A Special Christmas Gift

By Kate Hofman

Glenda is resigned to never seeing her lover Alexandros again... until he knocks at her door, pleading for another chance. Will the magic of the Christmas season be an inspiration for change and forgiveness within their relationship, or are they doomed to follow a similar path as before and end in turmoil and failure? A holiday romance that will keep you company while waiting for your special someone to knock on the door.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DCL Publications
• Release date: Feb 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780989193788

Kate Hofman

Born in The Netherlands, we went to live in London, England, when I was eighteen.BFA – Art History, Major. Interior Design, Minor.Moved to Montreal, Canada. (I figured I might as well be paid for being fluent in French). Married Arnold Hofman, a truly fabulous man. Owned and operated an art gallery for twelve years. Widowed ten years ago. Became friends with Nina Bruhns, who urged me to write.I did as I was told, and in the next five years I wrote two dozen books. I figured that’s what it would take to learn to write. And I was wrong!Rose Brungard took pity on me and gave unstintingly of her own expertise, sending long teaching e-mails, which helped me a lot.I also owe my grateful thanks to Thea Devine, who taught me to play “What If” when the writing isn’t going well.And more recently, I have been given generous help, encouragement and advice by Jennifer Mueller, a wonderful writer, who also provided the stunning cover art for all my books published by Romance At Heart. I owe you all so much.Sincerely,Kate Hofman

Book preview

A Special Christmas Gift

by Kate Hofman

DCL Publications, LLC

© 2009 Kate Hofman

All rights reserved

First Edition November 2009

Second Edition October 2013

DCL Publications

1033 Plymouth Dr.

Grafton, OH 44044

ISBN 978-0-9891937-8-8

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Annie Marshal and Beyond the Book Productions

PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Chapter One

Ocean Breeze, Florida

Sunday—Two days before Christmas

Glenda St. George was sitting in the living room of her beachside cottage. She was busy stringing up Christmas cards she and her small son, Jason, had received. The room was elegant, yet comfortable. But its pale walls were in urgent need of Christmas decorations. The only painting in the room was a portrait of Jason, done recently by her friend, Nadine Konings, the famed portraitist. A few posters of Greece, in silver-metal frames, adorned the walls. Now, there would be the garlands of cards to add a festive touch. On the mantel above the fireplace, Glenda had placed a dozen short, fat candles. They were draped in a swag of blue spruce, made up of branches she had removed from the Christmas tree which stood in the far corner of the room. She smiled at the thought of how she and Jason had made the popcorn and cranberry garlands for the tree—she stringing the kernels and berries, and Jason sliding them down the thread. As always, when she thought of Jason, a wave of gratitude surged up in her, gratitude for her adorable little boy.

The buzzer at the front door sounded briefly. One of my friends. Who else would buzz so briefly, in order not to disturb her son’s nap? Smoothing her soft, blonde hair, she opened the door, a welcoming smile on her lips—and froze. The man who stood there, the epitome of tall, dark and handsome, a tentative smile curling a corner of his to-die-for mouth, said quietly, Hello, Glenda. When he saw her deathly pale face, how she clutched at the door for support, he said, Forgive me, I… He stretched out an arm to support her. Half-conscious, Glenda’s petite body slid into his arms. Finally, the dizziness passed. When she came to herself, she was grateful for his arms, yet deeply upset by his touch.

She breathed, Alex…? W-what are you—doing—here?

May I come in? It took Glenda a moment to step back, out of his supporting arm, gesturing for him to enter. Yes. Of—course, come—in. But why…?

Alexandros Manitakis stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He kept his hand at her waist without touching, in case the dizziness he had observed when she opened the door to him should return. Is that your living room? Shall we go there?

Glenda nodded numbly. He took his time seating her comfortably in a corner of the sofa—aware of how his touch upset her. He sat down in the other corner, making sure he leaned back, wasn’t crowding her. Glancing unobtrusively at her, Glenda’s pallor worried him. He got to his feet, found the kitchen, returning quickly with a glass of water. Drink this. His deep voice showed his concern, and something else, but Glenda was too shaken by Alex’s sudden arrival to notice it. She drank some water, handing the glass back to him. Thank you, she whispered.

He put the glass on the coffee-table, for the first time taking a good look at her. She was thinner, her face seemed to have fined down, making her even more beautiful. The luxuriant blonde hair was the same, as were the great, violet-blue eyes with their long, dark lashes, under finely drawn silky brows. The small, straight nose, and the luscious, pink mouth, her lips parted—in surprise?—her lissome body, the long, long legs, the beautiful arms and hands—all the same. Somehow I’ve got to find a way to win her back…

When Alexandros judged her to be calm enough to listen to him, he said gently, You asked me what I was doing here. As soon as I knew you were not married and…

"Me,