The Anniversary Gift: Novellas and Short Stories

By Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae

Emilia hates the annual banking industry formal event she has to attend with her husband William. But she changes her mind about the occasion when she is introduced to his handsome young colleague, Thomas. 

When William asks her what she wants for their upcoming anniversary, Emilia puts a night of adventure with the two men on her wish list. Who says life after 40 can't be fun?

Previously published under Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae's penname, Avalon Alexander.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Avian30
• Release date: Feb 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386397410

Racheline Maltese

Racheline is a writer and performer. She's not a self-help expert and has absolutely no qualifications other than being a disaster human who is good at getting shit done, persevering, and swearing. You can find her on Twitter @racheline_m. With Erin McRae, she writes romance novels about difficult people with complicated lives finding their happily ever afters.

Book preview

The Anniversary Gift

Novellas and Short Stories

Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae

Published by Avian30, 2018.

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

Avian30

New York, New York

The Anniversary Gift by Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae

Copyright 2015

www.Avian30.com

All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law.

This work originally appeared published by Avalon Alexander, a pen name of Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese, 2015.

First Avian30 Printing: February 2018

Printed in the USA

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Further Reading: The Art of Three

Also By Racheline Maltese

Also By Erin McRae

About the Author

Chapter 1

I don’t understand why these ridiculous things always have to be in June, Emilia Syndenham said as she held up mismatched earrings, trying to decide on the pearl and emerald or the diamond and ruby. Both looked striking when paired with her alabaster skin and dark, lustrous hair. Which do you think, William?

Whichever you want, and I don’t see why you get to complain, her husband said, dropping a kiss onto her bare shoulder. You’re not the one trapped in a tuxedo when it’s sweltering outside.

She turned around and rested her hands on the back of the chair set at her vanity. Do we have to go? Truly? I feel like I’ve hardly seen you in weeks This should be us getting a nice night out, but we both know it’s work.

Speaking of knowing...  you do realize you say this to me every year?

Of course I do. She turned back to the mirror. And every time I do, you promise to get me something nice for our anniversary and then fuck me before we have to see your horrible colleagues. In general, it’s worked out very well for me. Why stop now?

Well. William met her eyes in the mirror and smiled. "Far