Here continues A Thanksgiving Tale, if you haven't read it, I recommend you do as it will make this story easier to follow. I have changed the name of the story to A Winter's Tale as Thanksgiving is over.
Before I let you start reading I would like to thank my editor C.P. who helped me out more than I could have hoped. Even so, all the mistakes still left are mine. Enjoy the ongoing story of Ione and Spencer.
A Winter's Tale Chapter 2
(C) Kraveree 2016
It wasn't a good day for Regan Selby-Winter. Not only was it a long tiring day, but one where she would not see her children. Rose, Sondra and little Alexander who were at the Winter family home in North Dakota. Her parents were taking care of them during the several weeks between Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas holiday.
She peeked at the large copper clock's roman numerals, a gift from one of the partners, when Regan had joined the firm. That had been almost eight years ago. A lot had changed. She no longer was the rude Yank, or the redhead who married above her station. She had demonstrated she was her own woman, ruthless when needs be.
"Five past eight, this must be the shittiest day of my life," the bright star of Merger Land muttered, proceeding to rub her eyes. "Perhaps I do need new glasses."
She put down the report she was reading. Too many legal issues had choked the negotiations to a standstill and she felt like she was pulling at a dead horse. Concluding that she was, Regan made a decision.
Regan walked over to the office door, opened it with a deep sigh before calling her assistant. "Ginny, you can go home, I'll close up."
Ginnifer Pallas looked up and blinked. "Of course, Lady Selby-Winter. I'll just finish up the mail and then I'll be off."
"Ginny," Regan said, frowning, "for the hundredth time, call me Regan when we're alone. Don't bother coming to work tomorrow, I am not going to be here. This mess can wait till after Christmas."
Ginny nodded as if stung by the harsh words.
Seeing the effect of her badly chosen words, Regan felt like kicking herself.
"I meant you can take the rest of the year off. It will not cost you any vacation days because this mess isn't your fault." Regan was relieved to see Ginny's face turn back to her normal pleasant sparkle, another crisis averted.
"And since we're on the subject of the holidays and the announcement of bonuses, yours will be quite substantial. I would be lost without you."
Ginny paled and then started to stammer. "T... t... thank you."
"No, thank you. Now get the hell home and tell that gorgeous girlfriend of yours how lucky she is."
"I will... But don't I need to book a flight back to the states?"
Ever the loyal and attentive assistant, Regan could no longer stop herself and walked over to the red-haired girl. "Ginny, go home. I feel like Scrooge right now and I know Elizabeth would love to see you before going to bed. I don't want her to think I am the worst boss in the world. I'll book the flight myself and you can go kiss that girl of yours before the end of the day."
Ginny, torn between duty and love, chose the right option and started gathering her things.
"I'll see you next year?" Ginny asked once she collected all the things she would need for the sudden break from work.
"January 4rd."
A big smile bloomed on the small woman and then she quickly hugged Regan. "Merry Christmas."
"Humbug," Regan roared and burst into a childish giggle. It was the first time Ginny had shown such affection.
"Always wanted to say that," Regan said as she inhaled the scent of Miracle, her sister Hailey's favourite perfume, and apparently Ginny's too.
Ginny grinned big and wide as she let go of her boss. She was looking a bit flushed from embarrassment, but all of that disappeared when Regan took the Irish born assistant's hand and squeezed it gently.
Once Regan had walked Ginny to the elevators, the tired executive returned to finish up her day. She booked a flight online for the next day, business class, to New York using the corporate account. Sat down behind her desk and pulled out her phone and dialled her sister's number.
***
"You've been naughty again," Chelsea said when she walked into the sweltering dorm room. The scent of a woman in heat tickled her nose.
"How did it go?" Ione asked as she got up from her ruffled bed. The blushing raven-haired sophomore knew she had been caught jilling frigging off again. She silently blamed Spencer for her constant state of arousal.
"Fine, now back to you," Chelsea said and put down her backpack on her unmade bed. She had left in a hurry that morning to avoid being late for her final OChem sometimes known by the little-used title "Organic Chemistry."
"For almost a year, you were like Ione the Frigid Nun and now this. Spencer sure makes you horny as hell." Chelsea stressed her words with a sensual tongue licking her upper lip.
Sheepishly, Ione wiggled her nose and looked shyly at her feet. Chelsea was right as always., She she had fallen deep and hard for Spencer. "I... I really love her."
Raising her eyebrow, Chelsea walked over to her roomie and used her index finger to lift Ione's chin up. Deep amber eyes searched Ione's grey. "You know what I told you, right?"
Ione nodded as much as Chelsea's finger allowed. "Yes, that she's a celebrity and that I am going to get hurt and that I am in denial."
