by Ford, Mia
“Thank you. I think it will be better for the summer.” I agreed, feeling his lips against my neck. “Later, baby. Let’s get the kids to bed early.”
He did, and that was the night that Mira was conceived, give or take.
The wedding was beautiful, and I cried throughout the ceremony. Press looked like he was on the verge of tears the entire time as he stared at Emma, who looked like a princess. David’s parents were smiling as they watched, and Mel wiped at her cheeks. I saw the way that Miles looked at her and smiled at the idea of their wedding down the line.
After the ceremony, the party was filled with food and fun. We danced and drank since the kids had a nanny once it got too late for them. There were two college girls in a suite with them and I loved being with my husband as I danced in his arms. He held me as we listened to the waves crashing against the sand in the distance, stroking my back as I closed my eyes.
Everything was so perfect.
We enjoyed a few lazy days on the beach before heading back to Seattle for the tour. The single guys had their bus while we shared one with Brent and his family. There were enough beds for everyone and room to play while we were driving. I couldn’t believe this was my life.
I worked on projects on the road while we drove, and David wrote. Having the kids in a confined space was good for us and we made the most of it. They slept well as we drove at night after the shows and I made love to my freshly showered husband.
It was in Europe at the tail end of the tour that I realized the strong coffee was bothering me. I hated it but cried as I told David, feeling his arms around me. He was so happy, and I kissed him as he told me over and over.
Mira was born just before Mel’s wedding to Miles and was in my arms as I watched the couple say their vows in a large church in the city. David was beside me with his arm wrapped around me tightly and we were surrounded by friends and family.
Emma was the mom of a seven-month-old son named Barclay and I expected my sister to pop any time with her latest baby. The family was growing into something wonderful and I kissed David’s jaw as our daughter stirred in my arms. “I love you,” I whispered as he chuckled.
“No more babies, Aubrey. I love you, but this is enough.” I was the only one to hear his words and laughed at him as I assured him the shop was closed.
Everything was the way it was supposed to be, and I let my head drop to his shoulder.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed reading the story. If you are looking for another panty melting Christmas romance, then you would definitely enjoy “That Christmas Eve”, which was an Amazon TOP 25 book a few days back. I have included a sneak peak of “That Christmas Eve for your reading pleasure on the following pages!
Enjoy Yourself!
* * *
40
Sneak Peak: That Christmas Eve
“Are you sh*tting me?”
He is my brother’s best friend?
That hunk of muscle attached to a killer smile and light-my-fire eyes? That billionaire who sizzles my insides every time he says my name?
I didn’t have a choice. I got him alone during our Christmas Eve party, and I told him to unwrap his gift. Me.
But Josiah left me with an unexpected gift of his own. A bouncing baby that’s the spitting image of him.
I can’t believe my family hasn’t figured it out.
They think I’m some sex-crazed maniac who can’t say no to men.
But Josiah’s the only one I’ve ever really wanted.
And now he’s back. And I’m f*cked.
Because I still want him. And I know he still wants me.
But bad boys don’t want babies, they want babes.
Can I tell him the truth without losing him forever?
* * *
Chapter 1: Josiah
The smell of Christmas fills the air. I don’t know what the smell is exactly, I can’t describe it with words, but it’s here, all around me regardless. Or maybe it isn’t the smell, perhaps it’s the atmosphere instead. Everyone gets so excited at this time of the year, and it’s infectious. Even for me, who doesn’t have a family to go home to for the holiday season. That’s something I should be used to, but it still hits me every single year.
“This business is incredible, Josiah,” my childhood friend, Dax, declares proudly. “You are so lucky.”
“I know I am,” I reply quietly. “Trust me, this isn’t something that I take for granted.”
I inherited Allen Industries, a very successful shipping company from my parents when I hit eighteen years old and was finally old enough to leave the care system. They might have been killed in a car accident when I was three years old, too young to really remember them, but they still left me this. It was run by the same manager that I still have employed on the staff for all those years, and it’s still just as successful right now.
“Some of us really hit the nail on the head, huh?” Dax smiles and nudges me in the side. “I left that orphanarium with nothing and you have this. My parents had nothing in life and I still don’t have it now.”
Guilt weighs down on me. I didn’t bring Dax here to show off and now I’m a bit worried that’s how it comes across. When he called, I just told him to meet me here because I thought it would be easier.
“So, what are you doing with yourself these days?” I ask awkwardly while brushing my shoe on the floor.
“I’m working in an office that sells stationary, but to be honest it isn’t a great pay. I just need someone to give me a chance, you know? I might not have the best education in the world, but I’m hard working…”
A light bulb pops above my head as an idea that I hadn’t even considered comes to mind. “You could come and work here. I need someone to run the admin side of things if you think that would suit you?”
“Oh no!” Dax immediately looks embarrassed. “I wasn’t saying it for that.”
“I know you weren’t. But it’s perfect, isn’t it?” I grin at him. “And I only like to employ people I trust.”
