ISBN: 978-1-920484-15-6
Format: eBook
Blurb
When you make a wish to the Christmas Spirit take care....you may get just what you want.
Tamara Allegeo has loved Griffin Michel from afar for the past three years. When he calls on her and her Public Relations Department to prepare for the annual Christmas party, she envisions a chance for a future. So close and yet so far to gaining his interest, she makes a wish to the Spirit of Christmas to make her dream comes true…and finds that when you make carefree or desperate wishes, well things don’t always go the way you plan.
Excerpt:
Tamara stepped out into the cold night air and shivered. The bags in her hands pulled on her arms with the weight of what her older brother, Steve, called an indecisive wardrobe. For an overnight stay, she couldn’t decide what to bring for the ride home the next day, so as usual, she over packed. She walked out to the curb where the limo driver waited.
“Good evening Miss Allegeo,” he greeted when he opened the door.
“Hello, James.” She looked to the cloudy sky and bundled her white cloak closer. “I hope this weather at least gives the party a festive mood.”
James looked up and nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I believe it will.” He smiled, picked up the larger of the two pieces of luggage she carried, and walked to the back.
Tamara climbed into the limo; O’ Come all Ye Faithful filled the passenger area and the Christmas Spirit wrapped her in peace. She set the small tote bag next to her on the seat, eased back, and settled in for the ride to Griffin Michel’s private country home. Thoughts of Griffin
Excited to get to the company’s annual party, she pulled out the small evening clutch from the duffle and placed it next to her. For weeks, she and her staff worked, planned, and organized this year’s holiday celebration per Griffin Griffin Griffin
James shut the driver’s door, pulled out into the flow of traffic and drove down the block. At the stop sign he turned to her. “Miss Allegeo.”
The sound of her name interrupted her random thoughts.
She looked up. “Yes?”
“Mr. Michel asked me to give you a message.”
Her heart beat wildly bracing for an unexpected delay, or other disappointment. “Yes?” She inhaled and waited for the verbal message and prayed it wouldn’t destroy her festive mood. Please don’t say he was called away and cancelled on me.
“He asked that you let your assistant take on any problems at the party and make yourself available. Amber is aware of her duties at this evening’s party.”
Her racing heartbeat stumbled, and then slowed as she smiled and nodded absently but wondered about the unusual request. “Thank you, James.” Like the twists and turns of a roller coaster ride, her mind banged with reasons for his asking her to stand in for his assistant; and none of them ended with a romantic need. She hid the disappointment—that the churning thoughts created—which overpowered the slight jovial mood she created within her lonely soul.
He probably needs me to field the many questions he may have to answer.
Tamara rummaged through her bag and pulled out the small mirror for a quick hair and make-up check. Looking at her reflection, she gasped at the image. Beautiful. Steve did a fantastic job—even if she did say so herself. It was hard to imagine that in high school no one paid particular attention to her…. often times she felt invisible. Tonight, in her job, the CEO and owner of the company requested she keep herself close at hand for him. So many changes in the evolution to the position she enjoyed now.
The upbeat song; Let it snow filled the car’s interior before she realized it was her cell phone ringing. She looked down at the LCD screen and smiled to see Steve’s name. “Excuse me, James.” She engaged the button to raise the privacy screen from the two of them and James answered with a wave of his hand.
“Hello, big brother,” she said when she flipped the phone open.
“So how’s it going?” he asked, his voice full of unrestrained enthusiasm.
“I’m heading there now.”
“How are you getting there?” His tone quickly changed to horrified and almost made her laugh aloud.
“Relax; I took advantage of the perks provided by the company. I’m using the limo service.”
“Smart! How’s the dress?”
She looked down at the deep red dress and sighed. I feel like a real lady. “I love it. I can’t believe how right on the mark you were in choosing this one for me. I
She looked down at the deep red dress and sighed. I feel like a real lady. “I love it. I can’t believe how right on the mark you were in choosing this one for me. I
couldn’t have done better. And, tell Mark thank you for his help with hair and make-up.”
“I have great taste. Besides you needed to get out of those pantsuits for awhile. Good grief I feel like your sister and not your older brother.” Tamara laughed at the idea. “Stop laughing at me.”
“Why did you call anyway? Being nosey?”
“No, I wanted to tell you to be careful. There’s a snow storm heading our way.”
She looked out the darkened window, but the tint allowed very little light in. She looked up and out of the moon roof. Cloudy skies blocked her view of any stars. “Is it bad?”
“Honey, this is Connecticut
“Great.” Her mind ran rampant with alternative plans in case of a disaster, and she let a new opportunity arise. “You know, big brother, I could see this in one of two ways. One—the positive note—it would definitely give the right mood for the Christmas party. Two—not so encouraging—it would leave many people stranded for the next few days.”
“Yeah, like you and Griffin
“What are you and Mark going to do this evening?” she asked getting the focus off the storm…Griffin
“Bundle up and brave the cold in bed.”
Tamara laughed again. “Is it going to be that bad a storm?”
“Who knows, I’m hoping for a chance to keep him at home for a couple of days.” Steve’s snicker had a playful vibe. “Maybe if fate plays fairly, you and your boss will get stuck together in the mountains.”
“Yeah, the two of us and about forty other guests. Not exactly what I am looking forward to if you know what I mean.”
“You never know. Your knight in shining armor may arrange the storm to hold off until every guest goes home leaving you two stranded for days,” he joked with an evil chuckle.
“Sadist! Oh, but from your mouth to God’s ear. Somehow I don’t think that even the great Griffin Michel can put off the snow storm if it has a mind set to come in before the party ends.”
“According to you, he can do anything.”
