Beautiful Curses: Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Yeah. Beth’s mum’s been asked to work the grave yard shift at the hospital, nobody else could do it, so they’ve decided to have an early Christmas. Jack doesn’t know any different and Beth doesn’t care.” Jo grinned. “She’s a non-believer as well.”
     “Right. Should be fun.” James shoved his hands in his pockets. He still seemed hesitant and Jo felt his assessing gaze, but didn’t know what else to say, so she picked up another book and flipped open the cover.
     “Well … I guess I’ll see you again soon.”
     Jo gave him a small wave and dropped her hand. “Drive safely. Merry Christmas.”
     James smiled, turned and closed the door behind him.
     Taking a deep breath, Jo slammed her book shut and banged her head on the floor.  If only Santa was real and visited Herefordshire … right now she knew exactly what present she'd ask the jolly red faced man for. And he wouldn’t even need to be wrapped.
     

     
    A few nights after James had left, Jo sat curled up in a corner of the sofa, finishing one of her favourite books, when she heard a door slam. Baxter, who’d been asleep at her feet, grunted and twitched but didn’t stir from his slumber. Everyone else had gone to bed leaving her alone in the lounge. The fire was reduced to glowing embers making the room much colder. Pulling the loose throw from the back of the seat and arranging it around her shoulders she turned as the door to the lounge opened. Spencer strolled in whistling, a large folio under his arm.  
    “Hiya, I thought everyone would be in bed,” he said cheerily. His brown eyes were glazed and he had a silly grin on his face. 
    “You look like you've had a few. I hope someone drove you home.”
     “I only had one beer,” Spencer replied, as he flopped down onto the couch next to her.
    “Yeah? You seem overly … jolly.”
     Spencer rubbed his belly. "Just getting into the Christmas spirit. Ho ... Ho ... Ho”
     Jo raised her eyes. Spencer would need to put on a considerable amount of weight to be mistaken for Santa. “Indeed.” Jo gestured toward the folio he’d put on the table. “Are they the photos? Did you get them printed?”
     The past few days she’d been busy helping Spencer with a university assignment. After seeing a picture of Beth and Jack at her house the night they went for coffee, he asked if they would be his subjects for a portfolio of photographs depicting family connections. Today he'd taken a quick trip back to the university labs to get them printed.
    Gabriella had jumped at the chance to go to London for some last minute shopping—or so she said. Jo suspected she wanted to get away from any jobs Sarah dished out. Jo spent the day peeling prawns and helping to make the Christmas pudding. Her fingers were still purple from the berries.
     “Yeah, you want to see?
     “I’d love to.”
     Spencer undid the clasp on the folder and removed each picture one at a time and arranged them on the sofa.
     Jo stood back. “Wow, I mean … Spencer, these are great.”
     “They’re the best I’ve ever taken. Look at this one.” Spencer pointed to an enlarged black and white photo of Beth whispering in Jack’s ear. Her nose touched his cheek, and he had the most gorgeous smile. Spencer had softened the focus and the angle hinted at an intimate moment … a shared secret.
     “I thought I might frame it and give it to Beth as a Christmas present,” continued Spencer. “You know, to say thanks for putting up with me ordering her about for three days.”
      “I don’t think she minded. Her mum definitely won’t mind once she sees them. You actually might make a career out of this,” she joked. “Beth’s going to love them. Are you going to show her when she comes for Christmas?”
     Spencer gave Jo an awkward sideways glance before shuffling the prints back into the folder. “She’s already seen them.”
     “What, when?”
     “I dropped over tonight before I went to the