A Christmas Wish Read online

  A Christmas Wish

  Evie Knight

  A Christmas Wish

  Copyright © 2014, Evie Knight

  All rights reserved. Ebooks are not transferable. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Tricia Kristufek

  Cover Art by E.K

  Publisher’s Note:

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  First In Love with Romance Publishing, electronic publication: 2014

  In Love with Romance Publishing

  Back cover blurb

  Christmas hasn’t been the same for Dr. Jasmine Lamont ever since she lost her parents in a car accident ten years ago. She avoids romantic relationships and the holiday spirit like the plague. This year is no different and she knows exactly what she doesn’t want for Christmas: Ethan Sinclair, the sexy pediatrician, that won’t leave her alone.

  Ethan isn’t one to give up easily. No matter what it takes, he’s determined to break down the walls she hides behind and heal her heart—if only she’d let him. And all it will take is a Christmas wish.

  Table of Contents

  Back cover blurb

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Books by Evie Knight

  Chapter One

  “Are you going to do it?” Laurie asked.

  “Ssh….” Jasmine glanced around the office, making sure none of the nurses or medical assistants walking by heard. “No.” She wrote a note and signed the medical record in her hand. “That Wishing Well is a hoax.”

  Laurie took the folder from Jasmine and handed her another. “It is not.”

  “It is too.” Jasmine adjusted her glasses and flipped the file open. “Please tell me you’re not that naïve,” she said, scanning the lab results printed on the sheet. “That Cinderella Wishing Well can’t make your dreams come true anymore than I can.”

  “You’re like the Grinch. Can you, just this once, let yourself believe magic is possible? That sometimes wishes do come true?”

  When would Laurie and others leave her alone? Jasmine hated Christmas. She wanted nothing to do with the darn holiday. Yet everywhere she went, everyone she talked to had the holiday in their head. Goodness. And she had four more weeks to endure before this madness ended.

  “Really?” Annoyed, she looked at Laurie. “You expect me to believe the Cinderella Wishing Well at Walt Disney World is magical. That if I go there and make a wish, my one true love will come to me?”

  Shaking her head, Laurie said, “Yes. Rumor has it everyone who makes a wish on Christmas Eve finds their true, everlasting love on Christmas Day.”

  “You’re out of your mind.”

  “She’s not.”

  Hearing the familiar huskiness of Ethan’s voice, a thrill shot down her spine and her back stiffened. Jasmine busied herself signing the lab results, handed the file to Laurie, and grabbed another one. “Let me guess. It found your true love.”

  His low chuckle reverberated through her. “Not mine. My sister’s.”

  “Then, maybe you should try it,” Jasmine said, still not looking at him, though she could feel the intensity of his hot gaze on her.

  “But why would he? True love would ruin his fabulous life,” Laurie said.

  “What, according to you, is my fabulous life?” Ethan asked.

  “You fuck anything with a skirt, Dr. Sinclair.”

  Shocked at Laurie’s reply, Jasmine gasped.

  “Rumors, that’s all they are,” he said.

  She risked lifting her gaze to him. As it happened time and time again, his piercing dark gray-green eyes, ringed with long lashes, captured hers. She drew in her breath, trying to slow down the sudden spike in her pulse. “Rumors?”

  Crossing his arms, he said, “Maybe, I’m looking for the one.”

  “She’s lucky you haven’t found her,” Laurie said.

  “If you weren’t so efficient, I’d fire you right now,” Ethan said to Laurie, keeping his gaze trained on Jasmine.

  “Only you can’t, because she’s my assistant, not yours.” Breaking their eye contact, Jasmine took the rest of the charts from Laurie. She’d rather busy herself going through the rest of her patients’ files than continue their foolish chat. Right now she’d do anything to erase the image of Ethan’s dirty-blond hair, the cynical twist to his mouth, and his suntanned skin. Why didn’t he stay wherever it was he went on vacation? Why did he have to come back? Jasmine headed for her office. “Laurie’s right. Whoever you’re looking for is lucky you haven’t found her.”

  “I promise you, Jas, she’d be the luckiest woman on earth when I find her,” he said.

  Jasmine stole one last glance at him, and said over her shoulder, “If you find her.”

  * * * *

  “It’s on my wish list for Santa Claus this year,” he said to her back, taking in the sway of her hips in her scrubs and the golden locks escaping her tousled pony tail.

  “I hope Santa Claus doesn’t misplace your list, then.” Jasmine shut the door to her office.

  What is her problem? Ethan stood in the hallway, staring at the name plaque on her closed door. Dr. Lamont. Since they’ve been working at the same practice for the last three years, no matter what he did to have an amicable work rapport, Jasmine didn’t let him in. She had walls of steel around her. Good for her, because to be honest, he’d always wondered what it’d be like to wine and dine her, to taste her sweet lips and finally seduce her.

  He shook his head, willing the thought away.

