A Ghost for Christmas

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2012 Kacey Hammell

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-211-1

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: JS Cook

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  Merry Christmas to everyone!

  Have a safe and Happy Holiday.

  I wish you the absolute best for the New Year!

  And to Sandra Sookoo…thanks for everything!

  I wish you all the joy and happiness you can stand!

  A GHOST FOR CHRISTMAS

  Romance on the Go

  Kacey Hammell

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  Jodie Gibson juggled the groceries and cursed the gloves on her hands, as she jammed her key into her front door. She really hated Ontario winters.

  The phone ringing was icing on the cake. Would this day never end?

  Once inside, she set the groceries onto the table, reached over to the counter and grabbed the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hey, bestie, how goes it?”

  Jodie chuckled and sat in a kitchen chair. “Fine, Portia. How was your day?”

  “You know how it is. Models and their demands. All in a day’s work. How about yours?”

  She sometimes wished her life was exciting like her best friend’s. As the assistant of a local fashion designer, Portia had access to the glitz and glamour at fashion shows, models and the who’s who of style. But the long hours weren’t for her, and she didn’t know how Portia could keep up with her social life. Of course, Portia could do anything she put her mind to and found it very easy to be around hundreds of people at a time. The woman was nothing if not a social butterfly.

  After getting up and pulling a bottle of Diet Coke from the refrigerator, Jodie scooped up the mail and headed into the living room. The one-bedroom apartment was ideal for her at this point in her life. She loved the cozy surroundings she came home to every day.

  “Same old, same old. What are you up to this long weekend? Want to get together?” Jodie replied, glad the day was over. Only two more to go, then she’d have a four-day weekend. Thankfully, Boxing Day and Christmas were just ahead.

  “I have to work. Clark has a show in Quebec, remember? Don’t you have anything on your calendar for the holidays?”

  “I did forget. I just have plans to read a few good books to pass the time. You know I don’t do a big thing at Christmas.”

  Sitting on her plush recliner loveseat, Jodie pressed the button on the side and situated herself comfortably into the microfiber cushions. She set her beverage on the side table, flipped through the mail, setting aside the weekly grocery flyers to peruse in length later. Hydro bill, telephone bill, addressed ad mail.

  A red envelope instantly caught her eye. She studied the back and front. No return address.

  Curious, she slid her index finger under the flap and pulled out the card. Merry Christmas in bright gold lettering intrigued her. She opened it.

  This gift invites you to four full days at the Oakes View Hotel in Niagara Falls. December 24 to the 26. Enjoy the holidays with us! Your room number is waiting for you.

  What the hell?

  Jodie grabbed the envelope again to confirm it was her address on the front.

  “You sure there’s nothing else you have to do? Nothing interesting in the mail lately?

  Jodie’s gaze narrowed onto the card beside her. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she said casually, “Nothing planned. Why do you ask?”

  “Oh, n-no r-reason.” She never heard Portia stutter. “Just thought you might take advantage of the time alone or something.”

  “What is going on?”

  “Nothing at all. Just curious. Did you get the mail today?”

  Certain her best friend was involved, she asked, “Do you know anything about this Christmas card I just got today?”

  “Oh my God! It came. Your gift came. So now you do have plans!” Portia screeched.

  “Wait! Stop. What is this all about? Did you arrange this?”

  “You have to go, Jodie! You can’t stay home all by yourself on Christmas!”

  “You know I don’t mind being by myself.”

  “I know, but with my not being able to get the time off, and your folks not coming home, I thought you would enjoy the time away. And not be alone! Besides,” Portia whined, “maybe you’ll meet someone.”

  “It’s Niagara Falls. In winter. I doubt there’s much of a singles’ scene going on. I’ll be surprised if there’s anyone around. It’ll be freezing.” Jodie read the card again, certain she was hallucinating.

  She loved her best friend for wanting to do something like this for her, but she preferred being close to home. And she would never have declared herself an adventurous woman to meet up with a stranger and go wild. For years, her friends told her to lighten up, relax, have fun and live a little. To her, working day in and day out, then coming home to curl up with a good book every single night constituted as fun. And she was having plenty of it.

  No one but Portia knew about the nights she spent indulging in every suspense and erotic romance she could get her hands on. She never told anyone else about the few fantasies she had.

  Clutching the invitation, she leaned her head back. “I don’t know about this. I never just take off without a lot of planning.”

  “Trust me, I know. But I also know how you dislike crowds. So this time of year is great for you. Just take a few days to yourself, enjoy the scenery and all that. You won’t regret it, I’m sure. And besides, you can’t turn down my gift, now can you?”

  Sighing, Jodie rolled her eyes. Portia never took no for an answer. “I wish you had spoken with me about this first. I don’t like surprises.”

  Although a wonderful and loving person, and they’d been through a lot together, she and Portia couldn’t be more different. Party-girl Portia wore short skirts and halter-tops that showed more skin than most women did in a bathing suit.

