Tricks & Treats: A Romance Anthology Read Online Free Page B

Julia of a faerie pixie with her short-cropped hair and cute upturned nose. April had been trying to get her to go to office parties since she’d started working at the agency seven years earlier, but she had never gone. Not one to mix business with pleasure, Julia was not interested in the office gossip usually following the infamous parties.
    “Are you telling me you’re considering going?” April clasped her hands together and Julia was certain she held her breath too.
    “I might consider it if you don’t make a big deal out of it.”
    When April started bouncing up and down, Julia put her hand up. “I’m serious, April. The Bergman campaign is clued up and I don’t think I can stare at my apartment walls for one more night. But if you tell everyone, I won’t go. The last thing I want is to be the centre of attention.”
    April shook her head, grinning from ear to ear. “Mum’s the word. And don’t worry about a costume; I have the perfect one for you.” Before Julia could respond, April dashed away. Over her shoulder and loud enough so everyone could hear, she said, “I will come by your place at six to get us ready for the party.”
    Julia couldn’t help but grin. She had few friends and April was by far the closest. Perhaps it would be fun. She’d had plenty of fun in her university days, but since landing an executive position with a prestigious advertising agency upon graduating with her MBA, she’d only had eyes for her work.
    “Hey, are you really going to the party tonight?” James, the madly attractive new controller asked from her doorway.
    “Wow that news took longer to spread than I thought.” Julia’s belly did a little flip-flop when he smiled. By God, men like him should not be allowed to work in places where they could distract a girl from her job. His six-foot-plus, muscular frame was accented by sandy brown hair and grey eyes that sometimes looked green in certain light, and dimples! Deep ones too. Julia shook the thought. There was no way she would ever get the courage up to ask him out.
    “What are you going as?”
    “I—have no idea,” she said. April had said she had a costume for her, but failed to mention what it was. No doubt something skimpy and meant to draw the wrong kind of attention.
    “Oh that’s ok, you can be coy about it if you like,” he said with a genuine smile. “I am a fae prince,” he said and stepped into the office. He held her gaze as he walked to her desk and placed his hands flat upon it, then leaned toward her. “What is that smell? Vanilla? Mmmm,” he said with a wink. “How I long for a taste.”
    She could have sworn his eyes glittered bright green for a moment before he turned and walked out of her office. Her pulse raced from his nearness and his words had caressed her like a lover’s touch.
    Julia tried to focus on the laptop in front of her, but her thoughts drifted back to James. Her encounters with him up to this point had been strictly professional, but in truth, she had sort of avoided him as much as possible. Her current distraction with him was evidence enough that she could be in very real danger where he was concerned. Surely no good could come from an office romance.
    The clock on her wall chimed 5:00pm. Julia snapped her laptop closed and grabbed her coat. April would be at her condo in an hour and it would take her a good half hour to get there. Something told her she might want to have a glass of wine before then for a little bit of courage.
    Julia wasted no time walking from her office in Atlantic Place to her condo on Queen’s Road. She loved downtown St. John’s. There was always something going on from bands playing on the infamous bar lined George Street, to boat tours at the ready to take excited tourists out through the narrows to view the stunning cliffs. Yes, St. John’s was gorgeous and lively and she had ignored its bounty for far too long.
    Just as she flipped the lock to her condo open, April bounced around