Hometown Christmas Gift by Kat Brookes

Author:Kat Brookes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-08-09T15:33:47+00:00

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Lainie smiled up at Jackson, taking in his handsome face, slightly pinkened from the cold, the icy flakes of snow clinging to his deep chestnut hair. He was so much more than the boy she had fallen in love with all those years ago. He was taller, broader, prouder. More handsome than any man had a right to be. And his heart was as large and giving as the land around them.

As much as she tried to fight it since coming to Bent Creek, she seemed to be doing a backslide into the past. She was falling for Jackson all over again. No, not over again. She had never fully stopped loving him, if she was honest with herself. But she wouldn’t jeopardize their newly rekindled friendship by giving in to her heart’s desire. “You’re forgiven.”

The worry creases at the edges of his eyes eased as he stood looking down at her. “I’m glad. I don’t ever want to be at odds with you ever again. Our friendship is way too important to me.”

“To me as well,” she said softly, her heart yearning for so much more.

He shifted the bow saw to his other hand. “Best get back to our tree hunt before you turn into a walking, talking icicle. It’s cold out here.”

“That won’t be a problem,” she told him. “Our hunt is over.”

Confusion lit his gaze. “I thought I was forgiven.”

“You are.” The smile on her face broadened. “Our hunt is over, because I think I found our Christmas tree.”

His brows lifted. “You did?”

She pointed past him to an impressive Norway spruce that stood well over six feet in height and had full, nearly perfect branches. Then she looked to Jackson. “Do you think it’s too big for the living room?”

He walked over to it to size it up. “It’s tall, but I think you’ll have a little room to spare as far as the ceiling is concerned.” He circled the tree. “Nice shape to it.” She watched as he ran a branch through his enclosed hand to make certain the needles held firm. Then he gave a nod of approval. “Good choice.”

“I’m not so sure it is now that I see how big this tree is when you’re standing next to it.”

He glanced up at the tree’s pointed tip and then back at Lainie. “It’s a big one. I’ll give you that. But it’s also meant to be a Christmas tree. They’re supposed to be tall. That way, everyone can look up to admire the star perched atop it.”

“I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. Nothing warms a heart and brings on a feeling of inner peace more than when you’re looking up at a lit Christmas tree, its star shining ever-so-brightly overhead.”

“Just to clarify before I start cutting,” he said. “This is definitely the one, right?”

“Yes,” she said, excitement lacing her tone.

“Okay,” he said with a nod as he pulled his leather work gloves from his coat pockets and slid them on.

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