Lola and the Four Calling Byrds (12 Days of Christmas Book 4)

By Dahlia Rose

An impulsive wish leads to pleasures Lola Reid never dreamed of. Merry Christmas to her, indeed! Lola Reid is known as being tough in a man’s world. She has a reputation that men couldn’t handle. A bunch of whiners, the lot of them! She may melt like sugar for a man, but he can’t just be ANY man. He has to EARN that luxury before she becomes sweet and submissive. She was a girl from Bedstuy, Brooklyn, grew up to be a powerful woman in a corner office. So, she wasn’t backing down for anyone. Too bad her family treats her like a cash cow and shows her so much disdain. From a brother who always calls her for cash to a family that berates her for not conforming to their way of thinking she’s already to be done with this year.

She needs an escape and fast. Lola will not be spending yet another holiday avoiding her friends and family or with just her toys for company. Thanks to her awesome secretary and some quick planning she’s headed to the Catskills for some needed pampering. And when the New Year rolls in she would return to the city refreshed and ready to kick down more fragile male egos and conquer the world of investment finance. But the holidays have a surprise in store for her. After a wish, uttered right before heading to bed she wakes up to the hottest man she’s ever seen. And she’s seen some hot guys. What...The... Fuck. The explanation; he and his brothers are there to please her and fulfill her every fantasy. If this is a dream, Lola doesn’t need or want to wake up. This Christmas she is diving into sensual decadence headfirst.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dahlia Rose
• Release date: Dec 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463155660

Dahlia Rose

Dahlia Rose is the best-selling author of contemporary, military and paranormal romance with a hint of Caribbean spice. She was born and raised on a Caribbean island and now currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her five kids, who she affectionately nicknamed “The Children of the Corn,” and her biggest supporter and longtime love. She has a love of erotica, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and the things that go bump in the night. With over six dozen books published Dahlia has become a reader favorite. Not only because of her writing but her vivacious attitude in talking to her fans online and at various events. Books and writing are her biggest passions, and she hopes to open your imagination to the unknown between the pages of her books. http://hearttoheartwithdahliarose.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/author.dahliarose www.twitter.com/dahliarose1029

Book preview

Chapter One

Every day her schedule was ultimately the same. Get up at 5:00 A.M. go to the gym to keep her curves on point; back upstairs to shower, and an hour later, out of the apartment by 7:00 with her travel mug of coffee; her driver would be parked in front of the building. From there, they would weave their way through Manhattan until they were outside Rockefeller center.

She would spend the next twelve hours working to make more bank for other people’s stock portfolio—dinner at her desk more than likely and then back home. Rinse and repeat, that was her life. Lola Reid put tunnel vision on her goals since she was sixteen years old and worked like a woman possessed to get where she was.

Nothing else mattered, and now, she was there; the consequences of that hard drive was that she was successful but very alone at the top. Men were scared of a strong woman who made her mark on the finance sector. Lola was coined as either ‘gay or a ball-buster’ neither was used as a compliment. She was on the top, in a man’s world, no one wanted to see past who she was in the boardroom. She was not willing to settle; Lola wouldn’t just accept anyone, not to be alone. So, she kept her routine and lied to herself in hopes of being satisfied.

Why wish for something I will never have?

Christmas in New York City was always this hectic, but, a fun bustle of activity. Outside her office window, she could look down to see the massive tree that was the crowning point of Manhattan; it stood with lights glittering amid decorations and the skating rink. It amazed her from the morning until late at night, during the winter, and especially around the holidays. On thin blades, people performed jumps and spins under a garland of holly and red bows, combined with silver tinsel and hot chocolate stands, so people could keep warm.

How many couples had she watched and envied as they kissed under the mistletoe, or got engaged by the light of the Rockefeller Christmas tree? She’d even watched a wedding on ice; it seemed almost magical as the bride skated up in a whimsical white dress. From her window, she felt the awe of a guest even though she watched from her office. The couple said their vows and shared a kiss as man and wife with the magic of Christmas, making it all the more special.

Lola turned away with a heavy ache in her heart and poured herself a gin and tonic. The phone on her desk pulled her from her thoughts and back to reality. She almost left it alone to go back and look out the window at Rockefeller and daydream.

Instead, Lola picked up the line. Yes?

Ms. Reid, I have your brother on the line, her assistant said.

Lola rolled her eyes. Connect the call, Barbara.

There was a moment of silence, and then, she heard his voice. Lil Sis, how’s it going?

How much, Al? Lola sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Aw, come on; can’t I just call my sister for the holidays? His voice was too light, almost high pitched, and she knew he was back on drugs.

Al, let me get you to the rehab facility again—

I’m good, Sis, excellent, and I’m not on drugs, Al answered. I’m actually in the Church now and a Deacon. I’m living with Mom and Dad again; we all go to the big place on Kirkpatrick Road.

Are you kidding me? Lola snapped. So, everyone is back at the very same place where Pastor Jones tried to molest me?

Lola, people can change, Al’s voice became almost pleading. Listen come to Church with us, and you’ll—

There is no way in fucking hell, Al, Lola snapped.

Maybe that’s too soon, he cut her off quickly. But a donation toward the Church will help a lot. He knows how big-time you are, and he keeps asking Mom and Dad.

Mom and Dad are giving him the checks I send them to live? Lola asked in exasperation. Obviously, it’s not just religion you’re high on, Al. This is fucking nonsense; I’m tired of this.

He wants to come to your office and meet, so he can discuss your donation, Al stammered.

You tell Pastor Jones if he ever steps foot in my building, or if I even see him across the street, I’ll have him arrested, Lola snarled. And, if he takes another penny of my parents’ money, that sham church is going down. In fact, I’m going to get a police friend to start checking it out.

Lola, you’ve always been an uppity bitch. Al turned into the person she knew as a teenager, the one who gave her the drive to leave Brooklyn and never look back. Ma and Dad only need the money, but none of us give a shit about you or loving you.

I know that, Al, Lola sighed. But my money’s good, and that’s all that matters, right? Pass the message on; that’s all you have to do.

Bitch, Al snarled.

Yes, that’s me, she snapped. I would say, I won’t hold it against you because you’re on drugs, but you hated me even when you were clean. I’ve always been the payday for this family, for Mom and Dad to live large in Brooklyn, even though they tried to sell me out to that pervert. For you, it’s to put it in your arm or up your nose. It’s just money, Al, and I’d gladly pay it, so you people will stay away from me.

Lola hung up the phone; that conversation was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There was no way she could spend another Christmas alone in New York, and her family made it worse. They were closing for the winter holiday anyway, so why not? She picked up her phone again and pressed the button to her secretary’s line.

Barbara, I want a suite booked at the resort in the Catskills and a private flight up tonight, Lola said.

That’s going to cost a bit more for being last minute, Barbara pointed out.

Make it happen; it’s about time I do something for me, Lola replied.

That you should, Barbara murmured. "You work too