by Shara Azod
Thinking back to the beginning of Christmas day, the last thing she remembered was kissing Audric, feeling his mouth on hers. Then he was gone in the blink of an eye, and she was back in her apartment dressed in her pajamas, staring down at the pills in her hand. It was once again half past ten on Christmas Eve. She was about to panic, thinking it had all just been a dream. However, when she picked up the bottle to return the pills to it, she saw the gift Audric had given her. Inside was a gold coin. After doing some research on the Internet, she learned that it was a soldidus from around the eleventh century Constantinople.
Also inside was a small scrap of paper with the name and telephone number of a law firm in New York. When she called it, a few days later, the receptionist passed her over to an Eric Worthington, who identified himself as an attorney. He not only told her that he had been expecting her call, but that his firm had been handling the affairs of the St. Sauveur family for many years. She’d taken a chance sending the coin to him but was surprised when she received a check for seven thousand eight hundred dollars by FedEx the day after New Year’s. It was indeed enough to set her life on a new course.
Angelique, the gallery owner, marched up to her with a smile as wide as the continental US on her face. “It sold,” she said, hugging her tightly.
Chrissana’s smile faded and her head lowered. She hoped it wasn’t the one of Audric’s house. Unfortunately, it was, as she saw Angelique dance over to slip a Sold card in the corner of the frame.
“What’s wrong?” Angelique asked when she returned to her.
Chrissana shook her head. “Oh, you know how some of us artists get attached to certain pieces. I had set the price at eight grand in the hopes that no one would buy it.”
“Child, you are strange.” Angelique shook her head. “Most artists I get in here act like whipped up puppies, jumping around all over the place to get a sale. Here, you act like you’re selling off your children.” She slipped her arm into Chrissana’s. “I’ll cheer you up. You need to meet this tall drink of sweet tea that just bought it. He’s really hot.”
Chrissana’s head snapped up and she saw Audric staring back at her.
“Mr. Audric St. Sauveur,” Angelique announced, “I’d like you to meet the artist of your fine purchase, Ms. Chrissana Martin.”
Audric set down his untouched champagne and took Chrissana’s hand, bringing it up to press his lips against the back of it. “A pleasure, Madam Martin,” he said, thickening his French accent.
“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Angelique purred in a sheepish tone. “Thank you for your purchase, Mr. St. Sauveur.” She held up what looked to be a check, slipping it inside the leather pouch she carried.
Chrissana checked out his black ensemble that was topped with a silver and black brocade jacket. His long hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. He had gone from looking like a king to a rock star. She noticed all of the women, and some of the men, casting longing looks in their direction. “I didn’t expect to ever see you in this neck of the woods,” she said.
“Is that so?” Audric chuckled. “Well, I thought I’d take some time off to see how you were getting along.”
“You knew very well how I was doing.” Chrissana smiled demurely, as they walked slowly over to his newly purchased painting.
“You were quite busy upon returning home, so I tried to stay out of the way,” he said, then lowering his lips to her ear. “It wasn’t easy.”
He backed up, looking her up and down in her long, blue evening dress. “You’re looking as beautiful as ever, and I must say, you have a certain glow about you—a certain joie de vivre, as my people would say.”
She leaned into him. “You could say I took your advice about taking charge of my life and doing what I love. Your gift certainly helped put me on track, and your nightly kisses and the roses I’d often find on my pillow made it bearable.”
They stopped before the painting.
Audric’s gaze looked it up and down. “You captured the detailing as though it were an actual portrait. I’m quite impressed,” he said. “I noticed you looked rather disappointed when you were told it sold. Why?”
Chrissana sighed. “I guess, because…it makes me feel close to you. I considered it something material I could connect with anytime.”
Audric looked down at her. “And you could say I bought it for the same reason.”
Chrissana looked up at him, and his gaze warmed her to where she was forced to wrap her arms around herself.
“Did you eat?” he asked.
“I did. I’m stuffed with hors d’oeuvres.”
“Good. For since I cannot partake of any fare and libations in these parts, I thought we’d do something else.”
“And what would that be, Monsieur St. Sauveur?”
“How about you take me to Victoria’s Secret?”
Chrissana looked around to see if anyone was in hearing range. “Are you serious?” she hissed.
“Oh, I am. Then later you can give me a private showing of all the silk delights I plan to get for you.”
He walked closer to the painting, hovering his hand over it, then whirled back around to face her. “And, of course, I’ll need help deciding where best to hang my new painting. You’ve never experienced summers in my parts. The forest is alive once again―butterflies, hummingbirds, and Dinnya has been inquiring about you.”
Chrissana gasped, unable to control her happiness. “I don’t know quite what to say, Audric.”
Audric closed the gap between them and bent to wrap his arms around her. And just before his lips met hers, he whispered in a staccato voice, “Just…say…now.”
Table of Contents
Title page
The Sexy Holiday Delights Box-Set
A Home For Christmas
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
After
Fruitcake: A C.A.K.E Story
Chapter 1: Nuts
Chapter 2: Spices
Chapter 3: Candied Fruits
Chapter 4: Spirits
Chapter 5: Dried Fruits
Chapter 6: Bake for 350 Degrees
Chapter 7: Packaging
Chapter 8: New Year’s Eve
Christmas in Canada
CAVEAT
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Epilogue
About the Author
The Twelve Craze of Christmas
Dedication
Chapter One: Bell in a Handbasket
Chapter Two: Acting the Yule
Chapter Three: Spruce’s Wild
Chapter Four: My Country ’Tis of Tree
Chapter Five: At All Frost
Chapter Six: Family, Friends and Bows
Chapter Seven: Surely, You Fest
Chapter Eight: Feast and Desist
Chapter Nine: Punishment will be Gift
Chapter Ten: Bent over a Carol
Chapter Eleven: And the Two of them Shall Eve
Epilogue: Cheer Ye! Cheer Ye!
Copyrights and Trademarks Acknowledgment Page
A Little Christmas Sugar
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Joy
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Epilogue
A Naughty Holiday Surprise
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
Other stories by Serenity King:
About the Author
Renewal
Thank You!
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
A Thigh High Christmas-The Redux
Preface
You’re Still Upset?
A Simple Plan Goes Awry
Last Tuesday
Wednesday - Morning
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
After Mass
The Big Reveal
The Christmas Healing