Curse of Christmas: A Collection of Paranormal Holiday Stories

by Thea Atkinson

  She paused again, swiping at her eyes.

  "He's going to need your help, Ava. He'll be hurting. I know you will, too. Help each other. Be there for each other. With a little luck, maybe find love as you were supposed to. Don't let things get in your way again. Speak up. Tell him how you feel, like you told me. He loves you, too. I know he does, how couldn’t he? And, Ava, don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Wherever I am, once you read this, I'll be just fine. I know you and Jared will be good together. Give Jared my love, and yours. You both deserve it. Merry Christmas, honey. Always, with love, Jesse."

  The letter fell from her fingertips, landing on the kitchen table. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Jared after reading what Jesse had written. It was just like Jesse to bluntly spell out what he thought she should do. The man had never held back when he wished to speak his mind. Even coming to haunt his wife to get her to listen to him one last time.

  She smiled, imagining how frustrated Jesse must have been that she hadn’t unpacked those decorations in three years so she could find the letter he wrote to her. He must have reasoned that by the time Christmas came around again, she’d be ready to hear the words he had to say to her.

  “It’s just like Jesse to haunt me until he gets what he wants.” Ava played with the corner of the paper, folding it between her fingertips and then flattening it straight. “He was always stubborn, wasn’t he?”

  Jared didn’t say a word. She saw his feet from the periphery of her vision, but she couldn’t turn to face him now. Jesse had known for years about Ava’s youthful crush on his brother. He’d never felt threatened with knowing she had enough room in her heart to love both men. And now, he took advantage of that knowledge.

  “Maybe you were right,” she said, her lips trembling. “Maybe I shouldn’t have read it out loud.”

  “Was he right?” Jared’s soft words sounded like a shout in the quiet room, stopping her from saying more. “Did you love me?”

  “Of course, I did.” She smiled, weakly. Still, she kept her back to him, not having the courage to face him. “I still do, you know that.”

  “No, I mean… More than just friends.”

  She hesitated. This was the moment she yearned for and dreaded in equal measure. She could declare her true feelings for Jared or deny them. They could continue their friendship as it had always been, or she could take the chance to have more than just Jared as her friend. She could have him as a boyfriend, a companion… a lover.

  She flushed, her heart fluttering rapidly.

  A dozen questions flew through her brain as she analyzed her feelings and how she would answer him.

  She enjoyed their friendship. She wanted nothing to change that. But she yearned for more. What if it didn’t work out between them? It would ruin their friendship completely.

  Could she take that kind of risk?

  And really, why was she agonizing over this, anyway? Jared had never stated in all this time that he thought of her as anything other than a dear friend. Her feelings for him might have grown into something more, but he’d never done or said anything different to give her any sign that he might want something more from her.

  He’d probably see this letter as a way for his brother to boss him around, as brothers often did. Pretending to know what’s best for one another.

  Still, she had to tell him the truth. It had been ready to burst from her on more than one occasion. If she didn’t tell him the truth about her feelings now, she might never tell him.

  “Yes,” Ava said, at last. “I loved you. I still do. As more than just a friend.”

  There, she’d said it. As she spoke, it was as if those words released a torrent of emotion. Freedom from hiding her feelings for him. It was out in the open now.

  “You were always with someone. I never had the chance to tell you how I felt. Eventually, I moved on. I found Jesse, I fell in love, and we clicked. I knew I could be happy with him. I realized there would never be a perfect time to tell you how I felt. I never wanted to jeopardize our friendship, but I never stopped loving you.”

  The moment the words left her mouth, Jared’s hands pressed warmly on her shoulders, spinning her around to face him. She didn’t need to say anything more. The look in his eyes spoke more than either of them could say.

  His head dipped, his lips meeting hers. The kiss took her by surprise, but the shock only lasted a second before she reached her hands to wrap around his neck. Her body warmed with the glow of love as her lips parted, welcoming him as they deepened the unexpected kiss.

  When he drew back, he placed another tender kiss along the side of her mouth and then the tip of her nose.

  “Ava, I was a fool. I’ve loved you for so long. I can’t remember when or how it happened. It just did. By then, you were with my brother and I would never have…” His voice trailed off; his expression pained by the memories. “Before Jesse died, he made me promise to look after you, to take care of you. I didn’t realize until now that he was asking me for more, that he was giving me his blessing. I just didn’t see… Ava, I can never take my brother’s place—”

  “No,” she said, understanding him. “I know that.”

  “But I’ve loved you for so long, and after he died, I felt like I betrayed him by loving you. That’s why I haven’t called you back or checked in on you for so long. I was afraid you’d discover how I felt about you. I was afraid I’d betray my brother’s memory.”

  “Jared, I…” Ava’s voice broke as tears shed anew while happiness surged within her heart, overflowing with joy as she listened to his confession. “I never believed I’d have a second chance at love. I’ve been thinking about you… about us for a while now. I know Jesse didn’t want me to close myself off. I knew he wanted me to find someone, but I couldn’t ever imagine loving anyone but you.”

