A December to Remember: a Holiday Romance Anthology

by Howe, Olivia

  I glanced over at the clock and noticed it was nearly two in the morning. "Well technically it isn't graduation day anymore." I shot her a smile hoping to ease the tension. Her stance didn't budge. "Ezzie please don't do this. You know we're meant to be together."

  "Jake I asked you one thing. One thing, and you didn't listen to me." Her arms had freed themselves from their locked position and were now moving around passionately.

  "What's the big deal? Why can I not propose on graduation?" I tried to reach for her, but she stepped around me and paced the floor.

  "My family's cursed. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my mother got engaged on their graduation day. All their marriages failed. My grandmother told me it was the Tussaud curse."

  I let out a short laugh. My thoughts were at a stand-still, as I tried to figure out how someone so intelligent, could actually believe something so asinine. "Your grandmother was a bitter woman who hated your grandfather for leaving her. Your mom just picked a bad one, but I'm so glad she did because he helped her make you. I'm not sure about your great grandmother, but I can tell you we’re not them."

  Ezzie came to an abrupt halt in her pacing, and turned to glare at me. The blank stare in her eyes was something I’d never seen from her before, and it terrified me. No longer was the light of life reflected in them, they were now devoid of any emotion.

  "I'm so glad my silly family can amuse you. Obviously you don’t respect my wishes. I will not be marrying you now or ever."

  "Ezzie don't do this. I'm sorry. I'll take the proposal back. We'll do it another time that's not on graduation, or any other day your family thinks is cursed."

  "You're an asshole, Jake." She stormed to the bed and started pulling on her clothes.

  "Ezzie stop. I'm sorry."

  "Take me home. I can't be around you right now."

  "Ezzie."

  "Stop. Take me home or I'll call someone to get me." Her graduation dress was now successfully covering her body. It was rumpled from sitting on the floor for so long, but she still looked majestic in it.

  Ezzie's hands were firmly placed on her hips glowering at me as she waited for my decision. Throwing in the towel, I pulled on my dress pants and undershirt not bothering with the rest. I packed everything up as Ezzie waited in the idling car.

  When I pulled into her driveway, I reached for her hand, but she snatched it away before I could get a good grasp. "Don't do this," I pleaded with her.

  "We're over Jake. Go to New York and start your bar. Don't call me, I'm leaving town tomorrow."

  "How did you know about New York? Ezzie, I was going to surprise you and tell you. We can start our life together in New York. It's what we always dreamed about." I reached for my door handle as my mind processed what she just said.

  "I mean it Jake. We're done." She slammed the car door and ran up her steps. When her front door clicked shut my heart splintered.

  The finality in her words spelled out there wasn't a chance to get her to change her mind. Not that I didn't try.

  I called her everyday for a everyday, and hounded everyone to tell me where she went. Nobody would give me any details as to where my Ezzie had fled.

  Two weeks later, I was boarding a plane to New York, still not having any contact from Ezzie or my heart that she took along for the ride.

  Chapter 5

  Five years later

  "Ommph." My breath rushed out of me as soon as my ass landed on my bars newly polished floor. Anger surged through me as I was once again bested by someone I couldn't even see. "I don't know where you are you son of a bitch, but when Mama Cleo gets here she's going to kick your invisible ass. She'll banish you to the pits of hell for messing with her grandbaby."

  I stalked around my bar, Unfinished Business or UB for short, rubbing my sore butt cheek as I tried to scare my newest enemy. For a lesser man using the threat of their grandmama would have been embarrassing, but I had been getting beat-up by an unruly specter, and well, Mama Cleo was a badass.

  I acquired my newest adversary a couple of weeks before Halloween. My friend Max set me up with his girlfriend Heather's, best friend Morley. Morley seemed to have someone very protective around her, and while I was at her house, I had been beaten up and embarassed. I tried to play it cool in front of her not wanting her to know how in-tune to the dead I was.

