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Holiday Magic [MultiFormat]
eBook by Diana Castilleja
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$2.99 |
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$2.54 |
eBook Category: Romance
eBook Description: Lola Beckham is a hard working single mother, caring for her deaf son. Her ex-husband left her early in their marriage out of youthful ignorance and an inability to cope with a child with a handicap. She has managed, and over time, Bennie has regained a relationship with his father and his current wife and children. Lola is glad for the family Bennie has and is thankful that Rick has matured enough to share his twin daughters and life with his son. She only wonders when she'll be able to stop living as a statistic and find a man who can accept her and the responsibility of her life and son.
eBook Publisher: Forbidden Publications, Published: 2006, 2006
Fictionwise Release Date: June 2007
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [309 KB], eReader (PDB) [75 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [43 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [41 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [122 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [109 KB], hiebook (KML) [160 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [131 KB], iSilo (PDB) [37 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [57 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [114 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [64 KB]
Words: 13329
Reading time: 38-53 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
A tap on the bedroom doorframe got both of their attentions. Her son stood there, his expression awed. Bennie's hands spoke for him. Wow! Mom ... You're beautiful. Butterflies had multiplied but she still felt a sense of satisfaction in his praise. She touched her fingers to her chin. "Thank you, honey." She lifted her hand to the curls Missy had managed to coax out of her hair, wide looping waves, but her hand was smacked for even trying. "Don't you mess with those. The pins will keep them in place if you don't mangle them first." Lola glared at her friend in the mirror. "I won't." She bit her lip in the next instant. Missy met her worried expression in the reflection. "Don't worry. It's a date. If you don't come here, I'll bring Bennie home in the morning," she added quietly with a wink to boost her nerves. A knock on the front door announced her last chance of escape was gone. "Would you answer that?" she asked Missy. "I want to tell Bennie goodnight." Missy smiled and left. Lola brought him into the room and wrapped him into a quick hug, then caught his gaze. She knew he was reading her lips as much as her sign language. "You're going to behave, right?" He nodded quickly. "I won't be back before you go to bed." His hands flew. Mom, I'm nine. Almost ten. Jules and Dad go out on dates. Tina and Gina tell me about their babysitter. She bit back the smile, caressing his hair instead. "You're getting too big." "Oh, mama," Missy breathed when she reached the doorway. She looked over her shoulder toward the front door, speaking quietly. "Can I order one of him for Christmas morning? The man knows how to dress." Lola giggled. "I'll see if Santa is working overtime this year." She ran a hand down the length of her dress. "Thanks for keeping him overnight and for letting me borrow this." Missy waved a hand. "Dry clean it when you're done." She purposely moved out of the door. "Now go have some fun." Lola took an unsteady step, but her next one was stronger. She cleared the hallway to the front of Missy's apartment and stopped short at what she saw. Missy was right. Greg was undeniably handsome in a dark suit covered by a long black winter trencher. His hair was short, rich chocolate brown like his eyes. She could just make out the glimmer of snow flakes on his shoulders. He had strong, classic features, framed by the thin silver wire glasses he wore. He looked like the boy next door type and when he smiled his entire face became animated. "You look incredible," he whispered with a touch of awe. "Thank you." Lola swallowed, wondering just how bad she was blushing. Missy walked up with her coat. "Stay warm." Greg slipped the coat from Missy and helped Lola shrug it onto her own shoulders. "Ready?" he asked. Lola turned and gave a final blown kiss to Bennie. When Greg noticed him, he waved hello. Bennie lifted a hand in reply, then they were out the door. * * * *Street lamps were decorated with lit ironwork trees and wreaths, with long cords of lights stretched between the buildings. A light snow fell outside, but the inside of the limo was warm, and Greg had even brought a blanket to wrap her feet into. She was sitting in stunned quiet wonder at the whole evening. Discovering the limo at the bottom of the walk, the dozen roses waiting for her on the seat; it was all making her feel a lot like Cinderella. Greg was being a perfect gentleman too, lightly holding her hand as they approached the hotel. When the limo stopped, the driver opened the door and Greg helped her out, only releasing her long enough to tag their coats. "Don't be nervous," he whispered. "I know everyone, and they are an easy bunch to talk to." She gave him a bright smile. "I'm not nervous. I'm kind of excited really. I can't remember the last date I was on." "I'm just sorry our first one is in a huge gathering." He leaned down. "I could see taking you to a movie and sitting way up in the corner." He gently nuzzled her neck, and a hot ache slid down her spine. She arched a telling brow at him. "You still may get to." A jovial laugh and a slapped hand on his back brought him upright again. "Ramsey!" "Clark," he answered with an enthused handshake. "So you weren't kidding. You really are here this year." Greg chuckled and wrapped an arm around Lola's waist. "But I swear, it's not to see who does the lamp dance first." Clark laughed deeply. "I think Nora has us all beat on that. Took her less than three drinks last year." He winked at Lola and said, "So who is your lovely lady here? I don't recall seeing her at the office." He waggled thick graying eyebrows at Lola. She relaxed further into Greg's side, enjoying Clark's jovial welcome. "Nope," she answered first. Greg smiled warmly down at her. "She's my Christmas wish." "But it's not Christmas yet," Clark said. Lola ignored the thrill his words gave her. Her first thought was that Greg was nuts. The second was the instant he realized Bennie was handicapped; it was going to be over. She had tonight, one night to believe it was perfect. "Lola Beckham, meet Clark Johnson. He's one of the firm's partners." "Nice to meet you." He gave her a warm handshake. She followed at Greg's tug. "Let's go shake it up." He tilted his chin toward the crowd further in the room. Several in the crowd stopped him to say hi, calling him Ramsey, or Mr. Ramsey. Only a few called him Greg. As they strolled along, she saw the winter wonderland decorations throughout, paper-maché snowflakes, and glitter adorned ornaments hanging from the ceiling. There was even a large Christmas tree in the corner of the room with wrapped packages under it on a bed of white. They ate at the catered tables, sipping on champagne. Lola couldn't remember the last time she'd been so relaxed. Or had this much fun just being with adults. "So, you know I'm an architect," he said, talking quietly while they slow danced on the hardwood floor. Shadows moved with them in the low lighting. "We never did get to talk about what you do." "Just a secretary. Nothing flashy." "In what field?" "I work for the SixField Music Studio." He nodded. "Good place to work?" "I've been there for more than six years." She spotted a playful grin lurking on his lips. "Meet anyone famous?" The grin was matched by a glow in his gaze. "Not really. Just a few people really." She closed her eyes as if thinking really hard. "What was her name? Oh, now I remember. Reba McEntire." He froze on the dance floor. "You met Reba McEntire and you didn't know who she was?" She tapped his shoulder, laughing at his reaction. "Of course I knew who she was! She's very sweet and has that lilting twang in her voice no matter what she says." He shook his head at her. "You have a wide playful streak. I'm going to have to be careful around you." He pulled her a little closer. She felt the way his hands shaped her bare back in the dress and loved every caressing touch. "You look so beautiful tonight." He lowered his head to breathe those words into her ear. "You have no idea how many times I pictured how you would look tonight, and you blew all my fantasies out of the water." She leaned back in his arms. "Greg. Do you hear yourself? We hardly know each other." "And all I did was tell you I'm attracted to you," he whispered against her neck. "It's Christmas. Believe in miracles with me."
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