FIVE stolen rings, FOUR calling birds, THREE French kisses, TWO falling in love, and a Partridge in a pear tree…

Stella Partridge never expected to move back to her hometown. She never expected to be a house-sitter for the twelve days leading up to Christmas as a desperate bid to earn some extra money. And she definitely never expected to recognize the thief that breaks into the house she's watching: Jack Piorra, her childhood best friend, the one who turned cold and distant overnight and never told her why.

Jack insists there's something in this house that belongs to him. But Stella's not going down without a fight--not in house-sitting, and not in love. If only locking the windows and doors could keep Jack from stealing her heart…