The Magic Of Christmas Read Free

and put some serious thought into what came next in his life.  He couldn't live an illusion forever, and he found that, at thirty-two, he was becoming tired of trying.
    He didn't have any more time to mull over his situation however, when a light knock sounded at his dressing room door, followed by the low, purring voice of Alexandra, his on-stage assistant.
    "I was hoping you  weren't  decent for once," she sighed, her sexy and seductive gaze raking over his body.  "After all, a girl has needs.  And I really need to see all of you, my darling Drake.  Preferably naked."
    And that was precisely why Drake was always dressed and completely in control in Alexandra's presence.  He trusted her as much as anyone, he supposed - which wasn't saying much - but he was also well aware that she had her own goals and ambitions.  Number one on the list, unfortunately, was to become Mrs. Drake Vale, something he was not about to allow to happen.  He simply didn't want her that way.
    "I'm always decent," he replied fixing her with his dark, impenetrable gaze, his eyes more dark brown tonight than the lighter amber that was his normal color.  "That will never change, Alexandra."
    She tossed her head in what she thought was a flirty manner, her long curtain of blonde hair swinging gracefully around her.  "A lady can always hope."  Then she reached out to touch him, perhaps to try to run a hand down his bicep, the way she did when she was feeling flirty and sexual.  This time she stopped short however, as if sensing that his mood wasn't the best.  "But then you know that.  Just as you know that I'm staying with the rest of the crew at the hotel out by the airport, if you're looking for a little company tonight."
    Drake never stayed with the rest of the crew, all the better to preserve the illusion.  He preferred small, out-of-the-way boutique hotels if he could manage it.  He was also extremely careful never to let slip precisely where he was staying.  If he wanted companionship for a night, he would seek a woman out.  He didn't want them littering the lobby, hoping for a glimpse of the famous - or perhaps infamous was a better word - Drake Vale.  "And I'm staying elsewhere.  Don't test me tonight, Alex.  I am not in the mood for your games.  We've been over this more than once.  I'm not interested."
    Running her fingers through her thick mane of hair, she tossed him a look of disgust.  "You might try sampling the wares once in awhile."  She ran her hands down over her curves before reaching back up to caress her breasts.  "It might do you some good.  You need something to release all that tension.  I can help.  If you let me."  Her voice was little more than a purr now, yet he felt nothing but revulsion at her words.
    Overt sexuality in a woman wasn't his thing.  It never had been.
    "Not interested."  He rose and put his glass on the table next to the open bottle, the one even Alexandra thought was vodka.
    "You'll come around," she teased, before shaking her head and returning to business.  "So can I get you a blonde tonight?" she asked, referring to the woman she would select from the audience to help him perform his signature illusion.  "You've been shying away from the other hair colors lately."
    Instead, he shook his head.  Here, in this town?  There was only one hair color he would select.  "No.  Tonight I want auburn hair.  Maybe one with a little red in there.  Mahogany."  He tried to tell himself that his choice of woman tonight had nothing to do with the fact that was Cecilia's hair color.  However a little voice inside of him reminded him that he had always been an abysmal liar.
    For as long as he had been performing his signature illusion, he had never picked an auburn haired woman from the audience.  Not once.  In fact, he was very strict with his rule that his assistant could pick a woman with any other hair color but auburn.  The very fact that he was breaking it tonight was one more