Better Not Pout, Annabeth Albert

An assignment Nick couldn't refuse put him in the ever-sunny orbit of Teddy, the resident elf that is far too tempting for the grumpy military man.  Except pride and a slick road put him even closer to Teddy than he wanted to be...well, only when he was lying to himself.  Snowed in together they end up giving in to their attraction and what they find makes both men a bit nervous.  One night wasn't enough, though, so for the month that Nick has left they decide to make the most of their time together.  If neither man finds the courage to risk their heart and choose a life not according to their plan they'll end up letting that month be their only time together and that would be enough to make any Jolly Old St. Nick or Cheery Elf rue a choice that should have brought a forever's worth of Christmas warmth and love.

Nick rubbed me the wrong way at first.  He's so determined to be a grump that he's not just gruff, he's dismissive and insulting in an aloof, crotchety old man way.  He eschews good sense in favor of avoidance and pride and ends up in a situation he could have been incredibly injured from.  There's nothing intelligent about that.  And his misplaced sense of honor is also a bit frustrating.  Although things do work out, it's only when he softens and begins to yearn for something he believed was far beyond his reach that I warmed up to him.  He needed every bit of Teddy's effervescence and care so he could thaw and become the man that was always inside of him.

Without the experience with Nick, Teddy would have continued to live his life in a happy yet lonely way.  He would have continued to shy away from risks and rejection because making the safe choice was the one he was most familiar with.  I liked his zest for life and his gigantic heart.  Those things made him the ideal partner for the taciturn man who had pretty much given up on himself.

Teddy also discovered things about himself with the distance between the men and I was glad that things didn't resolve too quickly so both of them could realize what they needed as individuals to be happy and how they could go after who they wanted to share their lives with.  I thought the legal decision regarding their future was cute and fitting for who both Nick and Teddy are.  An overall sweet feeling bolstered by great characters that felt real and drew me in over the course of the story.

*$3.99 on Amazon!