Xanthou’S Christmas Gift

By Gloria Morgan

Cree Summersby is focused on opening an antique store, not on pursuing men who think they are Gods gifts to women. But when her path crosses with the drop-dead gorgeous shipping tycoon Alexei Xanthou, she cannot help but rethink her views. When their eyes lock, Cree feels like she has been put under a spell.

Alexei, dubbed a womanizer by the press, would like to be known as a man of substance, not a playboy. When he sees the ravishing Cree in a restaurant, he sets out to show everyone just how wrong they are about himand how right he is for her. As Cree begins to fall in love, she wonders whether Alexei will ever be able to reciprocate, whether she can make him happy, or whether they even have a future together. Alexei has his own challenges as an ex-girlfriend returns to claim what she believes is hers. Now only time will tell whether Cree will overcome her fears and Alexei can put the past behind him so they can realize their own happily ever after.

In this contemporary romance novel, the paths of an independent woman and a millionaire intertwine as they set out on a journey to discover whether passion can truly lead to love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781532026829

Gloria Morgan

Gloria Morgan holds two bachelors degrees and two masters degrees in education and biblical theology. She is a teacher who is currently working on a doctorate in educational technology/reading and brain research. Gloria enjoys listening to music, reading, writing poetry, and traveling. This is her fourth book.

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Xanthou’s Christmas Gift

Gloria Morgan

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XANTHOU’S CHRISTMAS GIFT

Copyright © 2017 Gloria Morgan.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

iUniverse

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-2681-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-2682-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910334

iUniverse rev. date:    12/28/2017

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter One

Catherine Simone Summersby, better known as Cree to her family and friends, stared openmouthed at the television screen. Sprawling on the sofa in the studio of Channel 52 WIN in the beautiful, enchanting place of Garden City—one of New York’s most beloved suburbs—being interviewed by the starry-eyed female host, Alexei Xanthou looked the rogue male that he was. With his stunning and charismatic good looks, dark-as-midnight eyes, six-pack abs, and sinful wealth, he appeared to be on top of the world.

Alexei Giannis Xanthou was the epitome of gorgeousness. He was bronzed, beautiful, dashing, debonair, and flawless, with a wide, sensual, and very masculine mouth. At six feet four, he possessed the fabulous muscular physique of a trained athlete that fairly screamed sexy. He was also dazzlingly handsome and carried himself with such great assurance and confidence that men often envied him and women would go weak at the knees at the sight of him. To top it all off, he came from a family of great wealth and privilege, to which he had added his own considerable fortune.

The interviewer, Sallie Winston, leaned closer to Alexei and purred, Tell me, Alexei—do you ever plan on tying the knot? She looked as though if he gave her half a chance, she would drop everything and race up the aisle to become Mrs. Alexei Xanthou.

He turned a devastating smile at her and lazily answered her question.

"Well, now, cara … He paused deliberately. It depends on who the lucky candidate is. She has to meet all my requirements."

And what would those requirements entail? she asked, looking at him as if she wanted to eat him alive.

Intelligent—and sexy, of course. He fixed her with a megawatt smile.

Sallie looked as if she were about to pass out. And …? she said breathlessly.

Alexei Xanthou only laughed.

I can see you do not want to share all of those thoughts with the whole viewing audience, she continued. But perhaps you would care to share them with the studio audience when the show is over?

I might just do that, he answered softly, in a very provocative manner. "Perhaps I will find the one in this very studio."

He smiled that devastating smile at her again.

Sallie’s voice was husky and barely above a whisper as she thanked Alexei.

She fairly glowed as she said goodbye to the television audience.

***

Cree turned off the TV and threw the remote on the sofa angrily.

She was disgusted with the interviewer’s manner and appalled that such a reputable television channel would allow such a disgrace to happen at their station. But she was most enraged at Alexei Xanthou’s appalling conduct.

He’s so arrogant! she shouted aloud, even though there was no one else in the room with her. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. And what’s worse, these pathetic women are falling for his disgusting behavior hook, line, and sinker.

Her housemate, Marilee Reece, raced into the room and anxiously asked Cree, What’s the matter? Did you see Roger on television? Was he out with bitchy Wynonna again? How many interviews are they going to do? The entire world must be sick of the two of them by now. She paused for breath. I mean … considering their love is not real.

I know what you mean, replied Cree. Not only is their love not real, but nothing about her body is real either.

Yeah! Marilee piped in. I’d say ‘Silicone Valley’ if you asked me!

And both girls started laughing hysterically.

