A Christmas Hero For The Bride: A Seven Brides of Christmas Novella Read online

  A Christmas Hero For The Bride

  A Seven Brides of Christmas Novella

  Elizabeth Princeton

  Copyright 2018 by Elizabeth Princeton

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  To the reader: If you have downloaded this book for free or have downloaded from a site other than Amazon, Barnes and Noble or iBooks, this may be a pirated copy. Please contact the author immediately. Piracy is illegal. Please honor this author and all other authors by purchasing legal copies of their work.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, or incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, locations, or events is purely coincidental.

  Cover Created by KL Fast

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  This is for everyone who still believes in the magic of Christmas.

  Chapter 1

  Luke

  “Luke, I’m scared to leave you,” she whispers as she clings to me.

  “Baby girl, you’re going to be okay. I’m going to check up on you all the time. Just because you aren’t living with me, doesn’t mean I don’t still care about you,” I tell her as I kiss the top of her head.

  The social worker comes and takes Whisper away from me. She screams for me and I can hear her screams as the car drives away. I make a promise to myself that I will always be there for that little girl.

  Five years later…

  I wake up a jolt. I can still hear Whisper screaming for me every night. It’s been five years, and I can’t figure out why I can’t get her out of my head. I meant what I said when I told her I’d check up on her, unfortunately, the system thought otherwise. A short time after Whisper left me, I received a call from my father who had informed me that my grandfather had passed away and I needed to come home for the reading of the will.

  After that phone call, I was left feeling confused. I had never met my grandfather because my father forbade it. My parents were assholes, and that’s putting it nicely. I think that is why I was so compelled to help Whisper. She reminded me of me at that age.

  I went back to my hometown to hear the reading of the will made by a man I’d never met. Turns out, my grandfather was a very wealthy man and he left me his fortune as his only grandchild. My net worth is in the billions now, but I don’t care about money. I never had it growing up, and I enjoy my job. My parents were furious, of course, and tried taking me to court, but they lost.

  I shake my head of those thoughts and get up to make sure I get ready in time to head to work. I have to coach my boys’ basketball team in a couple days and I need to make sure they are ready. My best friend, Nathan, is my assistant coach and this is our way of giving back to the community. If it wasn’t for us, some of these boys would be out running the streets, but we give them something positive to focus on. Nathan and I met in college. We were both freshmen assigned to the same dorm.

  I grab my phone to text Nathan.

  Me: Hey man. I think I need to try and date again. I can’t take these dreams anymore.

  Nathan: Dude, I told you to go see Delilah. She’s amazing, look at me

  Me: I’ll try and go see her today.

  I put my phone away to get ready for the day. It’s going to be a long day of meetings. I am now the Police Chief of the Atlanta Police Department. I’m the youngest the department has ever seen, but I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am today. I worked my way up the ranks at lightning speed.

  I jump in my Chevy Silverado and head to work. All I can keep hearing is Whisper’s faint screams in my ears. She told me the reason behind her name, but she was never quiet around me. I found it funny when I could get her all riled up so she’d yell at me. I shake my head of the memories, knowing that they are going to haunt me if I don’t stop dwelling on them.

  I pull into the police headquarters and sit for a minute. My phone dings letting me know that I don’t have time to just sit around in my truck. I get out to start my day.

  * * *

  It’s lunchtime, and I have decided I want to try this whole matchmaking thing. I can’t sit and think about the young girl I took in any longer. None of my other relationships ever lasted because I was all about work. Now, I’m thirty-four and it’s time for me to settle down. I want the whole wife, two point five kids, and the house with the white picket fence.

  I texted Nathan to get the information, but he usually never texts me throughout the day since he’s busy with his business and fighting for his woman. I shake my head and laugh because that man has never had to chase tail before, and now here he is, chasing a woman.

  My phone dings with a text from Nathan.

  Nathan: Elite Matchmaking Services. It’s on North Ave, it's in a nondescript building. It’s between 1st and 3rd St. If you hit 3rd St, you’ve gone too far. Her number is 770-555-2234, email is [email protected] I’d recommend just going to see her assistant and getting an interview set up. Just talk to Lev, my fiancé. Tell her I sent you and you’ll get the royal treatment.

  I decide to go to the office since Nathan said it would be easier. I find the location and he was right, if I wasn’t looking for it, I’d have gone too far and wouldn’t have found it. I walk into the building and there sits the woman who has gotten my best friend’s panties in a bunch. I chuckle to myself as I walk over to her. She looks up at me and smiles.

  “Good afternoon, and welcome to Elite Matchmaking Services. How can I help you today?” she asks me.

  “Hi, I’m Luke. Nathan sent me. I would like to set up an appointment with Delilah please,” I say.

  She looks at the computer and frowns. I’m not liking that look on her face.

  “I’m sorry sir, but we have nothing available until after the holidays,” she says.

