“Yeah, I found out before I got on the flight to marry Paul. I couldn’t do it. When I told him that I was pregnant with Everest’s child, he went crazy. I told him that in order to get the money he would have to claim the child as his own and that the child would be his heir. I guess male vanity won out over greed and Paul refused to go through with it. When I saw him last he was drinking himself into oblivion.”
“You’re pregnant?” broke in Devon, stunned. She barely heard the rest of the confession. “With Everest’s baby?”
“Yes.” Chloe shrugged her shoulders insecurely as Devon shot across the room to give her a hug. Muttering through her uncertain tears, she said, “So you see. I can’t see him right now. I have to figure out what is best.”
“But, with the baby?”
“He’s too honorable. With the baby, he’ll be with me for the baby. I’ll never know if he would want to be with me for me. So first, I go to Switzerland to speak with dad’s lawyer. I’ll see if there is a way to get an extension and if there’s not, I’ll contest the will. I am sure he’ll want to come to some sort of terms instead of seeing all of his commission held up on a technicality. Then, after that mess is straightened up, I’ll think about what to do with Everest. By then the snow should have cleared enough to get up to his house.”
“If it isn’t, I’ll fly you there myself,” Devon asserted. “I can’t believe you’re having a baby!”
“Me neither.” Chloe chucked insecurely as Devon pulled her into another hug. As her friend held her, she began to cry. But this time the tears were full of hope.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Zipping the suitcase over her new business suit, Chloe sighed. It was late, but the cab wouldn’t be arriving for another ten minutes. Going to her bathroom, she grabbed a hair tie and pulled back her hair to the nape of her neck. Closing her eyes briefly, she yawned. It was late, almost midnight. Hopefully the airport wouldn’t be too busy and she could check in fairly easily. Then she would be able to sleep on the plane.
She eyed her light gray T-shirt and blue jeans in the mirror. She refused to dress up for a fight across the Atlantic Ocean. Hearing the doorbell ring, she frowned. The cab was early. Going to the door, she flung it open.
“Cab?” a short man with a red cap asked in a gruff Bronx accent. The man looked nervously over his shoulder before tilting his jaw up in the air. “You call?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” Chloe answered. Turning around, she grabbed her purse. “Just let me get the lights and I’ll be ready.”
“Fine,” the man grumbled. He looked curiously into her home and stepped in. “These goin’ down, or what?”
“Yeah, all that.” Chloe motioned to the luggage before rushing to the bathroom to hit the lights. Yelling over her shoulder, she said, “I’ll take the two smaller bags down with me.”
“Whatever you say, lady,” the man hollered.
Chloe stepped across the hall to her small kitchen. She flipped the switch before coming back into her living room. Without looking up, she went straight to her bags.
“Can I help you with that?”
Chloe froze. Everest’s voice poured over her body like a gentle rainstorm. Unable to believe her ears, she stood. Her purse slid from her shoulder to the floor with a crash. She ignored it. Her eyes rounded as she realized it wasn’t a dream. Everest was standing in her living room. He wore a dark suit, his hair was tied back to the nape of his neck and he was holding a bouquet of red roses. His firm lips curled into an expectant smile.
“Uh, no,” Chloe finally managed to choke out in wonder. Her heart started to race. It pounded frantically in her chest.
“Are you going somewhere?” he asked softly.
Chloe shivered and nodded her head. In a whisper, she hushed, “Switzerland.”
Everest frowned slightly.
“What are you doing here?” questioned Chloe, puzzled. She wanted to jump into his arms and pull him to her lips, but she held back. Her body pulsed with the need to feel him. She had missed him so much.
“I came to wish you a happy birthday,” he stated simply, as he held out the flowers to her. Whispering, he said, “Happy birthday, Chloe.”
Chloe took the flowers. Her hand trembled as she drew them to her nose. She couldn’t smell them as she tried to shakily breathe in their heady scent. It was the only gift she had received for her birthday. Everyone else had forgotten. “But, what are you doing in New York? How did you get here?”
“I called Grandpa on the two-way and had him send a helicopter over the drift. I booked a flight and came straight from the airport.” Suddenly, he frowned.
“But, why?” she queried.
“You’re not happy to see me.” The statement was matter-of-fact. His eyes lost some of their shine as his face hardened. “Maybe I should go.”
“No, wait.” Chloe shot forward, her hand reaching out to stop him. She didn’t dare to touch him, not yet. Her hand trembled and hung in midair. Turning, she laid the flowers on a small table by the front door. “I just—”
“Chloe, I love you,” he burst all of a sudden.
“Oh, how romantic,” the cab driver stated sarcastically from the door. “Miss, are you ready?”
“Can you give me one moment,” Chloe replied breathlessly as she held up her hand. She didn’t look at the little man, but kept her disbelieving gaze on Everest.
“All right, but if we are late for your flight it’s your fault.” The man leaned against the doorframe and waited.