  When I got home from my disastrous date, I called Mama Cleo to ask her if she sent a ghost to pick on me. I knew she was mad at me for declining her invitation to visit her on Christmas, again. I wondered if she had recruited some help to get me to change my mind. Mama Cleo promised me she had nothing to do with my ghostly tormenter, and after we hung up my hidden nemesis went dormant.

  *

  Now a week and half before Christmas it was back, and it seemed to be out for blood, or at least some bruises. After a frantic call, Mama Cleo agreed to fly to New York to help me get rid of my bully before Christmas.

  So far it only picked on me when the bar was closed and I was alone. It didn't help that I lived above the bar, making it open season on me at all hours of the night.

  A chair zipped out in front of me just as I checked my phone to see if Mama Cleo was close. The stubborn woman wouldn't let me pick her up at the airport. She explained in very certain terms, that she was capable of getting a cab and meeting me at UB. I stumbled over a chair as it was pushed out in front of me, launching my phone across the room as I grabbed onto a table to keep me from landing on the ground.

  "You pissed somebody off." A voice I never thought would grace my ears again pummeled into my brain short circuiting my system. I lost my grip on the table and went crashing down to the floor. "Are you ok?"

  A tiny hand with short blood red fingernails extended in front of my face holding my phone. Steeling myself for what was about to happen, I took a deep breath and glanced up to the face the hand in front of me belonged to… the face that haunted me more painfully than the current specter in my life. Her hair was still a black mass of curls, although she had tried to tame it by tying it up with a red bandanna. Her blue eyes widened in shock when they met mine.

  "Jake?"

  "Esmerelda," I took the phone out of her outstretched hand and stood up.

  "What are you doing here?" She snatched her hand back, and placed it on her shoulder.

  "This is my bar. I have a bully in the form of a ghost, and Mama Cleo said she would fly down here to help me out." The confusion on her face was enough to let me know this was not a master scheme she had set up to see me again. For some reason that pissed me off even more.

  "Mama Cleo sent me here to help a business man get rid of an unwanted departed-one."

  "Well now it seems I have two unwanted presences in my bar. One departed from life, and the other departed from our relationship. You can leave. I'll call Mama Cleo tomorrow and let her know she needs to fly down and help me, not you."

  Her blue eyes filled with hurt at my words, and my instincts screamed at me to apologize, and pull her into my arms where she belonged. My heart, the one she destroyed, kept me from acting on those instincts. Why should I care if I hurt her? She demolished me five years ago.

  Ezzie turned on her Batman converse and walked toward the door she had just entered. I watched her tight ass sway back and forth in her light blue jeans. The lighting filtering through the window gave me a clear view of her upper body through her sheer black shirt.

  My heart and brain may have been on board with letting her go, but my cock had a completely different opinion on what he wanted to board. I stifled the groan trying to push out of my throat, when she opened the door and a cool breeze plunged the smell of her shampoo straight up my nose. I may have hated her, but I missed everything about her.

  Right before she walked out of my bar, she twirled around and pointed at my door. "You know the color red means welcome to weary travelers." Her eyes no longer held the hurt they had in them before, now the blue was snapping with anger, and
she was stunning.

  I nodded my head letting her know that I was privy of this fact. I actually learned that little tidbit on my date with Morley, when I stupidly asked her if her door meant prostitution. Not the smoothest move on my part, but she made me nervous and I blurted it out. Morley explained in early America a red door meant travelers were welcome, and I liked the meaning so much I painted my bar's door red.

  "Did you ever stop to think that the weariest travelers around are the departed?" She slammed the door shut creating a swirl of cold air in her wake. Ezzie stood against the closed door staring at me with an air of superiority.

  My pants grew tight from her saucy look. I leaned against the chair, trying to relieve some of the pressure and keep what she was doing to me to myself. "So if I paint the door, will I be getting rid of both of you?"

