Holiday Promises

Book 6: Acorn Hills Series

by Grace Augustine

Synopsis

Felicia Worthington, Dean at Coral Knoll Community College, is the daughter of one of the most financially elite families in Acorn Hills. Not only is she smart, but also beautiful, and the youngest woman to serve as Dean of CKCC. With her heavy work schedule, she doesn't have time to date... that is, until she runs into Alex.

Alex Halloran, Jillian's oldest son, was a big jerk in high school. He was the super sports jock all the girls wanted. Dating Felicia Worthington turned out to be a huge feather in Alex's cap... until Felicia left for college and his own selfish choices drove an irreparable wedge between them.

Receiving his business degree, Alex returns to his hometown, working many dead-end jobs. Years pass before he and Felicia meet again. But when they do, they realize the spark is still between them and try to resurrect what they once had.

In Holiday Promises, Book 6 of the Acorn Hills series, will Fate allow Alex and Felicia a second chance? What can possibly stand in their way of a happily ever after?

Release date: December 6, 2015

Print pages: 137

Content advisory: For Mature Readers over 18 yrs of age

Sample

Coral Knoll Community College halls were empty. Finally! Except for a few administrators who were cleaning up last minute tasks before the long holiday break, Felicia Worthington and her Personal Assistant, Wendy, were the only ones left in the building. Felicia gathered a stack of papers and haphazardly shoved them into her briefcase. Even though students and faculty would be taking full advantage of the long break, she still felt obligated to setting things in order. She didn’t want to return from her honeymoon and find her office in shambles…like it was now. The growing stacks of papers on Felicia’s desk were indicators that she needed to utilize her personal assistant more efficiently. She smiled and looked at the wall behind her desk where several framed degrees and certificates hung. “At least this is in order,” she muttered aloud. After graduating with a BA in higher education from UCLA, Felicia secured a notably sought after fellowship at Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She was chosen valedictorian of her class and awarded the MA degree in her field of study, Business in Higher Education. Somehow that didn’t seem good enough for her, or her parents, so Felicia stayed at Vanderbilt another year, proved her doctorate thesis and again she had another degree for her office wall. Here she was, ten years of education under her belt, almost twenty nine years old, the dean of a community college, and highly respected by the students and faculty. Her accomplishments sometimes boggled even her mind. Felicia sat down and penned something on the pad in front of her. She took off her beige leather flats and grabbed the black leather stacked heel boots resting in the corner near her desk. Wendy stood in the doorway between her office and Felicia’s. She was so tightly bundled up in her navy down coat that she resembled a Sumo wrestler. “Hey! You about ready to get outta here?” Wendy asked. Felicia looked at her assistant and nodded. Wendy was a true godsend. They both started their respective jobs at the same time. After the first couple weeks of getting to know each other, they worked together like a well-oiled machine. Most of the time Wendy knew what Felicia wanted before she did, and that earned her the nickname of Radar. The boot zipper had somehow caught a piece of fabric in its teeth and it wasn’t budging. “As a matter of fact, as soon as I get this boot zipped, I’m ready to leave.” “Here, let me help you with that.” Both women worked on it with no success. Felicia pulled the boot from her foot and tossed it across the room. “You know, it’s okay. It’s such a habit for me to change from these boots to my flats every morning when I get here that I just automatically reverse it at the end of the day. I try to stick with my fashion consciousness,” Felicia chuckled. “But I don’t always succeed. It’s not raining or slick outside. I’ll just wear my shoes. Thanks for helping.” Felicia slid her feet back into the beige leather flats, picked up the boots and tucked them under her free arm, grabbed her briefcase, ushered them both toward the door, and shut off the lights. She made sure the door was locked before proceeding to the building entrance. “Everything ready for the wedding? I have some free time if I can help with anything. All you have to do is call me,” Wendy offered. “You’re so sweet, Wendy. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You keep me on task here, that’s for sure. I may need some help with packing. Let me see how far I get with things. I‘ll phone you Monday or Tuesday.” “Sounds good, Doctor Worthington-soon-to-be-Halloran.” The women giggled, shared a hug, and found their vehicles. Each waved as they exited the parking lot. Felicia signaled and merged into the flow of eastbound traffic. She pushed a Green Day CD in the slot and turned the volume up, singing as the music started. It was true. So much still needed to be done before the wedding. She wanted to purchase something special for Alex, but she had no clue what to choose. She really needed to take the next three days and get her shit together so this wedding would go off without a hitch. From the beginning, she and Alex decided the wedding would be immediate family only with a very simple ceremony. Felicia remembered the hurt and anger of her mother’s words