Everest frowned. Reaching into his pocket, he handed the man a hundred-dollar bill. “Wait in the cab. She’ll be down in a minute.”
The man took the money and shrugged like it was no big thing. But he did leave.
When he was gone, Chloe whispered, “What did you say?”
“I said I love you, Chloe. That is why I am here. I came to find you.” He took a hesitant step forward and eyed her pale face. She didn’t look too well. Maybe she had missed him like he had her. “I came to tell you that I would wait for you. I’ll wait ten years until you can divorce that prick.”
“You’d do that?” she asked, dumbfounded. Her blue eyes rounded in amazement. Her hands trembled.
“Hell,” Everest declared, “I have already waited my entire life to find you. Ten years will be nothing.”
Chloe felt her heart race a bit more. The piercing light of his hazel-green gaze bore into her soul until it left it quivering with need. His handsome face was hard with emotion, but she could see the truth of his words in his eyes.
“But,” she began.
“No buts,” he broke in. Taking another step, he lifted his hand to her cheek. He couldn’t deny his body the simple touch and was pleased when she didn’t back away. “I don’t care what the next ten years brings you. I’ll wait. If you lose a leg or fall into a coma, I don’t care. I’m coming to get you. At that time, if I have to sell my place in the mountains and move to New York, I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you.”
“But,” she tried again. Her love bubbled from her throat to choke her words.
“I’ll take your child like it was my own and we’ll add a baby or two and live as a family. I know why you are doing it. I know about the people you’ll be helping. And no matter how much I hate it, I love you even more for your selflessness.” Everest gazed deeply into her eyes. Her cheeks had colored prettily into a blush as he spoke. With an amazed smile, he noticed her toy machine wedding band hanging on a chain on her neck. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small jewelry box.
Chloe gasped as she read the intent in his eyes. Numbly, she started to nod her head before he even spoke.
“Chloe, will you marry me?” he asked, before adding with a sheepish grin, “Again and in exactly ten years from this very moment?”
Chloe tried to nod but could barely move. Her breath caught in her constricted throat. He opened the box to present her with a thin gold band lined with diamonds. Tears came to her eyes, as she hushed, “The child is yours, not Paul’s.”
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Everest narrowed his gaze, straining to hear her. Believing to understand, he nodded, “Yeah, the child will be mine.”
Chloe felt tears line her eyes. Nothing was coming out of her mouth right. Finally, she managed to tilt her jaw, and said louder, “I don’t have to marry you again.”
Everest frowned, confused. Standing, he looked at her. She began to sniff harder.
“Yes, I will marry you,” she finally blurted. She flung her arms around him to press kisses to his handsome face. A smile crossed over his perfect features that took her breath away. He didn’t understand anything else she had said, but the last sentence was enough.
“I’ll wait for you.” Everest swore, beaming with the bittersweet pleasure of it. “And if you ever have a need of me all you have to do is send word. I’ll come to you.”
“I need you,” she whispered. “Oh, how I need you, Everest. I need you every day.”
Everest smiled, unable to resist her. He knew it was wrong, knew she had married Paul. But he couldn’t stop himself. His need for her was too strong. It defied all logic. Cupping her face, he kissed her lips passionately.
“Do you have to leave for your honeymoon right away?” he asked thinking of the man downstairs waiting for her. “Will you miss your plane? I don’t want to cause you any problems.”
Chloe let go of him. Everest watched as she crossed over to the window. Pulling it open, she screamed down into the street, “Bring my bags back up, I’m not going anywhere!”
The cab driver’s curses were lost as she turned back to him. Lightly she said, “I’m not going anywhere but Montana.”
“Chloe?” he questioned with a hesitant smile. “How?”
Finding her words at last, she smiled happily. “I didn’t marry Paul. I couldn’t. I don’t love him. I love you. I’m on my way to contest the will. My father’s attorney is vacationing in Switzerland.”
“Then, I’ll go with you,” Everest stated. “We’ll fight it together.”
“But, don’t you see?” she put forth as she moved to him. “We already have. Our divorce isn’t final. I never sent in the final papers. I couldn’t do it. I tried, but I couldn’t. So we don’t have to get married, we already are.”
Everest rushed over, gathering her into his excited arms to kiss her. He lifted her necklace to study the cheap ring. Grabbing his hand, she held it tight over the bent metal band. “But you deserve a wedding. You deserve more than a minister dressed like Elvis and this.”
“I don’t want a wedding. I want you. I hate being in public. I just want to go home with you. I want to go back to Montana.” Chloe breathed softly against his slanting lips. “Take me home.”
Everest leaned over to deepen the kiss. His tongue edged the line of her velvet entrance before pulling back with a questioning glance to her flat stomach. “What did you mean when you said the child was mine?”
“Where do you want these bags?”
Chloe smiled, but rolled her eyes as the driver interrupted them again. Letting go of Everest, she motioned to the floor, “There’s good.”
