Who doesn’t love Christmas? The soft, twinkling lights, the crisp smell of snow in the air... Christmas gives me warm feelings all over.

Ever since I was little, my parents always made a big deal over the holiday season. Mom loved family traditions and we had so many of them around Christmas Eve; from baking cookies for Santa with all my cousins to decorating our tree and watching Christmas movies with hot cocoa, so many happy, happy memories. Who wouldn’t love being a part of that?

I can’t think of one person that doesn’t love the holiday season. . . oh, wait. . ., yes, I can.

My extremely sexy, extremely irritating, pain in the ass neighbor - Kris Crankton.

Kris and I have been neighbors for a little over two years now. We live in a quiet town outside of Helen, Georgia. I’ve lived here for five years and I love the neighborhood I live in; the neighbors are very friendly, and everyone knows everyone else. The only Scrooge in our neighborhood is Kris.

He bought his house two years ago after the elderly lady who lived there moved in with her son. When Kris moved in all the neighbors were abuzz about him and yeah, I must admit I was a little curious myself; we’re a fairly settled, quiet little community, so any changes bring out the curious nature in us all.

Being the good neighbor that I am, I went over to introduce myself and welcome the new arrival. The one thing I didn’t expect is that I would have such an attraction to him. You can't really blame me though, if you'd seen him, you would feel the same way. I still remember everything add if it just happened yesterday.

* * *

The door opens and not an inch of space is between this giant of a man and the door frame. His muscular build and height dwarfed my entire five feet three inches. With my mouth in the shape of a O, I stood in front of him dumbfounded.

“Can I help you?” He asks, his voice deep and deliciously warm. I was mesmerized to the point of being in a speechless stupor.

He glanced past me and his lips flattened into a line. “Is that your dog?” I hear a hint of annoyance in his voice as his glittering dark eyes look over my shoulder. The subtle change in tone snaps me out of my hypnotized state and I whirl around to see my little Terrier, Jolly, doing his business right on my new neighbor’s front lawn.

My heart sinks and my cheeks flush with shame. This is not what I had in mind about making a meaningful first impression.

“Oh my God!” I shout as I ran down the front steps to shoo Jolly back to my house. I turn back towards my gorgeous neighbor and apologize sheepishly. “I’m so sorry….” I wait for him to offer his name.

“Kris.” He tells me in that deep gruff voice. I could feel my panties dampen, my heart skips a beat. . . shit . . . everything about this man is throwing me off.

“I’m Joy, I just wanted to introduce myself since we are next-door neighbors now.” I explain as I wave my hand towards my house where Jolly is sitting on my steps watching us.

“I really am sorry about Jolly,” I rush on before he can interrupt me. “The lady that lived here before you had a bit of a soft spot for him.”

He looks down on me from his position at the top of his steps. “Well, Joy, I would appreciate it if from now on you could keep your dog off my property. I’m rather busy and have little time to be cleaning up after your little friend.”

I freeze, shocked at how rude his tone has become. “Okay,” I respond carefully, not wanting to make things worse.

“Well, it was nice to meet you.” He turns around and walks back into his house, closing the door behind him, leaving me standing on the steps. I stare at his closed door, shock giving way to outrage and fury.

“Asshole,” I swear, spitting the word out with as much venom as I can muster.

I can’t believe how rude he was! I mean, sure, Jolly using his yard for his own personal restroom wasn’t the way to make a good first impression, but my GOD! Did he have to be that rude?! He could have just said he didn’t like him doing it... but no, he had to be a huge jerk about it. And he practically slammed the door in my face! That’ll so get the neighbors talking, I grumble to myself as I stomp back over to my house, opening my front door and ushering Jolly into the house.

* * *

I shudder and shake off the horrible memory of first meeting. The only time Kris and I have spoken since that day is when he comes to my house to complain about Jolly being in his yard, an issue he finally brought to a halt two months ago when he had a fence installed around his property; not a huge one, but a clear signal that he didn’t like people invading his space.

I feel a wet nose against my hand and look down to see Jolly sitting at my feet whining, wanting me to pick him up. I grab him and cuddle him close to me.

“That mean old Scrooge just likes picking on my little Jolly, doesn’t he?” I ask, pouting and nuzzling my little terror, laughing when he licks my nose in response. I look around my living room at the boxes of ornaments and decorations I need to hang, feeling my mood lighten as the holiday spirit and memories of good times come flooding back.

I give Jolly one last hug before setting him on the floor. “Well, Jolly, let’s get to it. These decorations aren’t going to hang themselves.”

He barks in excitement and runs around in a crazy circle, making me chuckle.