Holiday Magic (Second Chance) Read Online Free

with no exceptions, for the period extending from November 21 st to February 28 th . There is no mention of any free time allowed away from the casino.”
    “ You’re serious!” she screeched. “I have to stay there all the time. Who does he think he is, Simon Legree? I’m not his slave. It’s illegal. It’s unconstitutional!”
    “ It’s in the private contract you willingly signed.” He put an end to her rant.
    “ Damn! Are you sure?”
    He nodded and opened the copy to show her the stipulation.
    “Can you find another date for the dance?” She was subdued. “Georgia knows about it, since it is one of my all-inclusive events, but if she discovers that she has to be your official escort for the evening, she’ll kill me.”
    Mark groaned inwardly as Eleni allowed a tear to roll unheeded down her cheek.
    Damn her. That woman can turn on the waterworks at will. He shook his head, admiration and frustration in his eyes. Is there ever anything she wants that she doesn’t get?
    “ I’ll see what I can do.”
    He had not dated since the fiasco with Georgia. There had been too much pain there. He would never get involved with a woman again.
    Once Eleni left his office, Mark sank into his desk chair and stared at the photograph of Georgia on his desk. Beautiful, loving, funny Georgia, the woman who should have been his bride, and the only woman he would ever love. What would it be like to see her again, talk to her, and yet not be able to touch her?

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Georgia was so angry with Eleni she could spit nails. How could she have been so stupid as to sign that contract without reading the fine print?  She had warned her to do so, but it was so like her twin to ignore advice that would be commonsense to anyone else.
    Discovering it was year-end time, and Mark would be underfoot every day was a low blow, but finding out that she had to be his escort at the Christmas Eve Snow Ball? Well, she was still reeling from that! 
    Eleni tried her best to placate her, but she was way beyond calming now. She had not been this furious in years.
    “Georgia, I told you that the ball was one of my all-inclusive gigs, so don’t get bent out of shape about it. Mark would have been there anyway. The organizing committee insisted on it. I told you before, he’s my partner, and the people who are covering the cost of our services want him there. They’re quite annoyed with me that I can’t attend, but they’ve agreed to let you stand in my stead. There is no way that Mark can give them the slip too. Look, you’ll probably be so busy hobnobbing with the elite, you’ll hardly spend any time with him. I’m sure some of your old friends will be there. It’ll be a great opportunity to reconnect now that you’ve decided to move back and join the living, and you can push your jewelry too. Who knows? If the Governor’s wife likes it, she might want some, and you could have a whole new client base in Washington.”
    Georgia shook her head.
    “Forget it! As Grandma used to say, ‘Whitewashing the pump won’t make the water clean.’ If you’d told me about all this, I would never have agreed to help you out. I’m sure that’s why you’re springing this crap on me now. You knew I wouldn’t come if you’d been honest about it. I find it hard to believe that you just conveniently forgot to mention this. Seriously, you expect me to be his date for the night? That night of all nights? I’m sorry, Eleni, but you are out of your cotton-picking mind!” Her voice had risen, attracting the attention of some of the diners, so she lowered it immediately.
    Eleni’s lower lip trembled, and Georgia knew that the waterworks were next. It wasn’t fair. Her sister could read her like a book—a first grade primer, at that!
    “Eleni Jean Baxter, don’t you dare cry!” Maybe it’s good I’m angry , she thought, at least when I’m angry I’m not feeling sorry for myself!
    “ Nobody gives you more trouble than