Ghosts of Christmas Passion Copyright © 2017 by Trinity Blacio
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
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Riverdale Avenue Books
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Cover by Scott Carpenter
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62601-425-1
An earlier version of this appeared as the short story “Christmas, Ghosts, Bondage Oh My” in an anthology published by Ravenous Romance in 2012.
First edition, December 2017
Chapter One
Toni stared at the big run-down Wyoming ranch she’d inherited from her grandfather. The snow was at least a foot high. She had been lucky the taxi was a four-wheel drive or she would have been hoofing it up the long drive. The screen door was half off its hinges, but it looked like all the windows had been replaced, which would be good for the cold winters here. She sighed. “Well, Grandpa, I finally made it here. Just wish you were here. We could have fixed this house up together.”
“Did you say something, miss?” the taxi driver asked as he put her luggage onto the snow-covered porch.
Toni pulled her coat tighter around her as the wind whistled around them. She smiled and handed him a 20. “No, just talking to myself. Thank you again.” Toni turned and helped him unload the groceries she had picked up on the way there. “Hold on. Let me get the door open so we can set the bags in there so they don’t get wet,” she said, digging the keys out and pushing the door open with her shoulder after working the skeleton key in.
“So, are you moving here?” He glanced back at her as he set three more bags on the steps.
“Yes, this is my new home.” She nodded, putting the keys back in her pocket and grabbing the last two bags of food. “Please let the power be on,” she murmured to herself. A musty smell rose up as she entered the hallway. She reached for the light switch and prayed.
“Yes!” The power was on, and at least she would have heat tonight. Peeking through doors, she finally found the kitchen in the back. Setting her two bags down, she scanned around the room. It was large and spacious with huge patio doors connecting to what appeared to be a newer porch. “Well, it looks like you started some construction, Grandpa. It’s beautiful. You always knew what I needed. Too bad I didn’t listen to you about Hank.” Tears slipped down her cheeks.
She strolled back to the door and picked up three more grocery bags as the taxi driver drove down the long stone road, leaving her alone with her pain. She shut the door, leaned against it and sighed. She’d wasted six years on the prick and all she had now was what her grandpa had left her.
Hank had used her, believing she would inherit a nice lump sum when her grandfather passed on. The joke had been on him, though. But Toni realized she was lucky to be alive. She shivered, cold inside as well as outside, thinking to how close she had come to death.
Toni had seen his true colors the weekend he had taken her away, but the day her grandfather’s will had been read, she final had seen the light. She could still hear his furious words when they had gotten home.
“I can’t believe that old fart left most of his money to the Cancer Society. You’re his last surviving relative and all you get is a run-down ranch. God, I wasted seven years. Well, no more.” With those words he’d packed his belongings and left. Shortly after, she found out he had stolen the money in her savings account, maxed out all her credit cards, and didn’t pay the rent for the past three months, leaving her homeless and broke, just in time for Christmas.
“Yippy, Merry Christmas to me." She smiled. "Bah humbug. Is that what the movie said, Grandpa? There will be no Christmas this year,” she said as she grabbed the last of the bags and moved back into the kitchen. She glanced around and saw the little radio. Turning it on, she snorted when she heard Christmas music.
"You just had to do that. Fine, I give, Grandpa." She put the groceries away singing, and began feeling a little normal, then Toni headed off to get her luggage to take it upstairs. The furniture she hadn't sold would arrive anytime. At least she would have her own bed tonight. Stepping out onto the porch, she stared at the snowflakes that had started to fall again.
Lifting her face to the sky, she stuck out her tongue to catch a few snowflakes like she did as a child. “Well, it looks like we might get a white Christmas after all, Grandpa.” She smiled, then reached down and made a snowball and threw it toward the fence. "Sad, Toni, real sad," she snorted when it fell a foot short of the fence. Kicking the snow on the ground, Toni remember the snow fights she and her grandfather had gotten into over the years. He always had loved a white Christmas. That was why he’d bought this ranch in Western Wyoming.
She lugged her suitcases into the house and headed upstairs in search of the master bedroom. Her boots clicked on the wooden floors as she moved up into the long hallway. She knew the house used wells for water, and with all the snow and rain she wouldn’t have to worry about not having enough water right now, unless the pipes were broken. Toni peeked into the first doorway and smiled at the old nursery. Maybe one day, she thought, loving the wooden cradle next to the window.
She closed the door and moved to the next one. Pushing it open with her foot, she gasped. The bedroom was huge. The old-fashioned king-size bed in the middle of the room was in perfect condition. She laughed and stepped inside, dropping her suitcases, then slowly turned, taking in every aspect of the room. A large stone fireplace on the outside wall had enough wood in it to start a fire. Next to it, a brand-new rocker sat facing sliding glass doors led out to a balcony. The new tags on the mattress brought tears to her eyes.
"We should be enjoying this place together. I'm so sorry, Grandpa."
