Merry Mayhem

In Rebel, Louisiana, Christmas isn't a holiday-it's a full-contact sport.As a firefighter, I thought I'd seen holiday chaos before-fires caused by too many string lights, a Santa stuck in a chimney, one unfortunate incident with a candy cane-but this small town takes Christmas to a whole new level.It all starts when I'm asked to pose as a fake boyfriend for the town's annual holiday competition. Easy gig: play games, drink cocoa, smile big, take home the trophy.But my date's plans go sideways-literally-and while she's in the hospital, I'm left to handle all the plastic candy canes, Grinch impersonators, and deconstructed gingerbread houses with her sister instead. Single mom Thea is the calm, practical one who wants nothing to do with small-town drama... or me.Too bad sparks fly anyway. Between her no-nonsense attitude, that soft heart she tries to hide, and the way she looks at me in the dark hallway when everyone else is asleep? It's not the tree at risk of going up in flames. Because this feels real and now I know exactly what I'm asking Santa for this year.Christmas in Rebel isn't just Merry-it's absolutely Mayhem.