatfield

  shanna@shannahatfield.com

  shannahatfield.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is an ebook, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

  Acknowledgment

  To Kat -

  Thanks for taking me under your wing all those years ago

  and teaching me the fine art of laughing at myself.

  You are a treasure!

  Praise for Shanna Hatfield

  “From contemporary to historical Hatfield can write any genre she wants and I will read it! The romance level is clean but the chemistry and kisses are smoking hot! With characters that are endearing and you feel a real emotional connection with, Hatfield has a way of writing a story that anyone want would want to read!”

  ~ Books Are Sanity.

  "Are you searching for a clean romance with humor, a spine-tingling romance with some hunky, genuine cowboy on the side? There is no doubt that Shanna Hatfield knows how to write clean romance that is nothing but pure romance that incurable romantics like me crave."

  ~ My Devotional Thoughts Book Reviews.

  Chapter One

  “Granddad, this better be a joke.” Kathleen Kingsley held her cell phone to her ear with her shoulder while slipping her credit card back into her wallet and dropping it inside her oversized bag. A subtle nod of her head acknowledged her thanks to the barista at the coffee shop she frequented six days a week. Rushed, she picked up her double shot espresso and moved away from the counter.

  Kat dropped the lid from the cup in the trashcan and took a sip of her drink. She pushed open the door, stepping outside into the crisp autumn air. Portland in the fall was spectacular, especially on a day when the typical rains that drizzled down on her favorite Oregon city failed to appear.

  “I assure you, dear girl, it is far too early in the day for joking. This sponsorship meeting completely slipped my mind. I meant to tell you about it earlier. It is essential for you to be there.” Lewis Kingsley cleared his throat. Kat pictured him sitting at his pristine desk with the day’s projects stacked in a neat pile to his left while his favorite pen, a gift from her grandmother, rested at a precise forty-five degree angle to his right.

  “Fine. I’ll take care of it.” Kat barely managed to hold back a sigh. “Tell me again where I need to be and what time.”

  “Our executive conference room, in thirteen minutes. You best put some hustle in it, Kat. I’ll have Molly...”

  The cell phone’s battery chose that moment to die. Kat stared at it in frustrated annoyance.

  For a moment, she considered tossing it down on the sidewalk and stomping it into tiny pieces. Nothing had gone right all morning.

  First, the alarm failed to go off. After scurrying out of bed, she’d jumped into the shower and shrieked as cold water pelted her skin. The landlord promised to fix the problem with the hot water heater. Obviously, he hadn’t accomplished the task.

  Despite pounding it multiple times on the bathroom counter, her flat iron refused to splutter to life, so her hair dried into thick waves instead of the sleek, straight locks she preferred.

  Hungry and harried, the only thing she could find to eat for breakfast in her bare cupboards was a stale chocolate chip cookie.

  Finally making it out the door, she remembered an important file she’d left on the kitchen counter. Although she’d already flagged a cab, she ran back up to her apartment to get the file only to return outside to find no cabs in sight.

  Rather than drive her car through the heavy morning traffic, she ended up walking seven blocks to the coffee shop. Her feet already hurt and it wasn’t yet eight o’clock.

  The surprise meeting only added to her irritated state. Kat dropped her cell phone into her bag and made a mad dash across the street.

  The spiked heel of her shoe caught in the metal grate covering a drain before she made it onto the sidewalk. Trapped, she almost toppled to the pavement before regaining her balance. Two quick jerks broke off the heel. Ready to shout in frustration, she rolled her eyes heavenward.

  Once she removed her foot from the shoe, she yanked it out of the grate and studied the dangling heel. It would be impossible to hurry to the meeting wobbling on one four-inch stiletto.

  “Of all the days for this to happen,” Kat muttered as she took off her other shoe. Barefooted, she dashed down the block and around the corner to Harchett Industries where she worked as the vice president of public relations.

  The doorman tipped his head and held the door open for her to enter. “Good morning, Miss Kingsley.”

  “That is entirely debatable.” Kat grinned at the friendly man. She’d known him since she started visiting her grandfather at the tender age of three at the corporation he’d joined as a founding partner. “Can you do me a huge favor, Carl?”

  “It would be my pleasure.” Carl smiled at her with genuine sincerity, a rarity in a building full of people focused solely on their careers.

  “Please call Molly and tell her to bring my spare shoes with her. She’ll know where to meet me.”

  “Consider it done.” Carl tipped his head to her again and placed the call to Kat’s receptionist. As she raced across the lobby, Kat heard him ask Molly to bring the shoes.

  A frantic glance at her watch confirmed she had seven minutes left to make it to the conference room on time.