Sobering up a bit, Cree continued, reluctantly. I dumped him when I found out they were seeing each other behind my back. I would venture to say that his love for me was not real either. All the time he was whispering sweet words in my ears, he was not being real. So all I was actually getting from him were ‘sweet nothings.’ Imagine being taken in by a rat like that. I am so glad our relationship did not progress beyond holding hands at the dinners and movies we went to. I am so happy I found out early enough that he is one filthy, mangy dog; I can tell you that!

I can believe that, replied Marilee. He is awful. I still can’t understand what you saw in him.

He has a fairly handsome face and a fair amount of money, but sad to say, when you get to know him a little bit, his truly rotten colors start showing.

I know what you mean, her friend replied.

At first, Cree said, he seemed like a really nice guy, but in just over two months, he went from an A to an F. Well, good riddance to a nonentity. Wynonna Leigh is more than welcome to him. She paused and looked at Marilee. "But I was not talking about Roger St. Clair this time, although he seems to be popping up everywhere. I just saw the tail end of the TV program Celebrity Hour, with Sallie Winston. Her main guest was that arrogant Italian Greek shipping tycoon Alexei Xanthou. She snorted in disgust. You should have heard him and his demeaning mannerisms toward the female population. His talking about his requirements for ‘Ms. Right’ was disgusting! I wish I had been in that studio to put him in his place. The nerve of that man!"

When Marilee did not answer her immediately, Cree looked at her and saw, to her horror, a dreamy look on her friend’s face.

Marilee then spoke in an almost accusatory manner. Are you trying to tell me that the dreamboat Alexei Xanthou was on television and you didn’t call me?

I didn’t know the show was on, answered Cree, still looking at Marilee warily. I only saw it by mistake when I turned the television on. Anyway, it was near the end of the program, and I was too infuriated by his demeanor and what he was saying to think straight, let alone call you. I wasn’t even aware you were mesmerized by that arrogant playboy!

He is a dream—you have to admit! her friend replied. Any female between fifteen and fifty would only be too happy to get down and dirty with so much sexiness. She sighed. I know I would! If he should ask me out tomorrow, there’s no way on God’s green earth I would ever say no.

As Marilee continued to look at Cree, she added, with a sly smile, I suspect that given the right circumstance, you would not be able to resist such a fine hunk of masculinity either, Cree.

You’re just being ridiculous! answered Cree disgustedly. I would not fall for him if he were the last man on planet Earth. In case you haven’t noticed, I am not into men who believe the whole female population is there to bring them pleasure. I can assure you that I am not in any way, shape, or form impressed with El Numero Uno, as he likes to call himself. To me he is more like El Numero Zero! By the time Cree was finished, she was fuming.

Marilee only smiled more and added, I won’t say another word, but it makes me wonder why you are so hot and bothered about someone you have only met briefly once. Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

Oh, be quiet and go watch your soap opera, said Cree. I’m sure there must be something happening in Cedar Grove to grab your attention. She playfully punched Marilee on the arm and left the room.

***

Alexei Xanthou outwardly smiled at the show’s host, but inwardly he was loathing every minute of the so-called interview. Looking at the lasciviousness evident in Sallie Winston’s eyes, it felt more like a parade to him, and he was the main attraction. If he so much as crooked his little finger, she would come running. What a turnoff that was for him.

She, and the other drooling females like her, bored him to tears now. As a gorgeous multibillionaire, he was so used to women falling at his feet at every available opportunity that he was not very impressed anymore by their not-so-subtle ways of trying to gain his attention. Truth be known, it bored him to tears to see their pathetic behavior, and it made them look too desperate to him. He wanted a challenging relationship with a woman who was both intelligent and sexy.

Ten years ago, such women were welcome diversions, but nowadays, at the ripe old age of thirty-five, he was looking for women—or, in particular, a woman—with the beauty, sophistication, and intelligence needed to challenge him both in and out of the bedroom.

Wondering why on earth he had accepted the invitation to appear on the show, he looked over the audience again when the on-air portion of the show ended, and he smiled at them in that sexy manner of his.

Several misty-eyed women started fanning themselves.

For the next thirty minutes, the audience members kept firing all kinds of questions at him. When they got too personal, he just smiled in response.

Finally, looking pointedly at his watch, he leaned over, took Sallie’s hand in his, and kissed the back of it. Thanks for a great time, cara!

He turned to the audience with that killer smile. Take care, all you wonderful ladies. It’s been my enormous pleasure to be with all of you today.

He stood up and waved goodbye to the women in the studio, and continuing in that sweet, sexy, and irresistible drawl of his, he whispered, Stay beautiful!

Then he sauntered out of the studio with that amazingly dangerous, undeniable, and super sexy swagger of his.

As he passed by one of the ladies, he winked at her, and she just about fell out of her chair.

Is he hot or what? she asked the others, and with a dreamy sigh, they all pretended to swoon.

The minute Alexei stepped out the studio door, he