“No, but I’m not trying to beg for charity. You don’t have to do this for me, I don’t…”
“Dax.” I sling my arm over his shoulder. “Please, will you come and work for me? I need you. You will be doing me a favor. I am not asking you for any other reason than I want you to work for me.”
It takes him a few moments, but he eventually bursts out into a grin. “Oh, go on then! My Christmas gift.”
I chuckle and nod. “Well, it’s mine as well. Because I know how good you will be.”
I know that I’ve done a really good thing when Dax smiles genuinely at me. Just like I haven’t had the easiest upbringing, he hasn’t either. He was a little older than me when he came into the care system, almost eight years old, but his situation was different. He got taken off his parents because of their excessive drug use. He was virtually neglected. In a terrible state when he turned up. But over time he came out of his shell.
He went back into it when he learned that his mother died when he was fourteen years old and that his father had gone to prison in connection with it. As far as I know, he never wanted to learn any more details than that.
I know my life has been hard, but I still feel like I’m lucky. At least I have all of this.
“So, what are your plans for the holiday?” Dax asks me sensitively. He knows how hard a question this is. “I’ve just been invited to spend time with Violet for Christmas, which I suppose is a good thing.”
“Wow, things are going really well for the pair of you then! That’s exciting.”
“Yeah, I think she might be the one, you know?” His smile to himself says it all.
I don’t know if I necessarily believe in ‘the one’, but I nod along anyway. It’s definitely rude to say that to someone who is deep in the throne of love. “Well, I think I’ll probably have a dinner for one.”
“Oh no, really?” Dax furrows his eyebrows with concern. “That’s no good.”
“Oh, you know me,
I’ll be fine. I’ll probably find some party or another to go to.”
“Oh, to be single.” I can tell that Dax is only trying to be nice as he says this. “Must be nice.”
“Hmm yes. Permanently single. That’s me.” I grin. “Or maybe I haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“Well, you are only twenty-eight years old, aren’t you? There’s still lots of time.”
With that, me and Dax run out of small talk, so it’s time for him to go. He makes his way outside and I follow fairly close behind. We have been on skeleton staff for the last few days, and no one at all but me has been in today. I couldn’t ask any of the staff to come in on Christmas Eve.
Once the door is locked, I stare up at the building I have inherited and count my blessings once more. I really have been set up for life. And although it wasn’t ideal, I came from very humble beginnings, so I appreciate where I am now. Every good thing that happens to me feels amazing. So, my Christmas might be lonely, but at least I have enough money in the bank so that I never ever have to struggle again.
Ring, ring… Ring, ring…
I snatch my cell phone out of my pocket quickly, glad to have someone to talk to. I don’t recognize the number but that doesn’t matter. I get lots of calls that I don’t know where they come from, so I hit answer right away.
“Hello, Josiah Allen speaking.” I’m formal, just in case I need to be.
“Oh, Josiah, hi!” a female, giggling voice replies. “It’s Charlotte. We met at that underwear party, do you remember?” She doesn’t wait for me to answer which is probably for the best. I met a fair few women at that party and actually ended up going home with two of them. “Are you up to anything for Christmas?”
“Er...” I don’t know how to answer that. I’m definitely not up for having a meal with someone I don’t know.
“We’re having another party. A night wear one this time, but you know us lot. Most of what we wear to bed is lingerie anyway, so it should be really fun.” This comes with a lot more giggling which makes me roll my eyes. “It would be better if you were there too. A lot of the girls had a good time with you that night.”
“A party?” I wasn’t being serious when I said that to Dax, but now it isn’t the worst idea in the world. “Hmm, I don’t see why not. Where is this party? I will see if I can fit it into the schedule.”
“It’s all day long. Starting at eleven AM and runs until the early hours of the morning. At Annie’s.”
That isn’t too far away from mine, so maybe I will find myself there if I end up lonely. “Maybe I will.”
“Just say that Charlotte invited you and you’ll have no trouble getting in.”
I bite down on my bottom lip to avoid an outburst. I get in anywhere just based on my name. “Sure.”
“I will make sure that I’m wearing the red lacy piece that you liked so much last time.” That probably should clear things up for me, but it doesn’t. I remember a lot of red underwear. “Then maybe we can see what happens between me and you. We didn’t get to go home together, did we? That was a big shame…”
I tune out the rest of her talking and start to walk. She’s flirting with me, but I’m not really in the mood for it tonight. If I wanted to, I think I could get her to my house tonight in a heartbeat, but I don’t want to be with a stranger. I would rather enjoy my own company, or that of someone I know. I won’t hang up though, just in case I change my mind tomorrow and I do want to go to some party. There’s always a chance.
I think about Dax and his girlfriend, wondering if that would ever be me, but I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’m cut out for commitment and if real love would ever happen for me. I guess some people just can’t…
“Oh, my goodness!” All of a sudden, I spot my greatest friend ever across the road. Adam Jones. He wasn’t in the care system with me, I went to high school with him, but our bond has always been strong. When the other kids found out that I lived in an orphaniarium, they started to systematically tease me, until he shut them all down with a few short words. His popularity immediately made his words carry weight, and it stopped. We became the best of friends then and have always been friends since. The sort of friends that don’t need to see each other every day to keep up our bond. “Charlotte, I have to go. I will see you tomorrow.”
