Christmas Gifts--5 Book Box Set by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460890837
Publisher: Mills & Boon Special Release
Published: 2013-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

STOP BEING NICE to me, Amy wanted to say to Lucas after he quickly built a fire in the wood stove insert, then situated her in front of it. I don’t want to like you. He gave her a blanket, disappeared for a few minutes, then returned to offer her a mug of hot chocolate.

“I used your mix in the glass canister on the counter,” he said, leaning next to the mantel.

Amy took a sip and the liquid kicked and burned all the way down. She cleared her throat. “I think you added something.”

His mouth lifted in a lazy half grin. “A couple shots of bourbon. I figured you could use it. You’ve had a rough night.”

His hair slightly tousled, he stood in casual attention-getting ease, wearing a flannel shirt and jeans that molded to his powerful thighs. She sighed and took a deep gulp of her cocoa. If he were uglier or meaner, she wouldn’t find him so utterly compelling. Maybe if she didn’t look at him, that would help keep her defenses in place. “Thank you,” she said, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the chair.

“You’re welcome,” he said quietly. “Warm enough?”

“Yes,” she said, even though she knew he could make her a lot warmer. She took another sip. She’d never been a big drinker, but the sweet cocoa countered the bitterness of the alcohol. She took another sip and felt some of the tension leave her body.

“I walked past your room and noticed you hung some kind of ball over your door.”

Amy immediately stiffened and opened her eyes to meet his gaze. “It’s not a hint,” she told him. “It’s not personal.”

Confusion wrinkled his brow. “What is it?”

“It’s one of my most treasured possessions and, no matter where I’ve been, I have hung it every Christmas since I was six.”

“You still haven’t told me what it is,” he said.

She paused a moment, reluctance holding her tongue. “It’s a holiday kissing ball,” she finally admitted in a low voice. “I’ve been working on it since I was six years old. A lady came to the children’s home where I lived and helped us make them.” A wave of nostalgia passed through her. “She told me she wanted to keep me, but she couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“She was sick. She visited me several times, but then she died that next year.”

“That must have been tough.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “But she was one of those people that I was lucky to meet even if it was only going to be for a short time. She knew that Christmas was going to be her last, but she was determined to make the best of it. Even though she knew her time was running out, she made sure it counted. I was young, but old enough to be impressed, and I wanted to be like her.” She closed her eyes, remembering that wonderful feeling of being wanted. “I felt so special that she could want me.”

Amy felt the silence stretch between them and took a long sip from her hot chocolate.

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