He had always been thinking of her. Toni couldn't wait to see what else he had bought for her, because she knew he wouldn't have stopped here. She loved finding the little surprises he had left for her. It was almost as if he were there with her.
“Well, at least I have blankets in case the truck doesn’t show up.” She looked out the window. "You are making it impossible to be grumpy and scrooge-like, Grandpa. What's next, the three Christmas ghosts? If you send ghosts, can they be hot, hunky men that know how to treat a woman right? Because I sure can't pick them," Toni muttered.
She turned and went to the other door on the other side of the room. The large claw-footed bathtub at the far end was amazing, and she could easily see herself soaking in there with candles all around and music playing. The room would need cleaning, but that was the least of her problems, she thought as she studied the countertop and sink.
The bathroom cabinet would also have to be replaced if she wanted dual sinks. The doors on the cabinet were missing, the wood surface was cracked, and the sink was broken. The antique mirror above the cabinet needed to be cleaned, and the toilet seat was broken, but it would have to do for now. Toni flushed the toilet and sighed with relief when it worked.
Toni jumped as the fireplace hissed and flared on its own as she stepped out into the bedroom. “Okay, Grandpa,” she said as the wood crackled and burned, “what the hell is going on?” She stepped toward the fireplace and glanced around. “Ya know, I’m not Scrooge. I just need time.” She jumped when something tugged at her hair, making it fall out of
its tie and down around her waist. “Who’s here?” she screeched, turning in a complete circle, starting to feel like she was in the damn movie. Toni rubbed her arms and stood still, looking around and listening. Her grandfather always loved haunted places, but surely, he didn’t haunt this place.
“Okay, I get it there are ghosts and such. You’ve proved your point.”
Toni sighed.
“Listen up. I know you can hear me. I’m sorry if I’m treading on your space, but I have no other home to go to, so please don’t scare me anymore. I promise I won’t hurt your home. If anything, I just want to fix it up, slowly, real slow,” she muttered. Toni moved to her suitcases as the fire heated the room, and opened the one that held her blankets and sheets.
After spending a good hour putting her things away and cleaning up, Toni smiled and looked at the bedroom. The movers were 15 minutes away according to the GPS app on her phone, which showed her where they were. Toni was actually getting a little excited.
This was her new home. Her friend was close, and Toni could smell the smoke from her grandpa’s favorite pipe when she thought of him. She turned and headed down the stairs. She'd put her old bed in the guest room, which was at the end of the hallway.
As she walked into the family room, its fireplace blazed to life, and Toni grabbed her chest. “Could you give me some warning, please?”
She laughed and glanced around the room. She had found out earlier that the electrical work had been done two months ago, and she had made sure the cable guy would come tonight. She would have her internet and cable tonight to keep her company. The roar of a truck outside drew her attention and she laughed. Her furniture had arrived.
* * *
Two hours later, her cable guy had finally left, and Toni glared around the room. Beyond pissed. What should of taken 30 minutes ended up taking three times as long, the man’s tools disappearing, growls coming out of nowhere and to top it someone had made sure the poor man fell face first in the snow when he had been leaving.
“I don't know what the hell is your problem, but that was not funny. The poor man thought he was losing his mind. Do not do that again, especially when I have guests," she grumbled, glad the guy had stuck around to connect the internet after said ghosts had decided to play games with him.
Her furniture had all been moved into the house now. As her small TV played in the family room, she reached into the tiny fridge and pulled out a Pepsi and the sandwich she had made earlier. She carried them into the family room and sank into her couch, curling her feet underneath her. It was 5:00 p.m. and the news was on. She needed to know how much snow was forecast for tonight.
Toni needed a snow blower, and tomorrow she planned on going into town to check them out and see if she could find someone to plow her drive when it snowed. She also needed to go to the bank the lawyer had mentioned to her last week. He had called the night after Hank had left and said he had a letter from her grandpa, but he was instructed to give it to her when she was by herself. She smiled and pulled it out of the pocket of her jeans.
My dearest Toni,
I’m sorry you are reading this letter. Just know that you have been the joy of my life since your mother and father died so long ago, leaving us alone to fight the world together. As you know, my lawyer was instructed not to give you this letter in Hank’s presence. I’m sorry you had to find out the hard way what this man wanted after all this time.
But don’t worry, little one. I’ve taken great care choosing this home for you. Once you are settled, pay a visit to the local bank and talk to Mr. Mark Owens. I’ve set up an account for you there. It should be enough to last you for the next few years. I’ve also left a vehicle for you in the barn. You’ll need one with a good four-wheel drive to live here.
I hope you like the little surprises I’ve left for you. And don’t worry, I have a couple of people who will be watching over you.
I love you, Toni, and you’ll never be alone again. I promise.
—Grandpa
Chapter Two
Toni stuffed the letter back into her pants and glanced at the fire. She would need more wood before the night was out, and she wanted to check out the car her grandfather had left her. She got up, grabbed her boots and slipped them on, along with her coat.