  “This letter says his Christmas wish was for us to find each other, to be together. I think he’s been haunting you because he wanted me here to find this, to know it’s okay.”

  “Yes, I think so, too.” Ava smiled as she gazed into his eyes. “Do we need to find some mistletoe? It’s been a while since I’ve been kissed like that. I’d like to try it again more if you don’t mind.”

  Jared grinned. “No mistletoe required.”

  And he dipped his head to kiss her again.

  The End

  Enjoyed Jared and Ava’s story? Be sure to leave a review! Love ghosts? Be sure to pre-order my Valentine’s Day ghost romance, Her Haunted Valentine. Sign up for my newsletter to receive updates on more romances like this one. And don’t forget to grab your FREE copy of Night of the Full Moon, a stand-alone steamy short story paranormal romance! Thank you for reading! Happy Holidays!

  About the Author

  Tricia Schneider is a multi-genre romance author. She believes there is a book for everyone. A sentiment she gained after a decade of working as Assistant Manager and bookseller at Waldenbooks. After the store closed, she turned to writing full-time, publishing paranormal, historical, fantasy, sci-fi and gothic romances.

  Tricia lives in Pennsylvania with her four children and two rescued cats, Harley and Cassius. When she’s not typing away on her laptop, she’s riding shotgun in a ’67 Impala while keeping her eyes open for a madman in a Big Blue Box.

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  Read More of Tricia’s Books

  The Merriweather Witches

  The Witch and the Wolf

  The Witch and the Vampire

  The Witch’s Thief

  The Witch’s Kiss

  Cougar Shifters

  Loving Boone

  Tempting Benjamin

  Claiming Cody

  Other Titles

  T
he Pirate’s Lady

  Ice Princess

  The Mermaid

  Her Haunted Valentine

  Anthologies & Collections

  Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology

  A Wink and a Smile Anthology

  A Kiss and a Promise Anthology

  Stolen and Seduced

  Captured and Captivated

  Falling for Shifters

  A Cursed All Hallows’ Eve

  Holidays Bite

  A Very Alien Christmas

  Alien Embrace

  Her Mane Escort

  J. A. Belfield

  About Her Mane Escort

  From a charity auction, to a stroll in the park, to the craziest night of her life. Nicole Harrington can't help but wonder how a simple event went so drastically wrong.

  Of course, the male escort she booked is wholly to blame.

  Not only charming but shrewdly intelligent, Benjamin Gold drags Nicole into a platoon of unimaginable problems-ones from which she'll have to find the courage just to survive.

  Chapter 1

  “Urgh.” I marched the width of my living room for the hundredth time, before wedging my stilettos into the shag-pile in front of the mirror. “Why do I subject myself to such …” I threw up my hands.

  My tenant’s reflection stared back at me from over my shoulder. “Craptapular evenings just to keep your flipping family happy?” One brown eyebrow rose above the sardonic expression in Kellie’s hazel eyes.

  “Yes, but …” I groaned and leaned forward, teasing my ebony fringe into perfect alignment and prodding at my French twist. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I mean, an escort, for goodness sake.” A quick appraisal assured my black cocktail dress hugged where it should beneath my scarlet swing coat. “Like I’m some bloody saddo incapable of acquiring a date of her own.”

  “You have nabbed a date. That’s the whole point.”

  “Okay, incapable of nabbing a date that doesn’t cost me five grand for a few hours of his time.”

  “Five grand? Holy frickin’ cow, Cole.”

  I met her reflected gaze. “You gave me the bloody number.”

  “Yeah, because they had prices starting from fifty quid.”

  “Fifty quid was for a date with Quasimodo. No point doing this if I’m not going to take something to keep the vultures off my back.”

  “True.” She nodded. “Very true … but …” At the chime of the doorbell, she spun away, as I whirled on the spot. “Forget it,” she said, already moving for the hallway. “I’ll see for myself what five grand worth of man looks like.”

  Frozen in place, I could only listen as she vanished into the hallway and her socked feet brushed over the floorboards. The catch twisted. The front door whooshed open.

  “Nicole Harrington?” Disbelief tinged the deep, masculine tone.

  “Would you like me to be?”

  As I thought of what confronted him, Kellie in her Snoopy fleece shorts, peeling and faded Iron Maiden T-shirt, and hiking socks that had long ago lost any elasticity, I snorted out a laugh.

  “Ignore her,” I said. “She’s just my tramp of a housemate. Come on in.”

  “What’d you do that for?” Kellie said. “I almost had him.”

  A deep chuckle preceded the delicate clop of a shoe on the floorboards. A moment later, one black clad shoulder peeked around the living room door, followed by a shock of honey blond hair and amber eyes.

  Nice.

  His left eyebrow arched up. “Nicole?”

  Head tilted in an attempt to see the rest of him around the door, I nodded. “My friends call me Cole. Might be best if you stick to that this evening.”

  He crossed the room in a few easy strides, his hand already outstretched. “Benjamin Gold.” He smiled down at me as I slid my fingers across his. “And I very much doubt you want to know what my friends call me.”