  “I’ll let you in a little secret, Dr. Sinclair.” Laurie jerked him out of his reverie as she moved to stand next to him. “Dr. Lamont hates Christmas for reasons I can’t tell you. She doesn’t believe in true love, or maybe it’s more she’s afraid to fall in love.” Laurie seemed to consider what she’d say next. “She likes you as much as you like her, that’s why she evades you like the plague.”

  Blinking, Ethan stared down at Laurie’s big brown eyes. “I never told you I like her.”

  “You didn’t have to.” She rolled her eyes at him. “It’s so obvious, even a blind person can tell. Everyone here knows, which is why none of the other doctors have asked her out. Like, ever.”

  “You know, I’m beginning to wonder if you come here to work or to gossip.”

  “Both.” She spun on her heel. “Your next appointment is already here, Dr. Sinclair,” she called over her shoulder.

  So, Jas hates Christmas and she likes me. What should he do with that bit of information? Was it even true? Why should he believe Laurie? That there were others at the practice that wanted to ask Jasmine out irked him. Maybe it was time he stopped trying to fake a friendship and pursue Jas the way he should’ve done since he met her. Jasmine Lamont. He smiled, his mind racing in a million different directions on how he’d woo her.

  Chapter Two

  Sleep never came last night. Not when her head swirled with thoughts of Dr. Sinclair. Ethan. Ugh, the man was the devil in disguise. Erasing his angelic looks from her mind was impossible. Jasmine closed her eyes, and his dazzling smile, hypnotic gaze, and athletic physique haunted he
r. It didn’t make a difference if she opened her eyes either.

  Unable to catch any sleep, she decided to get a head start in her day and complete all her pending paperwork. Her last appointment was at four o’clock, which worked out perfect, because she’d leave soon after. She’d stop by the children’s hospital to check on three of her patients, then head home. The only exciting thing about her day would be the few stolen glances at Ethan, which then meant she’d be dreaming of him yet again tonight.

  Maybe she should listen to Laurie’s silly belief in magic. Nuh. Even if it were true, Jasmine was too broken for some impractical magic to work on her. First she’d have to believe, and her faith in anything she couldn’t do for herself was nil.

  Crossing over the threshold into the noiseless pediatric medical practice, she walked to her office. She drew in her breath, welcoming the peace and quiet the early hour afforded her. Jasmine dropped her purse inside the bottom drawer of her desk, then turned on her laptop. Ready to immerse herself in her work, she took a seat as the chime of an instant message broke through the peaceful silence.

  E_Sinclair: GM

  Her breath left her. What does he want this early? She came into work at this time for a reason, and he wouldn’t mess up with her plans. Jasmine hit Ignore on the IM window and grabbed the pile of folders on her desk.

  Moments later, the chime of the IM interrupted her once more, and she looked up at her screen.

  E_Sinclair: I know you’re there.

  J_Lamont: And what, you’re also going to tell me you know what I did last summer?

  Jasmine stared at her screen, clamping down the giggle forming in her throat. Whatever made her type that? After a minute, his IM status changed from green, for available, to yellow, for away. She figured he probably got sidetrack with other stuff. A tinge of disappointment settled in her chest. Determined to prevent any further distractions and senseless conversations, she closed her IM and put her laptop lid down.

  “I wasn’t, but since you asked, I know for a fact you did nothing last summer. You were too busy working to take some time off,” Ethan said from her door.

  Her breath caught in her throat at seeing him standing under the doorframe, in all his powerful glory. Jerk. His words hurt. Why did he care what she did or didn’t do? It wasn’t any of his business. And… and… why did he come to her office? “What do you want? I have lots to do and you’re taking up my time.”

  Ethan closed the distance with a few long strides and propped his hands on her desk, leaning forward. “I’d love to take you out to dinner, but you’d say no, so I won’t ask.”

  Of course she’d say no. Her indifference façade toward him was limited to work. Being with him outside of their usual surroundings would be a game-changer—something she’d never knowingly put herself through. Dinner with him would lead to other things she wouldn’t be able to walk away from. Studying his face, her eyes lingered on his seductive lips, confirming her last thought. One kiss from him and she’d be doomed.

  “I saw in the calendar that you’re going to the children’s hospital. Can you take a couple of my patients’ files and drop them off? I’m staying until closing tonight, and their admin offices would be closed by the time I’d get there.”

  Jasmine took in the way his lips moved when he talked, imagining what his velvety voice would sound like if he ever whispered naughty things at her ear. How would his lips feel on her neck? She blinked, then looked away. “Sure. Give them to Laurie.”

  “Would you let me take you out to dinner?”

  Without looking at him, she said, “I thought you said you wouldn’t ask.”

  “I changed my mind.”

  She opened up a file and grabbed a black pen. “Thank you. But my answer is no.”

  “I can be persuasive.” With his finger, he slid her folder toward him, forcing her to look up.

  “I can be stubborn.”

  His lips twisted into a lopsided grin. “I like stubborn.”

  * * * *

  Since their impromptu encounter in her office this morning, Jasmine hadn’t been able to concentrate. Luckily for her, today she had easy appointments, and for the most part, her time had been filled with paperwork. She left as soon as her last appointment was over and hurried to the children’s hospital. Ethan never handed the files to Laurie, and Jasmine didn’t bother to ask him for them. If that’d been part of his plan, then he’d failed.