I cut off the call and make my way over to Adam with a giant grin on my face. He seems to sense me coming towards him and he turns with a big smile on his face. “Hey, Josiah! How are things with you?”
He hugs me tight so my answer muffles into the shoulder of his expensive coat. “I’m good. How are you?”
Adam pulls back and pats me on the shoulder. “All good, mate. Same old. Same old. You know how it is. Busy with work. Even at this time of year accounting seems to keep me very busy.”
“People always need help with their finances, I suppose. Nothing will change that.” I glance at all the bags in Adam’s hands. “Ooh, you doing a bit of food shopping? Turning all domestic?”
“Food shopping for Christmas Day.” He glances around him as if he fears someone might be listening. “But I probably have time for a quick drink if you fancy it? There are nice bars around here, aren’t there?”
I nod agreeably. “Only the best, which is why I’m glad the office is here. Let’s go.”
We head to one of my favorite places which is always warm and has a welcoming atmosphere to it. Lots of professionals drink here, it’s always filled with men in suits, which means they sell the best spirits around. It’s extravagant, but I love the expensive whiskeys here. It isn’t the sort of thing that I thought I would ever be able to afford, but now I can so why the hell not? My parents did leave me the money to spend.
The bartender recognizes me and sends me a wink. We did hook up once when I first started to hang out in this bar, but never again and now she’s just my friend. Daisy is a sweet girl but not for me. Although she starts eyeing up Adam with lust which could turn out to be a very interesting surprise. Who knows?
We order our drinks and take a seat by the table to watch the coldness of the world go by while we sit in the warmth. Adam tucks his bags under the table and leans on it wearily.
“I need this, I have to say,” Adam gasps. “It’s been a very stressful few weeks.”
“Oh yeah, your family always goes a bit mental over Christmas, don’t they?”
Adam rolls his eyes. “Oh yes, always. They are terrible for it. But they are worse this year.”
“Why is that?” I sip the drink and relish in the warmth that slides down my throat.
“Paisley is finally back from college, to stay this time, so it needs to be a big affair.”
I can hardly remember Paisley to be honest, only that she used to wear her red hair in pig tails. She was always around as Adam’s sister, but never in our lives as such. There is a five-year age gap between Adam, me, and Paisley, so she was just too young for us to be bothered with… but I’m sure it will be nice to see her.
“Oh, that should be nice… or interesting,” I chuckle. “Busier than my Christmas anyway.”
“Hey! You should come to ours for Christmas… if you can handle it.”
“Thank you for the offer, Adam, and I would be able to handle it, but I don’t think your parents like me.”
“They do!” Adam shoots back, but even he sounds unsure about it. “They like you, don’t worry.”
“No, they don’t. They never have. I haven’t ever been good enough to be your friend.”
Even Adam can’t disagree with this. His parents are very strict, orthodox, their whole life is structured. I was always this wild boy who came from the care system and threatened to tear their son off onto the wrong side of the tracks. I suppose it didn’t help that I encouraged Adam to throw a house party once while they were out of town. It was very tame, and nothing got damaged, they might not have even found out if someone hadn’t been stupid enough to try and flush a condom down the toilet. Idiot.
He was banned from spe
nding time with me for a long time then, not that he listened, but I’m sure that ban has been lifted now. We’re nearly thirty years old, we can do what the hell we want.
“Let me call Mom now.” He pulls out his cell phone. “And we’ll see.”
I listen to Adam making the call with a grin on my face. I can hear his mother very unsure about the whole thing but also not wanting to come across as rude. I don’t want to impose, but I do want to spend more time with Adam, so if the offer does come around then I think I will take it up. Adam’s family might be cold, but his house is warm, and I do have a lot of good memories there. It would be nice to revisit that.
“Right.” Adam hangs up the phone and wiggles his finger at me. “She said yes so let’s finish up our drinks and go now. You can stay on the floor in my room and stick around for breakfast in the morning.”
I suck back the rest of my drink and raise in to a standing position. As Adam leans down to grab his bags I take some of them for him. Helping will be a good start when it comes to his parents.
“Let’s stop on the way so I can get a nice bottle of drink… warm your parents up to me.”
“Good idea. But I do think they will be too distracted by Paisley to notice.”
“Where did Paisley go to college? What did she study?” The more information I have, the easier conversation will flow, I don’t want it to get awkward. “She has been gone quite a while, hasn’t she?”
“Yeah, she has. She did a law degree and something else after that… I can’t remember what exactly.” He offers a one shouldered shrug. “She might tell us all about it when we get back anyway.”
I try hard to place Paisley, but she still isn’t really there. Maybe once I spend a bit of time with her again, everything will become clear. She can’t just be Adam’s younger sister anymore; she must have grown up a lot.