He didn't want a family for Christmas, but Santa had other ideas!

Forty-two-year-old Connor Merritt used to be the king of practical jokes. Lately, however, he feels like the joke's on him. Hoping for a few weeks of relaxing solitude, the grouchy Virginia attorney retreats to Whispering Sands Island, South Carolina, for a working vacation. But Connor's wish for peace and quiet ends abruptly when he meets the sassy and altogether too tempting woman next door. And her children.

Wallace Routledge never expected to be a single parent with four children.

Of course, she never expected to have an ex-husband serving prison time for embezzlement, either. Or a grinch of an ex-mother-in-law intent on gaining custody of her children. And Wallace never, ever expected her new and oh, so yummy next-door-neighbor to enjoy spending time with her kids. And with her. Did she mention that he was yummy?

Connor's changing perspective

Connor never wanted a wife, much less children. But an overly observant teenager; a book-loving ten-year-old; naughty, three-year-old twins; and their adorable mama might just make him change his mind.