after hearing what they’d planned. “Felicia Anne! I can’t believe you are going to rob me of a wedding! I’ve waited a very long time for this. What’s everyone going to say when they don’t receive invitations to the ceremony? You know your father is a very influential man in the Acorn Hills community. People will talk,” Janet Worthington remarked. It wasn’t like Felicia was incapable of planning her own wedding. She decided that it was more the fact her mother wanted to live out her dream of a huge wedding through her daughter and come hell or high water it would be as she deemed. The only problem happened to be the fact that Felicia was just as headstrong if not more so than her mother. This wedding would be the way she wanted it…the way she and Alex wanted it. Felicia could care less about the social circles her parents moved in. She had her own nightmare of circles, of course, because of her position at the college: educational boards, senate finance meetings for program funding, schmoozing elite for donations. There was no way she was going to allow her parents to take away her special day. After Alex’s proposal last Christmas, they decided to wait a year before the wedding. The time would allow both of them to get student loan debt taken care of as well as learn more about one another…and what a learning experience it had been. The year flew by with one crisis after another: the poor health of her birth mother, the relationship between the athletic director and her sister, Richard’s emotional issues, and work. Always work. If it wasn’t a wedding, funeral, or holiday for Alex to deal with, it was a meeting Felicia needed to attend. More than all of this was her own diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Thankfully, the FDA approval of several new disease modifying drugs allowed Denise to experiment and find what would work for her. Her neurologist was on top of things and the drug of choice seemed to be doing its job. Her symptoms were stable, there was no current progression, and she felt well. For that she was grateful. Felicia pushed the answer button on the dashboard. “Felicia Worthington, how may I help you?” “Honey, you’re off work,” the sexy male voice affirmed. Felicia giggled. “Yup, I guess I am.” “You driving?” Alex asked. “Yes. I’m on my way home. What’s up?” “Just wondered when you were going to leave work. Ginger wants to finalize some things for the reception.” Felicia rolled her eyes. The reception…her mother’s moment of glory. At least Janet Worthington agreed to have Mystic Capers cater the soiree. She shuddered at the thought of all of the stuffy business friends gathered in one spot at the Acorn Hills event center. Much to the disgust of her mother, Felicia was pleased the reception wouldn’t take place until mid-January. “I just want this all to go away. I want us married and I just want it all to go away. Can’t we make that happen, Alex? Please?” “I wish I could. At least we get our wedding our way. Let your parents…your mother…plan the reception the way she wants. Aunt Ginger won’t let your mom steamroll her into anything. She’ll try to incorporate what we ask.” Felicia knew Alex was right. It was the fact that her mother had to be involved, had to micromanage every detail of this life event. From the day she turned sixteen her mother had been planning the perfect fairytale wedding for her. “I know you’re right, Alex. It’s just…oh, I don’t know. I feel like I’m losing what little control I had, and truthfully that wasn’t very much.” “Sweetheart, listen to me. Our wedding will be beautiful and meaningful for us. That’s all that matters, right?” Alex sensed how upset Felicia was and tried to diffuse her anger. “Let’s go out for dinner tonight. A celebration of sorts.” “A celebration?” “Celebrating the end of your work schedule until we get back from our honeymoon.” Felicia smiled. Alex always centered her, regardless of her mood. From their first date in high school, he was in tune with her emotionally. He read her body language like none other. “Alex?” “Yes, honey.” “I love you. I’m so glad you walked back into my life.” “Felicia, I’m the one who should be thanking you for taking my sorry ass back. I was a brutal, self-centered prick in high school…” he paused. “The only thing that matters is we’re together now and we’re going to live out our happy ever after. I promise.” “I’m not an easy person to live with, baby, but I promise to try my hardest to not drive you crazy.” “You won’t.” “Pulling in the drive now. See you in a few.” Felicia entered the underground parking lot. She drove up to the second level, found Alex’s vehicle and pulled in next to it. Home. Well, sort of home. That was something else on her list they needed to discuss…where they would live. For now, she cleaned out the back seat, pushed the lock button on the key fob, and made her way inside. It was a welcome relief to actually enter Alex’s apartment and not have his mother and her husband greet her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Jillian and Richard, she loved them, but she was so glad they had their own place. When they were staying at the apartment, Felicia felt awkward even kissing Alex. The odd times alone found Alex hugging her tightly to him, assuring her it wouldn’t always be that way. He was right. He was almost always right. Alex met Felicia at the door. He took her briefcase, papers, and boots into the apartment and put them on the coffee table then walked back to where she stood. He took her coat and hung it in the closet. He