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    The House-Sitter's Christmas
    The House-Sitter's Christmas
    The House-Sitter's Christmas
    Ebook108 pages1 hour

    The House-Sitter's Christmas

    By Jean Joachim

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    About this ebook

    At Christmas, Laura Fleming lived her fantasy adventure. Paid to house-sit for the fabulously wealthy financier, C.W. Banley, while he traveled, she eagerly headed for New York City. As mistress of his elegant townhouse, she baked cookies and dressed the old gent’s richly-furnished residence for the holidays.

    As December rolled around, the lonely, lovely writer eagerly anticipated soaking up the Christmas atmosphere in the grand city. With only the cat for company, she’d turn Banley’s elegant home into a wonderland of sparkling lights, fragrant garland, and shiny tinsel. 

    Every year, she wished, in vain, for a happy ending. Will this be the year that Miss Fleming discovers her dreams can come true, even in a big city, like New York?

    A sweet, New York City Christmas Fairy Tale.

    CAUTION: Like most fairy tales, there is some violence int his story, and cursing, but no sex. 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMoonlight Books
    Release dateSep 27, 2017
    ISBN9781945360640
    The House-Sitter's Christmas

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      Book preview

      The House-Sitter's Christmas - Jean Joachim

      ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

      WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

      A Moonlight Books Novel

      Sweet Romantic Fairy Tale

      The House-Sitter’s Christmas

      Holiday Hearts series

      Copyright © 2017 Jean C. Joachim

      Cover design by Jean Joachim

      Edited by Sherri Good

      Proofread by Renee Waring

      All cover art and logo copyright © 2017 by Moonlight Books

      ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

      PUBLISHER

      Moonlight Books

      Dedication

      To all who love holidays, happy endings, and believe in fairy tales.

      Special Dedication

      To the late Marilyn Reisse Lee,

      my dearest friend.

      And

      Homer, my muse

      Acknowledgment

      Thank you for your support:

      My readers. Without you there would be no books. And to Steve Dimitriou, for his insightful suggestions regarding my cover.

      A Word from the Author

      THE HOUSE-SITTER’S Christmas is a romantic, holiday fairy tale. It was written originally as a romantic serial, with an episode released each day during the month of December. It’s not a chaptered novella or short story but consists of short episodes instead. There is an element of suspense woven into the fabric of this tale, as well.

      Although the story could continue, there is a happy ending. But those who know me, recognize that characters may stay with me, reappearing in additional books or short stories, sometimes a year or more later. I don’t swear that this is the final chapter for Laura and C.W.

      However, the ending wraps up the events in this novella. If you wish to have another story with these folks, please tell me. You can contact me by email (jean@nowandforeverbooks.com) or on Facebook and make your wishes known.

      I hope you enjoy this story. Thank you for reading my work.

      Jean C. Joachim

      P.S. Look for George’s story next year.

      Episode One

      LAURA FLEMING’S PULSE kicked up as the bus approached the Lincoln Tunnel. Something magical happened whenever she crossed over from upstate onto Manhattan Island. And, it being a week before Christmas only made it more fantastic.

      The Port Authority Bus Terminal was as bloated with people as usual. Mr. C. W. Banley had arranged for a car to pick her up. She was the hired help—the house-sitter, paid to keep his majestic townhouse occupied and to care for his cat while he traveled on business over the holidays.

      This was Laura’s third year house-sitting for C.W., as she affectionately referred to him—but never to his face. In fact, she’d never met him. What mattered was her chance to step into the ultimate Christmas fantasy, occupying a grand townhouse on West 81st Street for three delicious weeks.

      A man in a livery outfit stood on the crowded sidewalk, holding a sign that read Laura Fleming. She approached him, vouched for her identity, and slid into the comfortable vehicle. He closed the door, and they were off, wending their way through the dense, holiday traffic.

      First time in the City? he asked, while they waited at a stop light.

      Oh, no. I’ve been coming during the holidays for several years.

      It’s a beautiful, if crowded, time to be here.

      I love it. I live in the country. During the winter, I get cabin fever with all the snow and ice.

      You own a place here too?

      She laughed, her light brown hair swinging with the motion. Oh, no. I could never afford that. I’m the house-sitter.

      Now that’s a great gig!

      You bet it is, she agreed.

      Laura looked out the window as the chauffeur maneuvered his way through congested Amsterdam Avenue. All the restaurants, and even the delis, had strings of Christmas lights. She raised her gaze to the apartment buildings and spied many with holiday decorations or elaborately decorated trees in the windows.

      He pulled up to the gorgeous, Neo-Renaissance townhouse. The driver set her small suitcase on the sidewalk. He refused a tip, saying he’d already been paid, then handed her a sealed envelope. Laura gazed at the beautiful, cream-colored building with windows lined in black. A large, circular, black, wrought iron staircase beckoned her.

      The winter sky turned teal blue as the sun set. She climbed the steps to the carved, wooden door. A wreath of evergreens, red berries, and pine cones

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