  “Dr. Lamont,” Sally, one of the nurses, said, “the kids have been waiting for you.”

  Jasmine took the charts from Sally and headed down the narrow white hallway in the direction of her patients’ rooms. “How are they doing?”

  “They’re doing wonderful today. It must be the season,” Sally replied, barely containing her excitement. “What kid doesn’t look forward to Christmas, right?”

  “Right.” Jasmine drew her brows together as she continued her walk, pondering what had Sally in such high spirits today.

  “The kids are in the playroom. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Shaking her head, she said, “No.” Jasmine found her way to the recreation room at the end of the hall and stopped in her tracks.

  Ethan was surrounded by kids, sitting in the middle of the room, as he read a book to them.

  What the….

  His gaze met hers across the room, and heat covered her from head to toe. She could’ve sworn he was still at the practice when she left. Or had she imagined it? Tracing back her time at the office today, she actually didn’t recall seeing him all afternoon.

  “Oh, Dr. Sinclair is so great with the kids. He’s been here most of the afternoon,” Sally said.

  “Has he, indeed.” The man wasn’t persuasive, he was stubborn. She narrowed her eyes at him and approached the small circle. Her three little patients stood and hugged her.

  “Jasmine, you won’t believe what Ethan told us,” one of the kids said.

  “It’s so great, I can’t believe it!” another kid shouted.

  Jasmine pulled up a small chair and sat opposite Ethan, intrigued by the infamous promise he’d made the kids, including her own patients. “It sounds exciting. Would anyone care to tell me?”

  A little girl, with bright red curls, sitting next to Ethan, said, “If we take all our vitamins, and eat all our vegetables, and don’t complain during therapy.” She paused, with a smile from ear to ear she glanced up at Ethan, then at Jasmine. “He said you two will take us to Disney World on Christmas Eve.”

  Between the kids’ ecstatic laughter and clapping, Jasmine felt her smile freeze in place. She blinked, swearing she’d kill him. How could he make such an outrageous promise to these kids? Their parents would most likely agree, but that wasn’t the point. How dare he tell them that without consulting her first? Oh, she’d wring his neck if she could.

  “He did, didn’t he?” she heard herself say.

  “Isn’t that great?” Sally asked.

  Great? Jasmine didn’t celebrate Christmas. Or rather, hadn’t since her parents and brother died in a car accident on Christmas Eve nine years ago. This year would be their ten-year anniversary, and spending it with kids, her patients, and him… at Disney World, celebrating a holiday she loathed, would kill her.

  Chapter Three

  “Are you okay?” Ethan called after her, catching up to her in the parking lot. He assumed everything went fabulous, given Jasmine had stayed longer than he expected after she checked her patients. It didn’t dawn on him that he’d been dead wrong until a few minutes ago, when she said good night to Sally and walked past him as if he hadn’t been standing there.

  “It’s late and I’m tired.”

  The cool evening breeze caressed her golden tresses and carried to him a hint of her fresh, flowery fragrance, teasing his nostrils. “What did I do?”

  “Nothing.” Jasmine continued walking.

  Ethan caught up to her and matched her steps. “If I didn’t do anything, why are you so upset?”

  At his words, Jasmine s
topped and turned to him. “I’m not upset. I’m… I’m… forget it.” She resumed walking, and with a few more long strides, she reached the driver’s side of her black Audi.

  “Forget what, Jas?” Ethan said, putting his hand on the door, preventing her from opening it.

  Her lips thinned with irritation and she glared at him. “First, you lied. You said you wouldn’t be here, yet you were here all afternoon.” Jasmine touched his chest with her finger, giving him a shove. “Second, you promised my patients something without consulting me first.” She shoved him again, though he didn’t move even an inch. “How dare you?”

  If her eyes didn’t look like she’d incinerate him right then and there, he’d think she looked sexy when she was this mad.

  Ethan reached for her hand on his chest and curled his fingers around her wrist. “They’re kids with hopes and dreams. You and I know some of them will make it out of here and live to tell their story. Others won’t, and it sucks.” He tightened his hold when she tugged her hand. “I thought that you, of all people, would get my point.”

  “Well, you thought wrong.”

  “It’s too late to back out now.” The warmth of her delicate wrist seeped through his palm, and Ethan fought the urge to pull her to him and steal at last that darn kiss he’d always dreamed of.

  “I’d do it any other day, but not on Christmas Eve,” she said. “If you don’t want to move the date, then ask someone from the staff to go with you.”

  “Why not on Christmas Eve?”

  Jasmine squeezed her eyes closed, then opened them, tears clouding her gaze. “My family died in a car accident on Christmas Eve. It’ll be their ten-year anniversary this Christmas. What would you do if you were me?”

  Her words caught him off guard. This time, when she tugged her hand from his grasp, he let her go. His chest grew heavy with guilt. Ethan wished he could say or do something, but his apology died in his dry throat and the words never came out. Without another word or look, Jasmine drove away in her car.