She absently grabbed two hundred-dollar bills from her purse and handed it to him. With a playful dismissal, she said, “Now go away.”
The driver smiled, nodded and left. It was the easiest money he’d ever made.
She ignored the cab driver as she went back to her husband’s arms. Whispering into his stunned face, she said, “I’m pregnant.”
Everest growled happily, taking her into his strong embrace. With a squeal of delight escaping her lips, he lifted her into the air. His lips were on her mouth, her cheeks, her neck. Chloe groaned passionately as his hands moved over her firm backside in a solid caress.
“Oh, my!”
Chloe turned at the shocked exclamation. Seeing an elderly neighbor lady, she giggled.
“You should be ashamed—” began the woman in outrage.
Everest let go of Chloe and slammed the door, cutting off the woman’s words with a hard thud. When they were finally alone, he directed his stalking growl toward her.
“I would defend your honor,” he began.
“Bedroom’s this way, mountain man,” she broke in boldly. Her eyes shone with intense sexual promise. She giggled and squealed as Everest charged her and lifted her up into his arms. Carrying her as if she was no more than a feather, he began unfastening her blue jeans.
Chloe ran her fingers to untie his hair. The silky brown waves crashed seductively over her fingers. Sighing huskily, she said, “You look very nice in a suit.”
Growling passionately, he responded, “I look better underneath it.”
Chloe moaned at his confidence as he passed into her room. Dropping her to the floor, he threw off his jacket. Then he began tugging at his tie.
“Let me,” she voiced lowly. With gentle urgency she began to undress him. Throwing the tie over her shoulder, she said, “You know, we really should get a dog. Mountain men should always have a dog.”
“Mmmhmm,” he nodded. Her hands skimmed to his waist to unbuckle his pants. “Whatever you want.”
At that decree, she raised a naughty eyebrow. “Oh, really.”
“Mmm,” he nodded his assent. Her hand found the hard length of his member bulging beneath his cotton briefs.
Chloe fell to her knees. Looking up at him, she said, “There is one thing I have got to know before this goes any further.”
“What’s that?” he questioned. He thrust his manhood wickedly toward her mouth. Chloe freed the large erection. Everest groaned, wildly excited.
“Did you really eat your own horse after an avalanche?” she asked. “I mean you wouldn’t expect me to, would you?”
Everest brows shot up in surprise. However, his manhood didn’t lessen in its willingness. Chuckling, he said with a teasing light in his deep gaze, “No. It died of old age.”
Chloe moaned in wanton delight. Leaning over she grabbed him firmly by his perfectly masculine hips. Her fingernails grazed his buttocks as she sucked him into her mouth. Everest hollered in virile rapture, reveling in the feel of the tender satin of her slick mouth. And there were no more words, only the groaning passions of two people madly in love.
THE END
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, Michelle has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural and sci-fi. After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.
Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it’s a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She’s addicted to movies and used to drive her mother crazy while quoting random scenes with her brother. Though it has yet to happen, her dream is to be in a horror movie as 1. A zombie or 2. The expendable screaming chick who gets it in the beginning credits. But for the most part she can be found writing in her office with a cup of coffee in pajama pants.
Michelle Online
She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website.
Website: www.michellepillow.com
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The Raven Books’ Complimentary Material
The following material is free of charge. It will never affect the price of your book.
Christmas Curse by Michelle M. Pillow
Contemporary Romance
Author Note: Connected to Mandy M. Roth’s book,
Trust in the Season
Megan Sinclair believes she’s cursed. After all, every year she celebrates Christmas something bad happens—broken bones, chicken pox, house burning down. So after agreeing to finally go home for the holidays, she’s not surprised when her all-too-sexy boyfriend breaks up with her—and by note, no less!
Sean Morgan doesn’t believe in curses, but his girlfriend does. It’s her one fault. In all other ways Megan’s perfect for him, from her interesting mind to her gorgeous body. And the sex? HOT. But, because she’s convinced something bad will happen, he’s not too surprised when she leaves for the holiday without him. Convincing Megan that she’s not cursed may take some creative maneuvering, but Sean plans to make sure he turns her holiday luck around.
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Christmas Curse Excerpt
Tinsel and garland clung tastefully to everything that didn’t move. Christmas music pumped throughout the house, jingling and tingling and so very merry. Bright packages overflowed from beneath the giant tree.
“Oh, Jeff, she’s just so thin!” Frieda fussed. Her blonde hair was sprayed into position, not a hair out of place. Her mother had that same hairstyle since she was a kid. “Megan, honey, don’t you eat? Jeff, look at her. Don’t you think she’s thin?”
Megan just smiled and took a deep drink of the champagne. It was going to be a long night. “I’m fine, Mom. I eat plenty.”
“Didn’t you say you were bringing a friend down?” Jeff asked, smiling at her from where he sat back down on the couch. He was a good man and had been a really good father and husband over the years. She knew he was changing the subject to take her mother’s attention off her weight. Frieda would over-feed the world if they let her.
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