A Hundred Promises of Love

By Aidee Ladnier

Ethan Carson can't bring his father back, but he can give his widowed mom a perfect Christmas. He's spent all his savings on her wish list and found an epic tree. But when he starts to decorate with the family heirlooms, he finds her favorite ornament, the one his father gifted her on their honeymoon, is broken.The last time glassblower, Nico Kazan celebrated Christmas his boyfriend died. He woke up in the hospital alone and guilt-ridden. When Ethan, the object of his secret crush, asks him to recreate a broken Murano ball, the last thing he wants is to recreate a symbol of love—not when he knows love doesn't last. With Christmas orders coming in, only Ethan can convince Nico there's more to life than money. And only the magic of Christmas can open a heart sealed up tight. It'll take more than skill to recreate the Murano ball. It'll take a Christmas miracle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aidee Ladnier
• Release date: Sep 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215644195

Aidee Ladnier

Aidee Ladnier, an award-winning author of speculative fiction, began writing at twelve years old but took a hiatus to be a magician’s assistant, ride in hot air balloons, produce independent movies, collect interesting shoes, fold origami, send ping pong balls into space, and amass a secret file with the CIA. A lover of genre fiction, it has been a lifelong dream of Aidee's to write both romance and erotica with a little science fiction, fantasy, mystery, or the paranormal thrown in to add a zing.

Book preview

A Hundred Promises of Love

AIDEE LADNIER

Praise for A Hundred Promises of Love

I did not expect to like this novella so much. It was sweet but not sugary, beautifully written and poignant.

-MariF, Hearts On Fire Reviews

...it was holiday all the way and was very hopeful.

-Ro, Goodreads Reviewer

Copyright © 2022 by Aidee Ladnier.

All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Aidee Ladnier Books

www.aideeladnier.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Cover art by Natasha Snow

Editing: Kris Jacen

Originally Published by MLR Press

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank Eric Harper and Lori Cummings of Orbix Hot Glass for answering so many of her questions about the art of glass blowing.

TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

eBay: eBay, Inc.

Opryland: Marriott International Inc.

iPads: Apple, Inc.

NOVEMBER 25TH

ON THE CHRISTMAS CARD, two fluffy Persian cats sporting felt antlers stared at Ethan in disgust. Behind them a miniature sleigh sat empty. A thought balloon rose above one cat with the words, Pull your own sleigh, fat man. Ha. Ethan tried to smother the chuckle, but it escaped.

Are you laughing at your Cousin Emmylou’s lumbago? His mom’s disapproving question snapped Ethan back to the conversation on his phone. He shoved the card back in the rack and lined them up from where the last customer picked through them.

What? No. What is lumbago, anyway? His Cousin Emmylou always had some ailment discussed ad nauseam by the family. A pang of regret thrummed in his chest as Ethan realized he wouldn’t see Cousin Emmylou or any of the extended family this Christmas.

At least his mom would be here to celebrate.

It’s a three-dollar word for back pain. Ethan’s mom sighed. Last month it was impetigo. I swear that woman is a walking health hazard.

Well, you’ll get a week off from Cousin Emmylou. I’m looking forward to your visit, Mom. And he was. His mom traveled little, and he wanted to pamper her this Christmas. He’d spent his cash, extra savings, and maxed out his puny credit card to buy spa day gift certificates, theatre tickets, and a special weekend stay at the Opryland hotel. He’d even sprung for passes to see his mom’s favorite performer in concert. He’d need to watch his budget through January to make sure he didn’t overdraw his checking account, but she deserved it. Christmas was always hard, now that Dad had passed. And with her move out of the family home this year... He wanted her new memories to be just as special.

I can’t wait to spend quality time with my baby boy again.

Well, it will be a whole new experience to see Nashville at Christmas. Don’t forget to bring a warm coat.

His mom’s laughter sparkled through the phone’s speaker. No shorts for Christmas?

I’m hoping for snow. Ethan chuckled at his mom’s exaggerated brrr noise in response.

There’s something else I— She began but movement beyond the coffee shop’s plate glass window caught his eye.

Ethan recognized the tall, delicious figure in purple lens sunglasses striding toward him. He interrupted her mid-sentence. Oops. Gotta go, Mom. Love you.

Love you too, baby boy.

Ethan rammed the phone back in his pocket and ducked behind the counter a minute before the bell over the door jingled.

❄❄❄

Nico shoved his filtered safety glasses to the top of his head and then grabbed the door, stopping it from swinging closed behind a young woman exiting with her kindergartener. The shaded interior of the Café au Lait coffee shop soothed his eyes after the piercing winter sunshine and chilly breeze of the street. The warm old-world wood paneling invited patrons to linger over a cup, but he didn’t dawdle. He’d been a regular customer every day since the place opened last June, or rather, Paula, Glen, and he had. One of them made the morning coffee run before they started on the day’s projects. But Nico had volunteered more often since the coffee shop had hired Ethan four months ago. Ever since he noticed the tasteful little rainbow pin that Ethan wore on the strap of his barista apron.

Ethan of the golden beard stubble and the plush mouth Nico yearned to kiss. Glen kept pestering Nico to ask the guy out, but instead, Nico always said—

One small skinny vanilla decaf latte. One medium macchiato, one pump hazelnut syrup. One double shot Americano.

Ethan’s smile never wavered. Coming right up.

The girl behind the counter pulled the beverages while Ethan rang him up. Their fingers brushed when Nico handed over his debit card. Ethan slid Nico’s receipt across the counter and went to help make the drinks. Nico couldn’t take his eyes off Ethan. He watched him pour the milk, so that it left a perfect heart-shaped leaf in the latte. He followed Ethan’s milk-stained finger to his plush lips before he washed his hands again. And he counted the fine strawberry blond hairs along Ethan’s arms as he popped open the carry container and placed the finished drinks inside.

He handed Nico the laden box and again his fingers brushed against the burn-scarred skin of Nico’s wrist, making a tingle of awareness skitter down Nico’s spine.

I hope you have a happy holiday, Mr. Kazan. Ethan’s pleasant voice matched the happy smile on his face.

Nico stood frozen. He should do it now. He should ask. Nico’d been working up the courage for the last two months.

Ethan regarded him, eyebrows raised.

Nico tried to force the words out. His heart hammered, and he was sure it throbbed in the vein in his neck. The cardboard of the carrier sagged with the cold sweat exuding from his palm. Nico closed his mouth and swallowed. Who was he kidding? The guy would laugh in his face.