  Jodie, however, in her buttoned-up clothing, who hid her erotic romance paperbacks in thin Rubbermaid totes beneath her bed, saw no way she could accept the invitation. No matter how intriguing it might be. She was a junior accountant in a small company and took very few risks.

  “I’ve been so worried about you. You need to do something different. Hell, find some random dude and have a lot of safe sex. You’ve gone too long without.”

  Jodie cursed herself for ever confiding in her friend. “It’s only been about eighteen months since I dated Thomas!”

  “Eighteen months is like dinosaur years. You’ll forget how if you wait too much longer. You’re a very sexual woman, you need—”

  “Don’t talk about me and me being sexual, please. Really, I get it. You’re looking out for me, but I can handle my own sex life, thank you very much.”

  “And look at what you’ve done…still no dates or sex. Yeah, you’ve done wonders for yourself. Even if you don’t meet anyone, just go and enjoy the holiday. You work hard and deserve a break.”

  “Damn, Portia, I don’t know.”

  “Come on, just do something impulsive. For you. All for you.”

  Portia always knew what she needed. The break would be great and she didn’t want to spend the holida
ys alone. At least the change of scenery would be gorgeous.

  With a sigh, Jodie gave in. “All right. I’ll go.”

  She pulled the phone from her ear at Portia’s deafening screech.

  “Awesome! Okay, call me when you get back.”

  “I will if I need anything. Now, go, enjoy yourself with the show.”

  “You know I love ya, hun. Damn, I have to go. Clark’s on his way down to go over more details for the show. Bye.”

  “Bye.” Jodie hung up the phone, shaking her head.

  She stood, then headed down the hall to her bedroom. Jodie smiled. Portia was always so content on taking care of her she’d pull out any stop to do so. She had set her up on blind dates in the past, but this time, sending her on a trip for Christmas, with the hopes of her finding some stranger to spend the evening with? Jodie groaned.

  After closing the blinds in her room, she shed her work clothes, and donned a short, lacy, lavender teddy. It caressed her skin, causing her to shiver.

  Crawling up her bed, she stretched out and looked at the ceiling. Her fingers tickled over her belly, nails scraping the skin beneath. So many times she’d lain in this bed, dreaming of having someone beside her. None of her past boyfriends liked to cuddle and she’d always felt bereft after sex. She longed for her own knight in shining armor—as Cinderella-romantic as it sounded—to sweep her off her feet and hold her forever.

  An avid romance reader for years, she’d bought and inhaled everything in the genre. It wasn’t long before she found erotic romance novels, which quickly had her pulse racing and her body yearning for more than an occasional romp in bed. The men in those books always knew how to make a woman feel special, knew where to touch, what made a woman find complete satisfaction.

  She wanted that.

  She just never thought she’d be considering it while in Niagara Falls at Christmas.

  Rubbing her legs and the flats of her feet along the mattress, she continued to caress her stomach, the muscles quivering beneath.

  Sliding her fingers across her abdomen to her breast, she cupped it in her palm. She moaned, her breath exhaling in a rush. It had been too long since a man pleasured her body, let alone since she’d done self-pleasuring. She didn’t give herself gratification every time she read one of the stories she’d come to enjoy, but maybe she should do it more often.

  Her nipple peaked beneath her palm as she massaged her breast. She pulled and pinched, and wetness pooled between her thighs. She gave the same attention to the opposite side. Her nipples stood at attention and her breath hitched as she circled and pinched each one.

  Sliding her right hand down her stomach to her mound, she undid the snaps of the teddy. With a guttural moan, she spread the lips and found her clit. Her nipple beaded even tighter at the same time she squeezed the silky flesh. Jodie sucked her index and middle finger into her mouth, tasting her own juices before she moved them back to the nub.

  Circling rapidly as she massaged the swollen bud, wetness pooled in her pussy, and she shivered. Her clit pulsed and throbbed against her fingers, the need to find release increased as she imagined a tall, dark and handsome man looking down on her as she played with herself.

  Her gaze narrowed on the ceiling. In her mind, she imagined him watching at her, his gaze heating as she gave him a show. She slid her fingers from her clit and pushed them deep inside her pussy. Abandoning her breast, she lifted and held herself on her elbow, giving her a better angle to push in even farther inside.

  Slick with juices, Jodie fucked herself, hips moving in perfect harmonious rhythm. Sweat chilled her body. Her inner muscles clenched tight and held them snug inside her as quivers of a small orgasm began.

  Fingers still, wanting to prolong the explosive forthcoming release, she waited until the tremors subsided. Content with the small relief, she pushed them in deeper only to slide all the way back out. With a quick and forceful push, Jodie pleasured her pussy, fingertips hitting against her G-spot. Her hips lifted off the bed and her head fell back as a moan escaped her.

