Ghost of Christmas Never

V Palmer Linda

Description

Libby has devoted her life to Mia ever since their parents died. Now Mia's marriage to Rob threatens all Libby's big plans for little sis, making it very hard to be happy for the couple. So far, Jake, big brother of the groom, has ignored Libby's pleas for help derailing the wedding train. In fact, he's actually footing the bill for their siblings' last-minute Christmas nuptials. And though Jake is good looking, smart, and funny, Libby is determined not to like him.When a winter whiteout results in a lodging crunch, Jake volunteers to share a room with Libby, who can't say no without making a scene. It's only when they're alone that she learns he has an ulterior motive for choosing this particular Ozark Mountain hotel for the honeymoon. Jake, host of a paranormal television show, hopes they'll be visited by the ghost supposedly haunting the old building. He's even focusing his video camera toward the bed he has graciously turned over to Libby. A ghost? Really? This cinches it. The guy is not only self-serving, he's clearly bonkers.But sometimes things aren't what they seem. A wedding that closes one door might open several others. And the guy who comes off as a jerk? Well, he could actually be kind of cool. As for the ghost Libby doesn't believe in...maybe he's only dropping by to nudge her in the right direction.

Sujets

• Short story

Informations

• Publié par: Uncial Press
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 0001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781601741509
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Ghost of Christmas Never
A Spooky NovelByte
 
By
Linda V. Palmer
 
 
Uncial Press       Aloha, Oregon 2012
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events described herein areproducts of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Anyresemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirelycoincidental.
ISBN 13: 978-1-60174-150-9 ISBN 10: 1-60174-150-2
The Ghost of Christmas Never Copyright © 2012 by Linda V. Palmer
Cover design Copyright © 2012 by Judith B. Glad
All rights reserved. Except for use in review, the reproduction or utilization of this workin whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known orhereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work isillegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, isinvestigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five (5) years in federal prison and a fine of$250,000.
Published by Uncial Press, an imprint of GCT, Inc.
Visit us at http://www.uncialpress.com
The Ghost of Christmas Never
Blah. Blah. "...kiss the bride." Blah.
All my hopes for Mia's future settled into a final, fatal nosedive when she kissed her newhusband. But I pasted a smile on my face and clapped along with the other three witnesses in therent-a-chapel, hoping everyone would think my tears resulted from joy.
"I now present Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brody." The justice of the peace, his piano-playingwife, and Rob's brother-slash-best man beamed at the bride and groom.
I couldn't bear to look at them until Mia turned to me and held out her arms. Of course Igave her the hug and the words she obviously expected. After all, her welfare had been myresponsibility for the past ten years, and even though she'd turned her life in a direction exactlyopposite to what I wanted, she was still my baby sis. "You make a beautiful bride."
"Thank you." She released me and moved to Rob's older brother Jake. Grinning like agoof, he lowered his video camera and scooped her up in a one-armed bear hug that made herlaugh.
"Congrats." Jake set Mia on her feet and turned to offer the groom a handshake. "You,too, bro."
"Thanks."
"There's some paperwork," said the JP, "and then you lovebirds had better hit the road. Idon't know where you're planning to honeymoon, but the streets are already treacherous, and thissnowstorm is just going to make things that much worse."
"I've never seen anything like it." The JP's wife handed Rob some papers. "Talk aboutyour white Christmases... This one's going to be a white out Christmas, instead, and it hashappened so fast."
Rob put an arm around his bride, who wore a brown off-the-shoulder sweater dress,tights and knee boots. He wore dark pants and a leather jacket, as did his brother. I'd gone withblack everything, to match my mood. "We'll be fine. Jake's reserved three rooms at the Starlight Inn,which isn't that far from here."
The silver-haired JP and his wife exchanged amused glances before she spoke. "I'venever stayed at the Starlight, but I hear it's as lovely on the inside as out. It's Eureka Springs' oldesthotel, you know, and supposedly haunted."
Rob burst out laughing and slapped his brother on the back. "So that's why you pickedit. Should've known."