Jake's Story

A Christmas Key Novella

Before he was the island’s only cop, Jake Zavaroni was just a guy running from heartbreak—and one very bad day.

After a traumatic event on the job shakes him to his core, Officer Jake Zavaroni leaves his Miami beat behind. Big city crime. Big emotions. A messy breakup. He’s done with all of it.

Christmas Key seems like the perfect escape: quiet beaches, sleepy streets, and a population made up mostly of sunburned retirees. No drama. No danger.

Just peace.

Until he meets Holly Baxter.

She’s the island’s thirty-year-old mayor, full of spark, sass, and opinions—and she’s nothing like Jake expected. Their friendship is instant. Their chemistry? Undeniable. And suddenly, Jake’s not so sure he’s just here to lay low.

Get to know the man behind the badge in this charming prequel to the Christmas Key series—a story about fresh starts, second chances, and the quiet moments that change everything.

A companion novella. Can be read at any point in the series.