"Forget what I said," Chelsea spoke softly. Thinking back, she decided it had been she who had been blind. Ione wasn't just in love, the raven-haired pixie was head over heels, tumbling down the mountain, utterly defencelessly in love. Chelsea just had been too busy with her finals to notice.
"How you ever passed all your classes with her on your mind confuses the shit out of me."
Ione blushed deeply and tried to look away, but Chelsea's finger proved stronger.
"I wish I could be there... when you see her again. I'm expecting Richter 10s and hurricane F5s on the news."
Fear haunted Ione's eyes as the raven-haired sophomore remembered that wasn't going to happen soon, if ever.
"We have to keep it a secret," Ione said after a few swallows. Her hurt was hidden well, but not from her best friend and roommate. "She's not out."
"Err... She... You know, that part really sucks," Chelsea said, as disappointment replaced enthusiasm.
On impulse, she pulled Ione close and hugged her fiercely like only best friends can. She ignored Ione's scent of arousal underlaid by hints of lavender soap and sweat. "Only one more night before you see her again."
Ione nodded. In twenty-four hours, she would fly to New York, pick up Spencer and then, on to Minot.
"Grab some lunch?" Chelsea asked when she realised she was hugging Ione for the longest time, their bodies much warmer than before.
"Sure," Ione said slowly and disentangled herself from Chelsea's arms. "Let me take a quick shower first."
Ione reached for her toiletries, but didn't get far, as her phone rang with 'Defying Gravity'.
"Hi, Regan," Ione said when she picked up.
"Hey Tails, how are you doing?" Regan asked with warm affection.
"Great, passed all my finals and I am seeing Spencer tomorrow."
"Great! I'm looking forward to seeing her," Regan said and then continued on before Ione could interrupt. "I'm flying into New York tomorrow. Long story short, I got called back to London. John's still on his tour and the kids are at mum and dad's. I was wondering if we could hook up tomorrow."
"Sure, Spencer will be arriving at twelve thirty-five, I can look up the flight number, it's KTP3-something"
A long moment of silence kept Ione wondering if her words had reached her sister.
"... -27, got it... We're on the same flight."
"Wonderful, you two should try and hook up, too. Moira already left for the states, so Spencer is flying solo."
"Who?" Regan asked confused.
"Moira is Spencer's assistant, the woman who drove Spencer and I to the Minot airport, Thanksgiving's weekend."
"Oh yes, I remember. I'll see what happens. I am so far behind sleep that I could wake up next year, if not careful."
Ione rolled her eyes. "You should take better care of yourself now that you are pregnant," Ione said, concerned and also a bit angry because Regan should know better.
Ione knew her sister well., Regan could go on and on until she would either collapse or break down. Neither option Ione liked so much.
"I'll be fine, going to bed now, and then I'll take a company car to Heathrow. I can catch up on sleep on the flight to New York."
Ione shook her head. Regan could be so smart and stupid at the same time.
"Off to bed then," Regan continued. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Love you, sis, sleep tight."
"Oh, can you call Kylie for me and tell her I sold her painting and that she should ship the other two she wanted to sell. To my home."
"Sure, I can do that. Now go before I call John."
"Yeah, funny, love you too."
***
After a quick shower, Ione found her roommate packing for the holidays. She had a hard time deciding what not to bring as her suitcase wasn't closing.
"I bet we can close it if we both sit on it," suggested Ione.
With a twinkle in her eye, Chelsea nodded wickedly. Seconds later both girls were bunny hopping on the suitcase. Once the sound of the closing click sounded, the sophomores got off the abused suitcase.
"Done," Chelsea said.
Ione laughed and then went to get dressed for lunch while shaking her ass at her roommate.
***
The hammering rain swept over Sander Lewis as he got out of the car. He was bent over, shielding a box of Kylie's favourite chocolates from the sudden storm. With his elbow, he slammed close the car door and then ran the short distance to the front door of his home. Before he reached the dark red front door, it opened with a squeak. "Have to oil that," he thought.
"Are those for me?" Kylie asked with a wink. The voluptuous Winter girl wore an old short-sleeved shirt and cotton pants hiding most of her lovely curves. Covered in paint, she smelled worse than a chemical plant.
The smell didn't deter Sander and he kissed his fiancée deeply and long. Kylie purred through every second of the wet kiss.
"I've finished the room; wanna see?"
Sander nodded and followed his excited Kylie through the house until they reached the source of the paint smell.
"Amazing," Sander said, impressed as he walked around the room. "You did such a great job. Our baby will love it." With a dreamy stare, he placed his hand on Kylie's warm, life-filled tummy.