  That taunt broke her resolve, and I could actually see rage simmer up her whole body until it resided on her face. She stalked over to me her movement full of purpose. As she moved toward me, my eyes kept wandering down to her tits as they swung with every step. When we were toe to toe, she planted her hand on my chest giving it a slight push. Even through my thermal shirt I could feel the coldness of her hand seep through me.

  "What the hell?" I yelled.

  "You're an asshole."

  "Give me your hands."

  "What?"

  I wrapped both of her hands in between mine. "Your hands are freezing."

  She tried to tug them out of my grasp but I held on not letting her move. This time I really paid attention to what she was wearing. "Jeans, converse, and a sheer shirt are what you decide to wear to New York in December? What the hell were you thinking?"

  She tried to pull her hands away from me again but I held strong. Tilting her chin up she squinted her eyes as she stared at me.

  "By the way your shirt's see through. I can see your tits with the light shining through it." I smirked at her rage.

  "Let go of me," she said through gritted teeth.

  "Come on, the bar doesn't open for four more hours."

  "I'm not going anywhere with you."

  "Like hell you aren't. I'm not going to let you blame me when you catch cold because you weren't smart enough to dress for winter."

  "I don't need you to take care of me."

  "Someone has to do it since you seem so determined not to." Done with the conversation, I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. She beat on my back as I walked her up the stairs to my apartment above the bar.

  "Put me down," she screamed right before she sunk her teeth into my shoulder blade.

  "Damnit, Ezzie." I dropped her onto my couch and went over to flip the switch to the fireplace.

  "I hope it leaves a scar," she seethed as she snatched a pillow and hugged it in front of her.

  I grabbed a black hoodie hanging off the back of my recliner, and threw it to her. "Put that on until I can get the place warmed up."

  "I don't want or need anything from you."

  "Stop fighting me and put the damn hoodie on." I pushed my shoulders back trying to release some of the tension building inside of me, and hissed when the spot where she bit stung.

  "I think you drew blood," I said as I yanked my thermal off to check my wound in the mirror hanging over the fireplace.

  Ezzie inhaled sharply when I exposed my upper half. My eyes locked on hers as my dick jumped painfully in my pants. I said a small thank you that it wasn't detachable, because at this moment it would have leapt off my body and cock-jumped all the way to the couch.

  The heated look in her eyes was unmistakable. I had seen that look many times when we were together. Although this one seemed to be more mature, and it was hot.

  "Can you check to see if I'm bleeding?"

  The pulse in her neck went wild. We were locked in a stare down and at this moment I was not backing down. Ezzie slowly got up from the couch and made her way toward me. Neither of us breaking our gaze.

  "Turn around. I didn't realize you turned into such a big baby."

  "Funny, I didn't realize you turned into a vampire." Ezzie let out a short laugh and I chuckled along with her until her hands connected with my skin.

  She slowly ran her hands up my back causing spikes of electricity to shoot through me. When she reached the spot where she bit me she circled it slowly. "No blood. I think you'll live." Her lips brushed over my shoulder and I stiffened from the touch.

  My brain lectured me, telling me I couldn't let her back into my heart. With the strength of a thousand horny men pushing me toward her, I stepped away from her warmth with every ounce of power I had.

  Chapter 6

  I shrugged back into my shirt willing myself to calm down. The five years we had been apart did nothing to diminish the emotions her touch could evoke. Putting my life back together was a long painful process, and I vowed to never allow myself to go back there again.

  "I'll pay for your flight back," I said, moving around her and heading to the kitchen. Popping off the top of a beer I took a long drink.

  "I can pay for myself, Jake."

  "Fine. I'll walk you out since I'm sure you didn't get a good look of how we got up here hanging upside down." I lifted my bottle to take another drink, and the pillow Ezzie had been hugging flew toward me and hit me in the stomach. Beer spewed out of my mouth along with my breath.

