Fireworks for July: A Holiday Bites Vampire Paranormal Holiday Romances by Michele Bardsley
Authors: Michele Bardsley
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Chapter One
“ M iss Ellsworth ?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Daria with the Dark Treasure publicity department. I’m calling you with the final details of your prize-winning trip to Las Vegas.”
July Ellsworth grinned. Winning the contest had been a great surprise. It had been a whim, throwing her card into a fish bowl with a thousand other cards. The hostess at the restaurant had encouraged her, her smile bright as she said, “It’s the trip of a lifetime.” Funny. That was the first time she’d ever gone into that restaurant, and the impulse had paid off big-time.
She was going to Las Vegas!
“Your flight leaves on Friday afternoon. You’ll arrive in the city at seven-oh-three. Your return flight is Monday evening at five-fifty-four. Your hotel is Dark Treasure.”
Daria had called a week ago to inform July that she’d won the contest. She explained that Dark Treasure was a unique experience in Las Vegas—and was extremely difficult to book. In fact, if they hadn’t sponsored the contest she’d won, there’d be no chance at all she’d be staying there. Not only was it exclusive, it was expensive. Far outside the range of a lowly librarian’s salary.
Squee! She couldn’t wait to drench herself in the Vegas experience—she was going to the spa, to the tables, and to Fremont Street. From its photos and descriptions, Dark Treasure had a sparkling ambience that bespoke of indulgence and luxury. For once in her life, she was going to be naughty. She was going to take risks. She was going to indulge every whim.
“Remember, all your expenses, including meals, are part of your package. Everything you need is in the welcome packet you’ve already received. Do you have any questions?”
“No,” said July. “I’ve read it all. The instructions are very clear.”
“Excellent. If you need anything, anything at all, you have my direct number.”
“Thank you.” She hung up the phone and did a little jig. “Woo-hoo!”
Wouldn’t Aunt Grace freak out if she saw me acting like this? July danced through the living room and flung herself on the couch. Last week, when Daria from Dark Treasure called the first time, she hadn’t recognized the tinny sound of a ringing phone. No one had called her great aunt’s landline phone since … well, ever. She sat in the sparsely decorated room and stared at the stately bookshelves that lined every wall. Aunt Grace had never owned a television or a game system. She believed that TVs and anything related to them were useless. Never waste time on frivolity, July. Your mind is an elegant, precise machine that you must keep tuned and well oiled.
Her parents passed away when she was ten years old. They had been free spirits—especially her mother, who had, after all, named her July. The only family July had was her deceased grandmother’s younger sister Grace. Aunt Grace, a staid, proper, and strait-laced spinster, had unexpectedly inherited pre-teen July. While the older woman had taken care of July’s basic needs and ensured she received the best education, she was never July’s mother. She encouraged July to excel academically, but she didn’t have the emotional wherewithal to offer comfort, love, or affection.
Her aunt reserved the bulk of her love for historical medieval research. She worshipped at its altar every hour of every day. And because she’d given her life to the perfection of her books and papers and lectures… she had nothing else in her life.
Nothing but her work.
Well, I’m not her.
July was a geek. But because of Great Aunt Grace, she was a rich geek.
“ I sn’t that Dark Treasure ?” July asked the cab driver as they shot down the Strip, past the luxury casino-hotel. She looked out the back window and watched its bright, welcoming sign fade in the distance.
“Oh, you was going to Dark Treasure?” The cabbie looked in his rearview mirror and caught her gaze. He had dirty blonde hair tucked up into a baseball cap, which was pulled low
“ M iss Ellsworth ?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Daria with the Dark Treasure publicity department. I’m calling you with the final details of your prize-winning trip to Las Vegas.”
July Ellsworth grinned. Winning the contest had been a great surprise. It had been a whim, throwing her card into a fish bowl with a thousand other cards. The hostess at the restaurant had encouraged her, her smile bright as she said, “It’s the trip of a lifetime.” Funny. That was the first time she’d ever gone into that restaurant, and the impulse had paid off big-time.
She was going to Las Vegas!
“Your flight leaves on Friday afternoon. You’ll arrive in the city at seven-oh-three. Your return flight is Monday evening at five-fifty-four. Your hotel is Dark Treasure.”
Daria had called a week ago to inform July that she’d won the contest. She explained that Dark Treasure was a unique experience in Las Vegas—and was extremely difficult to book. In fact, if they hadn’t sponsored the contest she’d won, there’d be no chance at all she’d be staying there. Not only was it exclusive, it was expensive. Far outside the range of a lowly librarian’s salary.
Squee! She couldn’t wait to drench herself in the Vegas experience—she was going to the spa, to the tables, and to Fremont Street. From its photos and descriptions, Dark Treasure had a sparkling ambience that bespoke of indulgence and luxury. For once in her life, she was going to be naughty. She was going to take risks. She was going to indulge every whim.
“Remember, all your expenses, including meals, are part of your package. Everything you need is in the welcome packet you’ve already received. Do you have any questions?”
“No,” said July. “I’ve read it all. The instructions are very clear.”
“Excellent. If you need anything, anything at all, you have my direct number.”
“Thank you.” She hung up the phone and did a little jig. “Woo-hoo!”
Wouldn’t Aunt Grace freak out if she saw me acting like this? July danced through the living room and flung herself on the couch. Last week, when Daria from Dark Treasure called the first time, she hadn’t recognized the tinny sound of a ringing phone. No one had called her great aunt’s landline phone since … well, ever. She sat in the sparsely decorated room and stared at the stately bookshelves that lined every wall. Aunt Grace had never owned a television or a game system. She believed that TVs and anything related to them were useless. Never waste time on frivolity, July. Your mind is an elegant, precise machine that you must keep tuned and well oiled.
Her parents passed away when she was ten years old. They had been free spirits—especially her mother, who had, after all, named her July. The only family July had was her deceased grandmother’s younger sister Grace. Aunt Grace, a staid, proper, and strait-laced spinster, had unexpectedly inherited pre-teen July. While the older woman had taken care of July’s basic needs and ensured she received the best education, she was never July’s mother. She encouraged July to excel academically, but she didn’t have the emotional wherewithal to offer comfort, love, or affection.
Her aunt reserved the bulk of her love for historical medieval research. She worshipped at its altar every hour of every day. And because she’d given her life to the perfection of her books and papers and lectures… she had nothing else in her life.
Nothing but her work.
Well, I’m not her.
July was a geek. But because of Great Aunt Grace, she was a rich geek.
“ I sn’t that Dark Treasure ?” July asked the cab driver as they shot down the Strip, past the luxury casino-hotel. She looked out the back window and watched its bright, welcoming sign fade in the distance.
“Oh, you was going to Dark Treasure?” The cabbie looked in his rearview mirror and caught her gaze. He had dirty blonde hair tucked up into a baseball cap, which was pulled low
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