Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne

Author:RaeAnne Thayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises ULC
Published: 2023-09-20T14:25:30+00:00

After Griffin left, Natalie stood for a long moment there beside the Christmas tree, then slowly lowered to the sofa where he had been reading to the girls.

What on earth had come over her? She was not the kind of woman to give in to random impulses and kiss a man she knew perfectly well was not good for her

She did not do casual hookups. She had friends who had no problem with moving from guy to guy. She had never wanted that. The few serious relationships she’d known since leaving Shelter Springs each had left an indelible mark on her heart.

That didn’t stop her from inevitably moving on, though.

Something told her that Griffin would be a very tough man to walk away from, that any imprint he might leave behind would never fade.

That kiss.

She closed her eyes, remembering the taste of him, toffee and chocolate and sexy, delicious man. She hadn’t wanted to stop, even knowing McKenna or one of the girls might walk out of their rooms or Travis could return to the apartment at any moment.

What was she going to do about the man?

Despite her best efforts at protecting her heart, she was more drawn to him than ever.

She pressed her hands against her knees and rose. She couldn’t sit here all night, angsting about Griffin Taylor.

She had laundry to do, and the dishes from lunch were still in the sink.

She was loading the dishwasher when her sister came out of her room, walking with slow, measured steps.

“Kenna! What are you doing out here?”

She held up her jumbo water bottle. “I needed more ice and I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You’re never a bother,” she assured her. “Sit down. I can get it.”

McKenna held out the water bottle, and Natalie hurried to the refrigerator and pushed the button. The ice maker clanked out fresh cubes.

“Text me or call me when you need something. Or just call out. I can hear you.”

“I needed to move. I’m supposed to walk a bit every few hours, just to keep away the possibility of blood clots.”

She knew the doctor mostly meant standing up beside the bed and walking in place, but she didn’t argue.

“Anyway, I would do anything not to have to stare at those four walls another minute.”

“I can certainly understand that. I can make you some tea, if you’d like.”

“Thanks. That actually sounds really good.”

She set to work, turning the electric kettle on and finding the specific herbal tea McKenna’s doctor had deemed safe for her to drink during the pregnancy.

“Did I hear a man’s voice out here earlier?” McKenna asked. “I was sleeping and couldn’t tell if it was my imagination or real.”

To her dismay, Natalie could feel her face heat up.

“The girls asked Griffin to read them a story tonight. He was kind enough to agree.”

McKenna gave an appreciative smile. “He’s such a great guy. I don’t care what some of the old biddies say. I, for one, am glad he’s back in town.”

Natalie remembered what he had said in passing, about fighting to convince people he wasn’t his father.

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