Courage To Fall (Cowboys of Courage 3) by Charlene Bright

Author:Charlene Bright [Bright, Charlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Forever Love, Adult, Western, Cowboys, Family, Series, Short Story, Action & Adventure, Life Crumbled, Diner Worker, Sudden Death, Boss & Diner Owner, Manhattan, New York, Grandson, Hometown Diner, Parents Death, Business, Christmas, Holiday, Winter, Cold Weather, Seasonal, Attorney, Last Will & Testament, Antiques, Auction, Courage
Publisher: Charlene Bright
Published: 2015-10-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

By the time they called it a night, Easton was exhausted, and he couldn’t believe Leah was still functional. She had a limitless resource of energy that he would love to tap into for his own use. It was nearly midnight, and tomorrow was Christmas. “Are you sure you can drive home? It’s dark, and you’ve got to be tired,” he asked with genuine concern.

Hands on her hips and a disgusted sneer upon her lips, she replied, “You are a real piece of work. There is no way I’m spending the night here. Just because I said I’d have dinner with you doesn’t mean I’m easy or loose.”

He winced internally. “That’s not what I meant.” And for the first time, it was true. He hadn’t been trying to get into her pants. “I just find it hard to believe you won’t fall asleep on the way home.”

She waved him off. “I’ve driven home later than this. It’s less than fifteen minutes, and my adrenaline is flowing. I’ll be fine.”

He hesitated to ask his next question, but figured he couldn’t do any more damage than he had already. “Tomorrow’s Christmas. Do you have someone to spend it with?”

He watched her expression change as she obviously tried to hide her emotions. Easton was almost certain the answer was no.

She took a deep breath. “The café opens at two by invitation only, and I’ll be celebrating with my closest friends.”

He shook his head. “And what are you doing all morning?”

Her surly attitude returned. “What does it matter to you? Are you going to gloat at my pitiful life? My lack of family? Because it’s my understanding you don’t have any family, either.”

He clenched his jaw. It was no secret he was very much alone after his parents’ passing. He could have come to his grandmother, gotten to know her, and build a normal relationship with her. But he had already been living life in the fast lane, and couldn’t justify taking the time out of his busy schedule to travel to Hillbilly Central to meet an old woman with whom he was certain he would have nothing in common.

“I don’t have any family,” he spoke through clenched teeth. “And maybe I am pathetic. I’ve spent the last three years at black tie parties just before Christmas and having a gaming marathon with my friend, Tripp, who’s also alone. We order pizza delivery and drink pop and energy drinks. The difference is, I’ve been perfectly content waking up alone on Christmas morning. I doubt you have.”

He didn’t mention how much he thought about his parents on every holiday, how it was easier to be alone because he didn’t want to get emotional around anyone. He was usually a model for control, but he’d been close to both his parents. Losing them suddenly had hit him harder than he wanted to admit.

“I’ve made my peace with it,” she said shortly. But he could hear the loneliness in her voice.

He tilted his head, curious. “Where’s your family?”

From the look on her face, Easton might have overstepped his boundaries.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.