A gentle breeze brushed by her as she opened the door, and she shook her head. “Well, it looks like you can move outside too.” She laughed and stepped outside, where a fresh inch of snow had fallen. Through the heavy clouds, she could see the sun setting.
She glanced at the side of the house and saw the wood piled against it. The barn stood off to the right of the house. As she slowly made her way to the barn, the cold wind blew the snow into drifts against it. She grabbed the wooden two-by-four that kept the barn door closed, lifted it, and pulled the door open.
Toni pushed the other door open to let what light was left inside the barn. Sure enough, a new 2017 Chevrolet Blazer sat inside the barn. She laughed, stepping inside, and ran her hand along the body of the dark blue truck. She opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat, then saw the envelope sticking out of the sun visor.
She grabbed it and opened it. The keys, the title, and another note were inside.
Hello again,
I knew you’d be out here the first day. You were always a nosy little girl. So have you met the gentlemen of the house yet? The one with the long blond hair is Drake, and the one with the red hair is Scott, if they haven’t already introduced themselves to you. I told them they better take good care of you if I couldn’t come back and watch over you. Hell, they’re most likely sitting in the car with you right now, reading over your shoulder. But don’t be frightened. They are good men even though they are ghosts, or whatever they are calling themselves. They are a bit rough, but what do you expect from 400-year-olds?
Anyway, they owed me a few favors, so now they will look after you. Also, I wanted to warn you that once Hank finds out you were not left broke, you need to watch yourself. He’ll be back. Don’t let your guard down, Toni. There is something wrong with that man. He’s evil. I could feel it in my bones before I passed on.
Love,
Grandpa
Toni sighed. "I'm glad you didn't truly know how dangerous he is." Once again, the tears rolled down her cheeks. She knew the ghosts were in the car because even though it was freezing outside, the inside of the car had warmed instantly when she got in.
“I hope you’re as good as Grandpa thinks you are, because if Hank does find out…” She shivered. “He’ll be back and he won’t leave until he gets something. God, I was such a fool. I should have left him years ago. Instead, I let his freaking cock persuade me to stay.” She shook her head and started the car. “Might as well pull you up close to the house so in the morning I don’t have to traipse out here and freeze my big butt off.”
“Ouch!” She turned and glanced in the backseat but saw nothing, rubbing the back of her head. “Why the hell did you just whack me in the head? Jeez, you’re supposed to be taking care of me, not hitting me.” She frowned.
“You have a nice firm ass! We don’t want to hear you cutting yourself down again, or it won’t be your head that gets smacked, but your ass. Don’t worry about this man. Let him come. We’ll teach him some manners.” She could have sworn the warm words had been whispered into her neck.
Toni backed the Blazer out of the barn, cussing to herself. The man’s voice not only turned her body to mush, but just the thought of someone spanking her almost made her moan. She couldn’t be turned on by ghosts, could she? Toni had lost her freaking mind. Next she'd be wishing the men could fuck her senseless so she could sleep without the nightmares. She snorted, putting the car in Park to get out and shut the barn doors.
As she reached for the handle, the door closed and locked by itself. “You guys are good. Now, do you also carry wood into the house?” She grinned as she climbed back into the car and backed it all the way up to the front of the house, where she put it in Park.
She opened the car door, grabbed her grandfather’s letter and the keys and stepped out into the snow. After she locked the door, her foot slipped on the ice and Toni waited for her ass to hit the ground, but it never did. Strong arms wrapped around her and steadied her.
“Thank you.” She frowned and cocked her head to the side. “I thought ghosts could only do so much. I mean, I’ve never even heard of them leaving a place and traveling.” She turned and saw the shape of a man with red hair appear near the woodpile. He piled the wood into his arms and turned to smile at her. She gasped.
“We aren’t ghosts. Your grandfather misunderstood. In time, you will understand. Come, you are cold.”
He held on to her as he helped her into the house.
Scott loaded the wood into the rack near the fireplace and placed a fresh log on the fire. For a ghost, or whatever he was, he sure had a fine ass.
“Damn it!” she grumbled and stomped into the kitchen, where she hung her coat on the peg near the patio door. She opened the fridge and grabbed a beer just as her cell phone rang.
She sighed and dug through her coat pocket for her phone.
“Hello.” She took a big gulp of beer and choked on it as Hank yelled from the other end of the line. She should have checked the phone number. Holding the phone away from her ear, she made her way back into the living room and kicked off her boots. Scott was gone, but the fire burned hot.
“Are you done, Hank? Because I don’t want to hear it anymore. Stay the hell away from me. We’re finished, and you’re not getting one more dime from me. Find some other sap to pick on and leave me alone. Oh, and if you think I'm afraid, think again. My new friend, M&P .40, will but a nice-sized hole in your thick skull.” She turned, hit End Call and had closed her eyes when the phone started ringing again.
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