  “Shit, okay. I’ll just take the first available appointment she has,” I tell her.

  She types away on her computer. “Looks like we have the second week of February open. What was your last name?” she says looking back at me.

  “Davis.”

  “As in Nathan’s best friend, Luke Davis?”

  “The one and only,” I say chuckling. I am not prepared for her to jump up and hug me.

  “Oh my God. I’ve heard so much about you. We should have dinner one night,” she says with so much excitement, I don’t know how to handle it. Nathan’s fiancee is perfect for him, I decide.

  “We’ll definitely have to do that. So, about that appointment. Nathan says Delilah is the best, so I’ll take it,” I no more than get the words out of my mouth and I see a streak of red come out of her office. She’s holding a child looking like she’s glowing.

  “Hey, Levi, do you have that file for me,” she asks.

  “Yes, give me one moment, I’m booking this gentleman’s appointment for February,” she says as she starts typing away again.

  The redhead looks at me. She’s
inspecting from head to toe.

  “What’s your name,” she asks me.

  “Luke Davis, ma’am,” I tell her.

  “Come with me Mr. Davis,” she tells me while leading me to her office.

  I look over at her assistant and shrug and follow her.

  Chapter 2

  Whisper

  “Do I have to Delilah? I don’t want to do this,” I whine.

  She’s trying to get me to be a client with her matchmaking business. After everything I’ve been through, the last thing I want is a man. I just turned eighteen two weeks ago, and she’s been hounding me ever since.

  “Come on, I found you the perfect man. I know you went through some shit, but this man would be perfect for you. He’s a cop and everything with his tests came back that he’s a good solid man,” she all but begs.

  “Why are you doing this to me? You know why I ran from the last group home I was put into. I can’t let myself be with a man again, any man,” I sigh as the tears build in my eyes.

  My story is one of heartache and miracles, to say the least. I was born to drug-addicted parents who didn’t really want me. I mean they named me Whisper because I didn’t cry when I was born, I merely whimpered. Dad beat my mom and me on a daily basis and there was never food in the house so I was all skin and bones. My teachers tried getting involved, but somehow my parents knew when CPS would show up because we acted like the perfect family, only to get a beating afterward.

  Once, I was actually taken from them for a few months when I was twelve. I was placed in foster care, but my foster family was worse than my own. They were very loud, louder than my own house. At least my dad passed out eventually, my foster dad never seemed to lose steam. It would give me flashbacks to my parents. So, one night, I left. I was sleeping in a park when a cop found me and rescued me. I lived with him for a few months, but sadly that came to an end too. He promised to check in on me, but I never should’ve believed his lies. All men do is lie to everyone.

  “Whisper, listen to me. This guy is going to be so good for you, I can feel it,” she says, pulling me out of my memories.

  “If I do this and it doesn’t work out, you have to promise to never bring it up again,” I say finally giving in.

  “Yes! I knew you’d come around,” she cheers from her booth in the diner where I work.

  I get several looks from the few patrons and most look annoyed. I shake my head in disbelief that I’m agreeing to this crap. True love and fairy tales don’t exist. Delilah is the only person in the world who would get their happily ever after. True love is for fools.

  “When am I meeting this guy,” I ask, knowing it’s probably going to be soon.

  “Tomorrow night,” she states matter of factly.

  “Uh, are you forgetting I have a job? I work tomorrow night,” I tell her, thankful for an excuse not to go. “Where’s Keith tonight? Never thought I’d see you without him,” I say hopefully that talking about her baby is a good distraction.

  “Don’t use my adorable baby as a conversation change. Besides, he’s having daddy/son time. They’re bonding, however, you do that with a three-month-old I’ll never know. Now, I’ve already talked to your boss and he’s giving you the night off,” she says with a smirk.

  Fuck, I guess I have a date tomorrow night. Ugh, I really don’t want to go. After seeing what men in my life did to women, I’ll be happy being single forever.

  “You know I have nothing to wear on a date, right,” I ask her. I look at her and she has this look on her face that I’m not liking. “Why are you looking at me with that little smirk on your face? What did you do,” I ask.

  “Well, I knew you’d use any excuse you could to get out of this date so I bought you a dress to wear for the night. It’s in my car, I’m gonna run out and get it,” she says as she gets up and walks out of the diner before I have a chance to stop her.

  I’m so thankful to have Delilah in my life. She saved me a few months ago when she and her husband, Kyle came into the diner I worked in for one of her weird late night cravings. I remember seeing them and thinking that that’s what true love looked like. You could just see the love he had for her pouring out of him. I was in the back getting her mashed potatoes with pickles and I heard her yell that her water had broken. I ran out to see if I could help them, and he just picked her up and took off to his truck.

