Peppermint Bark, No Bite

Grace Alvarez has spent years building a chosen family after being rejected by her own.

Her hospital patients, yoga students, and best friend Mallory's family have become her home. But when it comes to relationships, her wish list doesn't include romance.

Then Mallory's older brother Alex storms back to town: arrogant, workaholic, and everything Grace should avoid. When she needs an emergency Santa for sick kids, Alex reluctantly agrees. But between the sensory room she created for overstimulated kids and her unwavering compassion, Alex's carefully controlled world starts cracking.

Their connection heats up faster than caramel on the stove, and soon they're stealing kisses that have nothing to do with mistletoe.

But Grace has spent years rebuilding after her family rejected her for being transgender. She won't risk her friendship with Mallory for a man whose life is in California. And Alex is finally learning that some things matter more than making partner... if he can figure out how to let go.

Can a grumpy lawyer and a sunshine social worker turn their holiday fling into a lifetime?

Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine • Best Friend's Brother • Forced Proximity • Holiday Romance • Only One Bed • Found Family

Representation: Transgender heroine • PTSD rep • Sensory processing exploration • Chronic illness (pediatric heart condition)

A heartwarming holiday romance about healing, hope, and building the family you choose.