Better Not Pout

Albert (Off Base) dresses up this tender and funny contemporary romance with Christmas elements. Gruff giant Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Nowicki is a no-nonsense Army MP, one month from retirement, who’s temporarily stationed at Fort End in Upstate New York. When he’s roped into playing small-town Santa for a day, he meets perky do-gooder Teddy MacNally, who runs a local charity in the tiny, bucolic burg of Mineral Spirits. Their sexual chemistry is explosive, but Nick is planning on going into business with an old Army buddy in Florida, and tells Teddy that a relationship isn’t in the cards. Despite trying to keep things short and sweet, both men fall fast and have no idea how they’re going to say goodbye. Albert’s obvious affection for her characters, particularly Nick, makes this tale a pleasure from the humorous start to the pleasant, if somewhat predictable, ending. Agent: Deidre Knight, Knight Agency. (Nov.)