His Shock Valentine's Proposal by Amy Ruttan

Author:Amy Ruttan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“FAVORITE HOLIDAY?”

Esme rolled her eyes, but smiled. She didn’t mind the fifty questions game at this moment because she was stretched out on the grass listening to the gentle waves lap against the shore of Crater Lake. She was staring up at the blue, blue sky and white-capped mountains. Only a few puffs of white clouds dragging over the peaks.

It was like a slice of heaven. Sitting here she felt small and unseen. Hidden. It was exactly what she wanted.

Do you?

Avery would’ve loved this place. He always dreamed of the west. Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota. Avery had wanted to be a bush pilot and work in remote areas. It was why she’d chosen Crater Lake. It would’ve been just the place Avery would’ve chosen.

A hand waved in front of her face and she glanced over at Carson, who was lying beside her in the grass.

“Hey, you agreed to fifty questions. Actually, you were the one who suggested it. Especially in light of the fact you want us to be friends.”

“Sorry.” She rolled over. “So what was the question?”

“Favorite holiday?”

“Independence Day.”

Carson cocked an eyebrow. “July the Fourth?”

“What’s wrong with that? I love fireworks, barbecues, summer. Oh, and red, white and blue.”

“Most people like Christmas and most ladies like Valentine’s Day.”

Esme’s stomach knotted when he brought up Valentine’s Day. She’d used to like February fourteenth. She liked the hearts, the chocolates and the cupids. Even though she wasn’t a romance girl at heart, she liked the campy fun of Valentine’s. Only Avery had died on Valentine’s Day. His heart had stopped right under her hands. She’d avoided the day for as long as she could until she’d met Shane.

Shane loved Valentine’s Day.

It was why she’d agreed to the wedding on that day. She’d foolishly hoped she could replace a sad memory with a happy one. That was until she’d realized she didn’t want to be Shane Draven’s wife. They were too different. They were from different worlds.

So then Valentine’s Day had become jilting day. A day of guilt.

A day she’d broken a man’s heart.

So no, she didn’t like Valentine’s Day.

“I don’t like Valentine’s Day.”

“Why? Most women do. I mean, such pressure for us guys.”

“Well, I don’t. I don’t care for it.”

Esme wanted to tell him how much she hated it. How she now hated the pressure, the hearts, the flowers and the romance. How it reminded her of pain and loss, only she couldn’t.

She hated Valentine’s Day, but she wasn’t going to tell Carson why.

No one needed to know her secret shame. No one needed to know about the ghosts of her past.

“Isn’t it my turn to ask a question?” Esme asked, changing the subject.

“Right.”

“Your favorite holiday.”

“Such an unoriginal question,” he teased.

Esme chuckled. “Shut up and answer it. What’s your favorite holiday?”

Carson grinned. A devious smile. “Valentine’s Day.”

She sat up and punched him in the arm. “It is not!”

“It is. I swear it is.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Okay, fine. It isn’t. I’m not a romantic. I like Thanksgiving the best. All that turkey.

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