A Wizard for Christmas Read Online Free Page A

in the cold, she realized. It was her refusal to admit that the fantasy wasn’t real.
    She wanted that life, that perfect image of Christmas so badly that she was willing to make herself miserable to get it.
    The sky was turning dark. The temperature dropping dramatically. And she had nowhere to go.
    She closed her eyes and pictured what her imaginary family would be doing right now. Decorating the tree? Sipping on hot apple cider? Or perhaps simply enjoying each other’s company. As long as they were together, it didn’t matter.
    What a wonderful vacation. She would have so many stories to share with her friends when she got back.
    “I’m sorry, Miss.” The doorman of the hotel she’d been sitting in front of tapped her on the shoulder. “You cannot stay here.”
    She pulled herself to her feet. Dragging her luggage behind her, she headed toward the train station. If she was lucky, she’d find an empty bench to sleep on there.
     
    * * * *
     
    It was hungry. So hungry. The meals weren’t satisfying anymore. The humans had changed. They were missing something. Something important.
    The ancient spirit trudged down the road, rubbing at the ache in its belly, not at all sure what to do.
    But what was that? It sniffed the air and smelled the sweet, homey scent it craved.
    A young woman was struggling with a suitcase as it bounced down the uneven sidewalk. The sweet scent was coming from her. Interesting...
    It followed.
     
    * * * *
     
    Christmas music was being piped onto the streets. Deck the Halls and Fa, La, La, La, La....Holly was ready to deck something. Fa, La, La, La, that.
    Her suitcase toppled over again.
    And again she had to stop, put the suitcase back on its wheels before she could continue dragging her personal albatross down the street. Why had she packed so many clothes? This was insane.
    A few bouncy steps more the suitcase hit a deep rut and one of the wheels got stuck. Brilliant. It took some effort to pry the wheel from the crack in the walk. And she was getting colder by the minute.
    When she started pulling it again, she ran straight into an arm. A healthy male arm.
    “Need a hand?” Hadrian asked. He was leaning against the storefront and blocking her way. He smiled. It made her stomach do a little flip.
    “I-I’m okay,” she said, and tried to push him out of her path. She didn’t trust him. He was too interested in her, and she didn’t understand why.
    “Didn’t you say you were going out of town?” His brow kicked up as he eyed her suitcase. “I didn’t realize you were walking to your destination.”
    “I’m heading over to the train station.”
    “Really? That’s blocks from here. Let me drive you.”
    Her throbbing feet wanted to scream, “Yes!” She’d dragged her suitcase from one end of town to the next in search of a non-existent hotel room. Her feet didn’t want to take another step. Ever.
    “I’m okay,” she said much to her feet’s chagrin. But if he drove her to the train station, there would be a good chance he’d insist on staying with her until her train left. And she had no ticket because she had nowhere to go, and what was she doing telling complete strangers about her fantasy trip home in the first place?
    She pushed him out of the way and hauled herself forward. He caught the handle of her suitcase.
    “You’re limping,” he said.
    “I’m fine.” She tried to pry his hand loose.
    “You’re exhausted.”
    “I’m not.” His fingers wouldn’t budge.
    “You’re afraid of me.”
    Her gaze flashed up to his face. He looked harmless, but then so did many of the mass murderers caught in recent years.
    “I’m being reasonably cautious,” she said, tugging at the handle with all her weight. “Let go of my suitcase or I’ll scream.”
    He let go so fast she nearly smashed her face against the sidewalk.
    “You know me, Holly.” He sounded so darned reasonable. “Deep in your heart, you know me. You know I’m not a threat to