smiled and took the barrette from the back of Felicia’s head, freeing her waist length hair which fell around her shoulders. Alex lightly touched her lips with his and drew back. The passion he saw in her beautiful, warm, chocolate colored eyes set him on fire. “It’s good to have you home,” Alex sighed. Felicia put her arms around Alex’s neck and drew him to her. His musky clean fragrance danced in her senses. She buried her face in his neck. “Tough day, sweetheart?” “Not particularly. I just need to feel you close to me, that’s all.” Alex knew the stresses of work and the wedding were taking their toll on her health. He placed another sweet kiss on her lips. “Change clothes and we’ll go to the gym for a while, then hit the pool to cool down. We can go out afterward for a bite to eat and end the evening with Aunt Ginger,” Alex suggested. Felicia stuck her bottom lip out and batted her eyelashes at Alex. “Aw man, seriously? You want to work out? Seriously?” She sighed. “I guess if I have to…” Alex laughed and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Felicia, I love you so much!” ****** Ginger greeted Felicia and Alex the moment they walked into Mystic Capers. She hugged Alex and kissed his cheek and did the same to Felicia. “Hiya, Baby Boy! Hello, Gorgeous!” Felicia closed her eyes and tentatively returned Ginger’s affection. “I’m anxious to see what fiasco Mother is planning with this reception.” “Now, honey, don’t be so harsh with your mom. She loves you, Felicia, and only wants the best. That’s why she hired me, right?” Ginger smiled. “Auntie Ging, you ARE the best!” Ginger pinched Alex’s cheek and led them to the back corner table. A pot of hot cider and three mugs of hot rested on the table along with a plate of sugar cookies. “Thanks for working around our schedules, Ginger. We really appreciate it,” Felicia stated. “Not to worry, dear. We will make this the blow out to begin the New Year. I promise. You and Alex will get what you want, as will your mom.” Felicia sighed. She sure hoped Ginger was right. Under the table Alex grabbed Felicia’s hand and linked his fingers with hers. “Okay, let’s get started!” Ginger’s enthusiasm made the younger couple both smile. It was apparent this was Ginger’s element and she was definitely good at what she did. “The tables will be draped in white linen with gold center runners. Place cards tied to clear glass ornaments filled with your photo and some sparkly tinsel. The flowers are Alex’s domain, so I’m not worried about that,” Ginger explained. “The dinner itself will be served while the guests are seated. Your mom has chosen prime rib or coq au vin for the main course with julienne honey glazed carrots and garlic mashed potatoes. The appetizers will be salmon puffs, cucumber sandwiches, and some other things. I’ve haven’t quite figured that out yet.” “This seems like a lot of work for nothing,” Felicia stated. “All we want is to get married.” “Felicia, you worry too much. Have some faith in me, please,” Alex pleaded. “Auntie Ging and I have plans.” Ginger giggled and smiled at Felicia, who rolled her eyes. “That’s what worries me!” Felicia declared. The next hour was spent finalizing the meal, talking about the RSVP’s, figuring out where to position the cake...which wasn’t a cake but red velvet cupcakes with blown sugar decorations and gold edible glitter…and the orchestra. Felicia laughed and shook her head. “An orchestra. Yup, that’s my mother, alright.” “Well, actually, your mother will get a surprise when she finds out the orchestra she booked can’t be here. Woody and the guys are gonna play instead,” Alex affirmed. “Seriously? Oh my God! She will have a cow on the spot. We can’t, I mean they can’t, I mean…oh I don’t know what I mean…” Felicia spewed. Alex leaned over and placed a tender kiss on Felicia’s lips. He caressed her cheek with his hand and looked deeply into her beautiful eyes. “Trust me, honey. It will be alright. This band is diverse in its music. I promise it won’t all be 80’s and 90’s, okay?” Felicia tried hard to choke back the tears that were at surface level and ready to stream down her cheeks. “I feel like I don’t have any control over any of this. It’s like all I have to do is show up. That isn’t what’s supposed to happen. That’s just not how it’s done. The bride plans the reception with input from her parents…not the parents planning with input from the bride. “Do you know how difficult it was to assure my parents the wedding would be beautiful and that it was what I wanted,” Felicia pointed to herself. “What I wanted? That it was something you and I planned, Alex? “I fought them on every turn. Mom was determined that it was going to be this huge high church ceremony with all these socialites in attendance. Media would be there to cover it. “I told them, I told both mom and dad, this was our wedding. It was our special day and it should be what we wanted. I threatened to run off and elope and not ever talk with her again. That’s when she decided it wasn’t a bad idea to do what I wanted to do…that it would be nice, I believe was the term she used. Not beautiful, but nice. “I’m not capable of anything in their eyes unless it involves my position with the college and community, after all I am their daughter and I must uphold the Worthington name.” Felicia pushed Alex’s hand away from hers. She stood up and put on her coat. “I need to get out of here. Nothing will ever be right. Not ever.” The front doorbell chimed as Felicia exited Mystic Capers leaving Alex staring after her.