  Ezzie still hadn't moved from the spot I left her at when I went to the kitchen. Her hand covered her mouth, and she wore a shocked expression on her face. Thick strands of fear coiled around me at her reaction. I had never seen Ezzie shocked by a spirit, the stunned expression on her face scared me.

  "What is it?" I asked not caring that she could hear the fear in my voice.

  "I need to call Mama Cleo. Is there a room I can use?"

  The fear spread, and I was unable to fight it. "Ezzie, tell me what you saw."

  "Jake I need to speak with Mama Cleo first. Where can I speak with her in private?"

  "You can make your call in the spare room." She followed me down the short hallway until I reached the extra room I used for storage.

  She went over and sat in the light blue recliner by the bed, curling her feet under her body. Her eyes looked lost and the helplessness in her posture made me want to console her.

  "Can I get you anything?" My question brought her out of her thoughts. She blinked as if trying to clear away what had taken residence in her brain.

  "No, I need to call Mama Cleo."

  "So what? I attracted something in my bar that's too much for you to handle? You never were at a loss with a spirit before, or have you lost your edge in your older age?"

  "Jake, you have no idea what you're saying."

  "Tell me then. Or don't. We both know how you like to change your mind."

  Ezzie rubbed her forehead as she took deep breaths. "Jake, you're going to feel like such an ass."

  "I already do. I should have kicked you out when you walked in. I'll be down in the bar if you need anything. I have to get some things done before the doors open."

  "I'll meet you down there when I'm done."

  "I had the room cleaned for Mama Cleo it's yours to use. The bathrooms across the hall, and you know where the kitchen is." I wanted to kick myself for what I was saying. She had me so keyed up I felt like I was on a pendulum, going from mean to nice. I needed to get away from her so I could get my thoughts in order.

  "I already checked into my hotel."

  There was that stupid pain again. I knew I shouldn't but I liked having her in my house. It was obvious she still had full command of my heart even if it protested at every turn that she was banished from it.

  "We'll get your stuff tomorrow. There's no reason to pay for a room when there's a perfectly good one here."

  "Jake, I'm not staying here with you." Her face started to take on color showing her anger.

  My brain pleaded with me to stop while I was ahead, but I didn't take orders very
well. "Ezzie, I saw your face when whatever is haunting me showed up. You've never been scared of a spirit in your life. Don't think I want you here for any other reason, but to keep me safe." Her eyes narrowed at my words, "make your call and meet me down at the bar." I spun around not giving her a chance to respond.

  Downstairs I started the daily duties as I waited for Ezzie to come back down. My bartender and waitresses didn't come in until later when the bar started to get busy, giving me a chance to think. UB was becoming a hot spot for the New York night life and I was extremely proud of its success. All the years of hard work I had put into the place was finally starting to pay off.

  When I first walked into the bar it was in the same shape as my heart. The large space was a hollow disaster and I immediately felt a connection. It took a year of hard labor to get the place ready to open for business, and another to get my apartment above the bar to feel like home. Thankfully, Mama Cleo had saved up for me, knowing how much it took to open a bar, and helped me every step of the way.

  When the bar opened older men liked to saddle up on the barstools and reminisce of the good ole' days for hours. It was the younger crowd I was having trouble keeping the tables full.

  That's when my best friend Max came to my rescue, even though he didn't know it, and I would never tell him. I would have never have guessed the moody guy who strutted into my bar with a black leather jacket in the middle of the summer was going to give me the greatest business advice I had ever taken.

  As soon as Max found out I was the owner of the bar, he launched into a passionate speech about his band, and how they would bring in more of a crowd if I let them play. He was convincing, and had a lot of good points, so I agreed to let his band play that Saturday.

  Max's idea was a success. His band brought in new people and kept the ones already there in their place. After that night, bands were banging down my door to get on my stage, and people were flooding through my door to hear them. Two bands had been discovered and signed while playing a gig in UB, and with that reputation UB was now one of the most sought after bars in New York.