Christmas on the Run (Bandit Creek Book 32) by Louise Behiel

Author:Louise Behiel [Behiel, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-12-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The next few days passed uneventfully. Todd drove Lina to work every evening and picked her up at the end of the shift. He met her at the door of the candy store, took her hand and helped her into the truck. He always kissed her on the cheek, once she had her seatbelt latched. But he always took her straight home.

As Todd settled himself behind the wheel, she turned toward him. “I cannot believe how much candy is shipped out of the store. For a little store in a small town in the middle of Montana, it’s amazing.”

Her eyes were bright with excitement and in the moonlight, she looked like a goddess.

“Lots of orders, are there?” he asked, signaling to turn.

She nodded. “I’m preparing orders for all over the world.” She looked back at the store. “I thought there’d be a few hours’ work for a few days—you know, local stuff. Maybe an order or two for people who had moved away, but they keep coming and coming, Todd. I’m shocked. Craig is surprised but not as much as I am. He and Penny planned for more Internet orders this year and ramped up production to prepare for them.”

“It’s a good thing you can help out.”

“They handled most of it themselves last year, but with Penny’s condition, it’s no time for her to be on her feet for hours at a time.”

“I knew they’d be glad you’re here.” Much the same as he was. Somehow she and Sadie had become a part of his day-to-day life. He had breakfast with them in the morning before going to work at the MicroBrewery. At night, he ate dinner with them and played with Sadie for a while, read her a story before bed, and took Adelina to work. Then he rested until he picked her up from work.

Not the life he had envisioned but one that was satisfying.

Strangely so.

“I’m glad I’m making a difference for them and Craig told me he’d have a bonus for me at Christmas, for all the extra hours I’ve put in.” She smiled across the cab. “It will be a big help when I get to the coast.”

Todd’s good mood nose-dived like a deflated balloon. He didn’t want to think about her and the little one leaving Bandit Creek. Leaving him.

Emotion froze him, turning him into a speechless moron. He couldn’t let her go. Without a rational thought, he turned away from the Murphys’ and took the road out of town.

She looked at him for a moment, but didn’t ask the question that was obviously on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she relaxed against the seat, staring straight ahead.

At the community campsite, near the lake, he parked and unlatched his seat belt, but left the truck running. “I think we have to talk.”

He reached for her, sliding one arm across her shoulders while the other cupped her jaw. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms and settled his lips against hers. He had to prove to her she belonged here, with him.

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