The Magic Of Christmas Read Free Page A

unusual thing about a day that hadn't been normal from the moment he had woken up alone in his bed.
    Alexandra's eyebrows shot up a little.  "But you never want auburn.  Never.  You're adamant about that."  Then she shrugged, as if his choice didn't bother her, even though he knew she had to be burning with a dozen or more questions that she wanted answered.  "But whatever.  You're the boss."  She added a wink for good measure, as if that might help him change his mind where she was concerned.  He could have told her not to bother.  It wouldn't.
    He also knew that once the show ended, she would badger him incessantly about his hair color choice for the evening.  She wouldn't do it before.  Too much risk of throwing him off his game before a performance.  But afterwards?  Then, all bets were off.
    "I am," he said, crossing his arms over his chest, not missing the way her gaze strayed back to his body, as if she couldn't help herself.  She probably couldn't.  There was no doubt what she wanted and she was growing restless waiting for him to come to her.  That made her potentially untrustworthy.  And worse, potentially dangerous.  She wanted him and he had no idea how far she would go to get him.  Perhaps it was time for Alexandra to find a new position.
    Then, he heard the voice of the master of ceremonies getting the crowd warmed up.  It was almost show time.
    "Go, Alexandra.  Now."  He inclined his head towards the door before reaching down to pick up the case that held his specialty contact lenses.  "Auburn hair.  Mahogany.  Whatever.  Just find me a woman that fits me description."
    Her hand on the door, Alexandra opened her mouth as if to say something and then apparently thought better of it.  Instead she nodded.  "As you wish, Drake.  As you wish."
    Then, she was gone and he sighed in exasperation, the contact case still clutched in his hand.  Her words just now had echoed a line from one of his favorite movies.  Alexandra was telling him how she felt.  Except that he didn't return her feelings.  He never would.
    As he turned back to the mirror to put in the lenses that would turn his eyes to an impenetrable coal black hue, he knew that tonight would be Alexandra's last performance as his assistant.  He could never be what she wanted.  He could never give her his heart.  He had given it away long ago.  And he had no intention of asking for it back.

Chapter Two

    "I don't know why I agreed to come tonight.  I'm only dragging you two down."  Cecilia Linden fidgeted in her seat, fingering the playbill in her hand, trying to keep her eyes from straying to the cover yet again.
    "Because you need a night out and you also need to get out of your own head.  That's why."  Cecilia's best friend Amanda Payne gave her what could only be described as a cheerful smile - because Amanda was never anything less than cheerful.  "And you're not dragging us down."
    That earned a snort of disbelief from the woman sitting on the other side of Cecilia.  "Yes, she is and she damn well knows it."  Cecilia's other best friend Lily Carlysle chimed in.  "But we still love you, Cee, so I guess it's okay."  Lily smiled as well, but it was more in annoyance than anything.  
    Lily had never been able to fully understand some of Cecilia's more quirky personality traits, but she was still loyal to a fault.  Even if she often thought Cecilia, or Cee as she called her, was being a "typical simpering female," as she so often phrased it.
    Amanda reached over and patted Cecilia's hand.  "Look, it's just one night and one magic show.  We're not talking a lifetime commitment or anything.  Just a few hours."  Then she tugged the already well-worn program out of Cecilia's hands.  "And honestly, honey, this guy?"  She nodded in the direction of the playbill where the magician's sinfully handsome face looked back at the them.  "This is not Logan.  Trust me.  This man is way too handsome and sexy to be