  I breathed out a small laugh. “I’ll be sure not to ask.” Ignoring Kellie’s mimes of approval behind the escort’s back—ones that looked suspiciously like she groped an invisible butt with her face screwed up—I pointed toward the door. “Shall we?”

  “Of course.” He spun for the exit, sending a nod toward Kellie as she snapped to attention. “Nice meeting you.”

  “You, too.” She smiled.

  I trailed behind Benjamin as he led the way to the exit and opened the front door. My sole had barely hit the outer deck, when fingers clamped around my upper arm and hauled me back into the hallway.

  “What the heck, Kel—”

  “Listen,” she hissed. “For freak’s sake, don’t sleep with him. Something that cute’ll cost you a small mortgage to pay the extra fees.”

  “Please.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not you. The advice is unwarranted.”

  “Good point.” She patted my arm and released me, but grabbed hold again as I went to step away. “On second thought, do it. Besides the fact that you can afford it, you need the action, babe.”

  I pried her fingers from my bicep. “Bye, Kellie.”

  “What? I’m right, though, aren’t I? You need to get you som—”

  “Goodnight, Kellie.”

  “Fine, fine. Have fun.”

  Beneath the first snowflakes of the season, I began my descent toward where my ‘date’ waited at the garden gate.

  “Meanwhile, I’ll stay here,” Kellie continued. “Alone. Probably get accosted by a burglar and have to deal with him all on my own.” Her sigh arrived heavy, before she added, “Not that I’ll mind if he’s hawt.”

  “With a bit of luck, he’ll look like a troll and carry you off to his bridge,” I said, pivoting to face her. “And then I’ll find a housemate who actually pays their rent.”

  She stuck out her tongue at me as I spun to walk away.

  A silver Mercedes hummed at the kerbside beyond the gate, a shadowed outline all I could see of the driver.

  “I prefer my own vehicle to the more impersonal ones of the agency,” Benjamin said. “Hope you don’t mind.”

  Had it been a rust-bucket Allegro, or something else equally hideous, my answer would have been a resounding no. Instead, I shook my head, smiling when he opened the rear door with a wave of his arm.

  Heat blasted from the vents within—a vast comparison to the chilled winter evening—and the interior smelled of freshly-treated leather when I settled into my seat.

  Once Benjamin had closed my door, dark eyes met mine in the rear-view mirror. Though the driver didn’t turn, I found myself grateful when the other door opened and Benjamin slid in beside me.

  He tapped the back of the driver’s seat. “Horton Gallery, Drake.”

  Without a word uttered, the car eased away from the kerb as smooth as a spectre. The soft drone of the engine seemed to lull us into passivity, while the delicate handling of the vehicle barely swayed me in my seat. Streetlamps spilled their glow through the windshield, though they barely penetrated the tinted glass of the rear windows.

  “You needn’t worry.” At Benjamin’s murmur, I angled my head to see him and found his eyes already aimed my way.

  “Worry about what?”

  “About what your friend said back at the house.” His teeth glowed white with his smile. “I’d never dream of charging for sex I’d initiated.”

  Twenty minutes of evening-debriefing later, we stepped arm-in-arm through the entrance of Horton Gallery. Snow dusted the shoulders and hood of my scarlet coat and of Benjamin’s black jacket, and an upward glance showed even more clinging to the tips of his hair like diamante ornaments.

  I shrugged out of the damp garment, and like the gentleman I’d paid him to be, Benjamin took it from me. After a promise to ensure it would be hung somewhere to dry, he weaved his way toward the cloakroom, leaving me to stand alone in the high-ceilinged foyer.

  Beyond the double doors ahead, people milled about, nodding and smiling, while their twitchy or glazed eyes exposed their boredom. Each and every one of them wore more in value than they’d
donate when the charity auction began—if not in clothing, then most certainly in the adornments that battled with the overhead chandeliers for impressiveness.

  No doubt my lack of jewellery would earn me a few stares.

  “Ready?”

  Benjamin’s voice snapped me from my bitter appraisal, and I nodded, hooking my fingers over the crook of his offered arm. “Into the lion’s den we go.”

  “Trust me,” he said, leading the way, “this is not a lion’s den.”

  I went to ask what he meant, but the second we stepped from the foyer, Angela Hopberry accosted us.

  “Darling.” Her puckered coral pink lips did their usual air kisses in the direction of my cheeks. “How lovely that you came.” The moment she straightened, her attention roamed over Benjamin like a wave across the beach. “You’re a dark one, Cole—keeping it quiet about the new trophy.”

  I released a sigh. “Benjamin, this is Angela. Angela, Benjamin.”

  Angela had yet to remove her gaze from my partner. “And you’ve been seeing Cole how long? What line of business are you in? You’re not a local boy, are you?”

  Benjamin didn’t even bat an eye. His hand slid around my back, drawing me closer. “Coley snared me …”

  I bristled. Coley?

  “… four days, seven hours, and approximately twenty-three minutes ago …”

  Christ, don’t overdo it. Though, that had been about the time I’d booked him.

  “… I have ties in the motoring industry, and no … I’m not from around here.” He grinned. “You have seventeen left.”