Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Christmas Curse -- Released!

The Christmas Curse

For Molly Scott, everything bad in her life has happened during the Christmas season, from training bras in her stocking to being jilted by her fiancé. This year is no exception.

Ten days before Christmas, she arrives at work to find her department closed down and everyone laid off. Desperate, she takes a job for a singing telegram service and, dressed as Mrs. Claus, meets the man of her dreams--who turns out to be a nightmare--in a broken-down elevator. The Christmas Curse is right on track.
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WIN your own copy of this -- or your choice of ANY of my stories! It's easy...

Join the LASR "Let's Talk About Romance" Yahoo group and post a message--any message--between now and Friday. I'll draw a name from the posters to win, Win, WIN!!! If you already own all of my stories (and, hey--why wouldn't you??), I'll buy your choice of any other short story (miniature rose or rosette) from TWRP.

How's that for easy?

Just to whet your appetite, here is the excerpt from "The Christmas Curse":

Late as usual, Molly jogged toward the elevators. The one on the left was just closing, so she hollered, "Hold the door!" and leaped forward, slipping her arm inside the crack. She took a step and jammed the stiletto heel of her boot right into the crack where the elevator car met the floor. She teetered unsteadily, praying she wouldn't break a bone.

The doors lurched open and she lost any hope of staying upright when they did. She tumbled inside, heard the snap of her boot heel breaking and then tumbled onto another occupant, knocking them both to the barely padded floor.

"Oh no, I am so sorry!" She rolled to one side before sitting up to see who had cushioned her fall. The best looking man she'd ever seen lay on the floor, grinning up at her, and making no effort whatsoever to get to his feet.

"My pleasure." He propped his arms under his head. "Truly."

She jumped to her feet, forgetting she'd lost a heel in the door, lost her balance and fell again. At least she managed to land on her hands and knees above him like a bridge and didn't squash him.

"Sorry." She crawled to the door and wiggled the broken heel back and forth until it came out, wondering why the doors hadn't tried closing on her fingers. She glanced over her shoulder to find the man sitting up with his finger on the "Door Open" button.

"Thanks."

"No problem. What floor?"

"I need the penthouse, please."

"That's where I'm heading, too."

She pivoted away from his lopsided grin and nearly stepped on a rather small, ashen-faced man leaning in the corner. His body shuddered when the doors closed and the car started to move.

"Oh-kay…" She was stuck between drop-dead-handsome man and pasty-face man and had to figure out how to do her routine with a broken-heeled boot. She tucked said heel into one of the many pockets in her slicker lining and left the coat hanging open. She hoped the boot could be repaired. But because it was only a week before Christmas, she doubted she'd have any luck with that.

It was a little like the time, eight years before, when she'd performed an aria for the school Christmas program, unaware that two buttons on her dress were undone, thereby flashing the front of her ancient white bra, complete with holes and safety pins.

"So, you were invited to the party upstairs?" Handsome man broke into her thoughts. He climbed to his feet and moved beside her.

Molly nodded.

"I wasn't aware it was a costume party."

She crinkled her nose and shook her head. "I wouldn't know. I'm only the entertainment."

"Ahhh." He reached out a hand and flipped the bells on her collar. "So, Mrs. Claus, is the mister showing up tonight? Because, to be honest, I haven't been very good this year."

She had just opened her mouth to speak when the lights cut off and the elevator ground to a halt. Oh, dear heavens, she'd done it again.

14 comments:

Allie Boniface said...

I love this cover!

groovyoldlady said...

And I thought I was a clutz!

I WILL most certainly enter that contest!

(But tell me that there IS a nice guy for her later...)

Avery Gray said...

That sounds wonderful! (And I'll even pay for it!)

Hope you're doing well!

Melissa McClone said...

Congrats on the release, Marianne. I really liked the concept when you mentioned it before and I love the excerpt too! I need to add this one to my list. Holiday stories are my faves!

Brandy said...

Congratulations on the story's release!
It looks quite fun, I'll have to add it to my list.

Hope you're having a pleasant day!

Anonymous said...

I love your excerpt. I want to read the rest of it.

Charity Tahmaseb said...

I'll be downloading when I get home! Happy release day!

Anonymous said...

I just bought your story. I'll read it tonight - you made my day!

Jen said...

Congrats, Marianne! This is great news! I'm going to DL tonight!

YEAH!!!!

Marianne Arkins said...

Thanks everyone! I hope you enjoy the story :-)

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't mind falling into the arms of a cute guy in an elevator...

Dru said...

That would probably be the only time I won't mind being stuck in an elevator.

Congrats Marianne! I just downloaded your story and I can't wait to read it.

anno said...

Wonderful news! I've been looking forward to seeing this -- congratulations!

Melody said...

Congrats on the new release, Marianne! And like you, I try not to bend those book spines. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone, hehe.