  No man in her past had ever pleasured her as well as she could herself. It was a sad fact, but there had been no one who really rocked her world.

  With a groan and breath quickening, she slammed her inside her. Her juices ran down her ass. They slid home again and again as she rocked her hips. She smiled and licked her lips.

  Swept up in all the electrifying nerve endings rioting through her body, she rushed toward release. More and more juices slipped from her body as she worked faster.

  With a deep breath, her fingers striking the top of her G-spot just right, she screamed. Her ass lifted and her back hit the bed as her release erupted from her and stole her breath. Her arm shook as aftershocks tingled throughout her body.

  Eyes wide, Jodie couldn’t believe what had just happened. She’d never been so absorbed in pleasuring herself, or so heavy-handed. Maybe it was just the fact that it had been so long since she had any kind of sex, but it had never been as quick or as gratifying to go at herself with such zealous abandon.

  Her pussy still throbbed as she withdrew her hand away. Jodie sighed deep, her body relaxed, and she curled on her side. She had to get up and take care of the damp comforter but she was like a limp noodle at the moment.

  Her thoughts drifted to Portia’s gift. Perhaps she could relax and maybe meet a man, learn more about herself and her sexual appetites. So set in her ways, she rarely threw caution to the wind and just lived.

  The thought of letting herself go, exploring new things and playing the field was a bit foreign to her. But it had to be better than the loneliness she currently endured.

  Day after day, night after night, she lived the same way—a boring, single life. She was the only one who could change things.

  And no man would just show up at her door as she sat on her ass every night, eating popcorn and staring at Alex O’Laughlin whenever she watched recorded episodes of Hawaii Five-O.

  What did she have to lose? Could she bring herself to drive the couple of hours to the Falls, spend a few days, and possibility of meeting someone? There were few prospects in her horizon and she never dated anyone from work. Not like there was much to choose from there, either.

  Sitting up, she scooted to the side of the bed and pulled a couple tissues from the box on the nightstand. Cleaning up the moisture between her thighs, she took a deep breath, and walked into the living room.

  A shiver ran down her spine in anticipation as she grabbed the invitation off the table beside the phone.

  She looked at the card again. At the bottom was a number to text and a four-digit code to confirm she would be coming. Since December twenty-fourth was three days away, she was in no way prepared to make the trip even if she’d wanted to. She was meticulous when packing for a trip, closing up her apartment and having control of all the details. She was not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of woman.

  Maybe it’s time you are.

  With a deep sigh, Jodie succumbed to the inevitable. She grabbed her purse off the table, and dug out her cell phone.

  Before she could change her mind, she started a new message, entered the phone number, punched in the four-digit code in the composing area, and hit send.

  Chapter Two

  Three days later, pulling her suitcase behind her, Jodie made her way to the hotel service desk to check in. After she sent her confirmation text, she’d received one immediately in return with a suite number.

  She’d second-guessed her decision repeatedly during the two-hour drive. Though she wasn’t sure if she would venture out with the hope there might be a single man hanging around.

  She’d craved contact with the opposite sex for months. If she didn’t meet anyone, then so be it. At least she’d have a few days away on her best friend’s dime.

  “Welcome to the Oakes View Hotel, Niagara Falls. How may I help you?” the clerk behind the desk greeted her.

  After setting the suitcase beside her, Jodie leaned against the counter an
d smiled at the short, balding man on the other side. “Hi, I need to sign in for Suite 3023

  .”

  Eddie, by his nametag, made quick work of the keyboard. “Yes, here you are, Jodie Gibson. The suite is one of our most popular. People come for miles to stay in it.”

  Jodie frowned. “The suite must have a fantastic view to have guests so interested.”

  “Yes,” Eddie smiled, eyes twinkling. “There are many things to see in that suite. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Here is your key. Do you need any assistance with your luggage?”

  Jodie found the man very odd. The way he looked at her, smiling secretively, was creeping her out. His hands were sweaty as he passed her the key. She made a mental note to dig out her hand sanitizer at her first chance. “Umm, no thank you.”

  “Very good. Enjoy your stay with us.”

  From your mouth to God’s ears.

  Jodie headed to the elevators to the left of the front desk. Entering, she showed the operator her key pass and waited as he punched the third floor button.

  At the ding, the young operator smiled. “Your suite is just to the right, ma’am.” He winked. “Do enjoy it.”

  The hotel staff was strange. She was curious what the big hoopla was over the suite. Very odd indeed.

  “Thank you.” Jodie smiled and exited. He barely looked legal age and had called her “ma’am,” something surely reserved for more mature women. She’d just hit thirty on her last birthday but didn’t feel old enough to be one.

  She had the urge to tell the young man such, but bit her tongue and thought better of it. He didn’t need to know her age.

  She stepped off the elevator and made a right, then walked along the corridor until she came to 3023.