  She detested being late. The trait was one she’d inherited from her grandfather. He, of all people, should have known calling her at the last minute to attend a meeting would leave her rattled.

  Kat stepped onto the elevator and swallowed a groan when Miles Donovan greeted her with an attentive smile.

  Relentless in his pursuit, Kat shuddered at the thought of him ever catching her. Despite his good looks and position in the company, she did not intend to date him.

  From what she could surmise, his primary interest in her stemmed from a desire to position himself favorably with her grandfather.

  “Good morning, Miss Kingsley.” Miles shifted closer to her as the elevator stopped and more people entered.

  “Mr. Donovan.” Kat nodded curtly, trying to balance shoes in one hand, coffee in the other, and keep her toes from being stepped on in the crowded elevator.

  As the elevator stopped again and more people entered, Miles moved directly behind her. She didn’t appreciate the way he brushed against her and she certainly didn’t approve of his
overpowering cologne. The scent was so strong, she wondered if he’d taken a bath in it before leaving for work that morning.

  The crowd jostled as the elevator stopped on the next floor. Miles took the opportunity to bump into her, squashing her into the front corner.

  He leaned close and the warmth of his breath brushed over her ear. “You ready to take me up on that offer for that best night of your life?”

  Kat fought down the urge to shudder in revulsion. She purposely stepped back on his foot, pushing down on his toes with her heel. Abruptly, he stepped away from her.

  She frowned. “Last I checked, the world hasn’t ended and you aren’t the last male on the planet. Both of those events would have to come to pass before I’d take you up on that offer. Even then, it would require careful consideration and immeasurable desperation.”

  Anger splotched Miles’ face in mottled shades of red. He looked like a spoiled child who’d held his breath too long. A deep chuckle to her left made Kat smile although she didn’t glance back to see who’d heard her comment.

  “Don’t play games with me, Miss Kingsley.” Miles grabbed her wrist as the elevator reached the next floor.

  “The only game I’m going to play with you is to see how fast I can get you fired if you don’t let go of me. Now, leave me alone.” Kat hissed and jerked her arm away, spilling coffee all over the jacket of her suit.

  A scream worked its way up her throat and threatened to escape through her tightly pressed lips as she stepped off the elevator. Endeavoring to gather her composure with coffee dripping over her hand, she turned to see if Molly waited for her and bumped into someone, sloshing more coffee out of her cup.

  “I’m so sorry!” She looked into her bag, hoping to find a stray napkin or tissue as the person walked away.

  Molly appeared beside her and shook her head. “Well, you did say you were thinking about changing up your look.” The girl’s brown eyes twinkled with humor as she took the coffee and shoes from Kat then gave her a wad of napkins she snatched from an intern walking by with a heavy-laden coffee tray.

  Kat mopped the liquid from her hand, shed her jacket and accepted the shoes Molly handed to her. It was a good thing she typically wore dark suits. The black shoes she slipped on perfectly matched her slim black skirt.

  “I’ll send your jacket to the cleaners. Your shoe is beyond hope.” Molly stifled a giggle at the look on Kat’s face. “And here is the file you need for the meeting. From what your grandfather said, Harchett has agreed to be a corporate sponsor for one of those centers that help people in a poverty-stricken neighborhood. They’re gearing up for the holidays and this meeting is to discuss what we can do to help, beyond a monetary contribution, that is.”

  “Thanks, Molly.” Kat glanced at her watch. She had less than a minute to get to the conference room down the hall. In a rush, she turned away, but Molly grabbed her arm.

  “Before you go…” Molly loosened the top two buttons on Kat’s blouse then fluffed her hair.

  Kat scowled at her. “What in the world did you do that for?”

  “Without your power suit, you’ll need to win them over with your feminine wiles. It’s all men in there.”

  “Perfect.” Kat hurried down the hall then stopped long enough to look back at Molly and wink.

  The girl held up two thumbs and offered an encouraging smile before Kat stepped into the room.

  With barely a glance around her, she settled into the closest empty seat, set down her bag, and opened the file from her grandfather.

  A brief perusal brought her up to speed on Harchett Industries’ commitment to Center for Hope through the holiday season.

  Movement across the table drew her attention. She watched as a man futilely brushed at a coffee stain on the front of a pristine white shirt. Kat’s gaze traveled from his nicely formed hands up his chest to his head.

  Startled, the air whooshed out of her as she stared into the face of a man she’d spent the last three years trying to forget.

  ~*~

  The shock on Kathleen Kingsley’s pretty face drew a smirk from Levi Clarke as he brushed at the coffee stain on his shirt.

