My name is Sergeant Charlie Warner.Or it was.I’m a retiring soldier, just got out, with no family of my own, and I reluctantly agreed to spend the holidays in picturesque Maple Grove to transition to life after the Army. I’m a drifter now and have no business getting involved with my buddy’s family—especially with his sweet little sister who pretends she’s frumpy and boring to ward off attention from men.Men like me.I have no plans for Emily other than being an extra brother for a week. That’s what I tell myself. I really should let her be, but the harder she tries to hide, the more determined I am to seek. Under those baggy clothes and plain, simple looks is a woman who deserves to know how desirable she is. She thinks I can have any woman I want.And I want her.Author's Confession: You must know by now that I love my tropes, right? Military romance, older man/younger woman, opposites attracting like whoa, small town, older brother's best friend, ugly duckling who's really a swan (though an introverted swan), holiday romance complete with snow, Santa suits, and caroling during a fight scene. Oh, and pudding. Let's get figgy with it. 

Anker Beck is just doing his time tapping kegs at the neighborhood pub while he socks away money for his dream: to own his own brewery. What he doesn't have time for are relationships, but not being interested seems to make the women in the bar want him more.That's when she starts coming in. Mousy, plump Annabelle Rogers, roommate of his co-worker. She brings her books to the pub and seems to do everything she can to stay invisible. So why does he keep noticing her? One night, when a female patron is getting particularly handsy with him, he tells everyone that Annabelle is his girlfriend and kisses her in front of the whole bar. She has every right to be mad, but the mousy girl surprises him with a challenge: She'll pretend to be his girlfriend to keep the women away if he agrees to help her with one little thing: losing her virginity.With a catch.He absolutely isn't allowed to fall in love with her.Author Confession: It's a role reversal for the bartender to give the customer the tip, isn't it? There's also tapping, dry hopping, and some thick foamy head—it is a bar after all. But do you really think I could write an alphamallow who doesn't fall head over heels for the mousy, plump girl? I think you all know me better than that by now. Let's hear it for BBW love and blue collar heroes!