  A few weeks later she came in with her newborn son to pay for the food she never got to eat. I tried to tell her that it was fine and I covered it, but she wasn’t having it. Ever since then she comes in about once a week to check on me. She even got me a cupcake with a single candle on it for my eighteenth birthday. I can honestly say that was the first birthday cake I have ever gotten.

  I’m taken out of my thoughts when she comes running back in the diner. She’s holding a garment bag and her eyes are dancing with mischief.

  “Aren’t you going to open it? I picked it out especially for you,” she says as she wiggles the bag in front of me.

  I sigh and unzip the bag. She knows I hate it when she buys me things. When I see what’s in the bag, I gasp. It’s beautiful.

  Chapter 3

  Luke

  It’s the night of my big date with a woman that I know nothing about. I don’t even know her name. I was just told she’d be wearing a red dress and where I would be meeting her. We are going to a small fancy Italian place called Antonio’s. Apparently, she’s always wanted to go there, so I was told I had to take her there. I get the feeling this woman is more than a client to Delilah, and I’m happy that she feels like she can trust me with a friend.

  I walk into the restaurant, tugging at my tie. I opted for a dark blue dress shirt with nice dark wash jeans. I threw the light purple tie on last minute, but now am regretting my decision. I feel like I’m being strangled. I walk up to the hostess and give her my last name for the reservation. She’s eying me pretty hard and it’s obvious she wants me, but I ignore her. I’m here to hopefully meet the love of my life. She informs me my party is already here and waiting for me.

  As we walk to the table, I see her back first. Her honey blonde hair is down in waves and it’s long. Long enough I can wrap my hands in it and pull if I wanted to. She has one shoulder deep red dress on. If the front of her looks as good as the back, I’m fucked. I may owe Delilah a big bonus if this works out.

  I walk around the table and when I see her I know who she is in an instant. It’s the little girl who haunts my dreams at night, only now she’s all grown up. “Whisper,” I say.

  She looks up at me when I say her name and freezes. It’s like she’s seen a ghost. She gets up from the table. “This is going to work out I’m sorry. I knew this was a big mistake. Goodbye Luke,” she whispers as she runs out the door.

  I start to run after her when the hostess steps in front of me. “What are you going to do with a child? You need a real woman, I get off in an hour if you wanna have some fun,” she drawls at me.

  “No, and I’m going to have your job for what you just said. I need to find my date, excuse me,” I say as I run out of the restaurant and after the girl who belongs to me.

  I get outside and look around. I see a flash of red and I take off after her. I have to get to her and make her mine. Last time I saw her was when CPS was taking her away from me. If I could’ve, I would’ve kept her with me always. She belongs with me, and now I intend to keep her forever.

  By the time I’ve caught up, she’s hailing a cab and jumping in. I get to the door just as the car starts to pull away. I pull my phone out to call Nathan. He’ll know what to do. I can’t lose her again.

  “Nathan, it was her. Whisper is the girl Delilah set me up with. She took one look at me and took off. I have to find her, she belongs with me. She’s it, man,” I say in a rush, hoping he can understand me.

  “Wait, the girl you rescued five years ago? That Whisper? Shit man, I know you always had a connection to her. I’ll talk to Levi and see if she will give me her address. Give me
five and I’ll text you what I get,” he says as he hangs up.

  I walk dejectedly back to my truck. I have to find her, I just have to. When she was younger, she needed protection from this cruel world and I wanted to give her that. Now, she’s grown into a beautiful young woman and I am seeing her in a whole new light. She’s made to be with me forever. To be my best friend, a partner in crime, lover, mother of my children, and so much more. I have to find her.

  My phone dings with a text from Nathan. Thankfully, Levi pulled through and got me her current address. As soon as I see it, I’m not liking the area she’s living in. It’s chock full of drug users, dealers, pimps, and prostitutes. We’ve made several busts there. I put my truck in gear and head out to find my woman.

  I get to her apartment complex, and just as I suspected there are several drug deals going on. I hate that she lives here. I get out of my truck and head to her apartment. The walls are yellow from all the smoking and other shit that goes on here. I’m pretty sure that several of these assholes recognize me, but I can’t be worried about that right now. I get to her door and knock. I knock a few more times when I realize she’s not home. She has no peephole which is completely unsafe for my woman.

  I walk back to my truck, memories flooding me like an old-time movie reel. It’s then that I know where she went and hop in my truck to go to the one place I know she has to be.

  Chapter 4

  Whisper

  I’m realizing that walking around the park at night is a bad idea. I left my coat at Antonio’s so I feel exposed, but I didn’t want to go home. Seeing Luke again after all these years was a shock to my system. I never thought I’d see him again, I reach for my clutch to call Delilah to come and get me when I see that my stupid phone is dead. This is what happens when I always forget to charge it. I barely had enough money for the cab, so I know I can’t afford a cab ride to my apartment. I’m screwed, and these boots are killing my feet. I sit on a bench and shiver. It’s the second week of December and the weather is getting quite chilly at night.