  He’d stepped onto the elevator on his way to a meeting with the partners at Harchett Industries only to discover the woman who haunted his dreams with alarming frequency standing a few feet away. Shoes clutched in one hand and coffee in the other, she scowled at the corporate ladder-climber behind her. The executive with gelled hair and too much cologne hovered unreasonably close to her.

  From Kat’s tense posture, she didn’t appear to welcome the attention. Some primitive part of Levi felt gratified by that realization.

  While she attempted to ignore the man’s presence, Levi studied her perfect posture and tall, lithe figure. Rather than the sleek straight hair she’d always worn, her long black waves made his hands itch to bury his fingers in the silky tresses.

  She appeared professional, confident, beautiful, and determined. It looked like Kat had moved forward with her plans to work her way up to an office near her grandfather’s.

  In spite of his efforts to pay no attention to her, it proved impossible. He’d chuckled as she mocked the guy standing behind her. When the jerk grabbed her arm, Levi almost popped him in the face with his fist. Rather than bloody the man’s nose, he waited to make sure Kat could handle the moron without his assistance. He ended up with coffee spilled all over his shirt for his trouble, but it was good to see she was as spunky and self-assured as ever.

  The risk of running into Kat at Harchett Industries had entered his mind, but he needed funding for Center for Hope more than he needed to avoid her. However, he hadn’t planned to bump into her minutes after he set foot in the building.

  A futile attempt at wiping away the coffee stains in the restroom gave him a moment to move past his initial reaction to seeing Kat and smelling her tantalizing fragrance.

  He walked into the conference room and smiled. The only empty chair was directly across from her. Levi sat down and studied the top of her head until she looked his way.

  Before he fell into the depths of her entrancing green eyes, he focused on Mr. Harchett, president of the company that would help save his beloved community center from closing its doors, at least through the holiday season.

  With Christmas a few months away, Levi had grown desperate to secure more funding for the center.

  Through the suggestion of his good friends Brock and Brenna McCrae, he approached the corporation. Armed with a glowing letter about the center and Levi’s work there from Brenna, a former manager at Harchett, he was thrilled when Harchett Industries agreed to a corporate sponsorship through the end of the year. If the sponsorship proved mutually advantageous, Harchett would consider extending their financial support for the next three years.

  Determined to make it worth the company’s time and money, Levi planned to do whatever was necessary to ensure the funding continued.

  “Gentlemen, and lady,” Mr. Harchett glanced in Kat’s direction as he began introductions. “We are pleased to officially announce our sponsorship with Center of Hope through the holiday season. You should have information about the center in front of you. I want this sponsorship to be about more than writing a check, although we’ll certainly do that.” Mr. Harchett smiled at Levi. “I want this to generate goodwill among our staff, to remind us of the true reason for the holidays. Dr. Clarke has started a crusade to keep the center not only afloat, but also thriving. His challenge to us is to open our hearts to those in need this holiday season.”

  All eyes turned to Levi and he looked around the table. Silently meeting each gaze, he let his linger on Kat before returning his attention to Mr. Harchett. “Thank you, sir. My hope is that Harchett Industries will benefit from this partnership as much as the center will benefit from your generous donation.”

  “That is also my hope.” Mr. Harchett nodded and glanced around the room. “For those of you who haven’t yet met Dr. Levi Clarke, he took over as executive
director of Center for Hope in June. This young man has a most impressive resume and if I could convince him to give up his work on behalf of the youth and downtrodden, I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”

  Levi grinned and Mr. Harchett continued. “We’ve outlined a plan and Dr. Clarke will answer any questions you might have. Ultimately, the bulk of the responsibility for carrying this out will fall to our public relations department.”

  The weight of the gazes of the room’s occupants settled on Kat. She looked up and offered Mr. Harchett a confident smile. “The PR department is extremely pleased with this incredible opportunity for community outreach, sir.” Kat’s lie sounded convincing, even to her. The last thing, the very last thing she needed, was to spend time with Levi Clarke, no matter how great the cause.

  When had he gone from the underpaid help that mentored teens at the center to having a doctorate and running the place? She didn’t know he’d even attained his bachelor’s degree. Then again, she cut things off between the two of them before delving too far into his plans or goals for the future.

  Prepared to keep the upper hand, she boldly stared at him from across the table.

  Levi looked… incredible. Tousled brown hair, firm jaw with a hint of rakish stubble, full lips meant to drive date-deprived women wild. Instead of dressing in a T-shirt as he’d done on every date she had with him, he sported a tailored navy suit with a conservative tie. The glasses framing his hazel eyes did nothing to diminish their alluring spark.

  Kat refused to indulge the desire to imagine him without the jacket, to picture the muscled arms and shoulders she knew lurked beneath his crisp, albeit coffee-stained shirt.