Juniper Falls Holiday Romance Collection: books 1-3 boxed set by Blair Holly

Author:Blair, Holly [Blair, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-12-22T08:00:00+00:00

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Lily paced in front of the biggest picture window in the barn. The velvety black sky twinkled with stars over the tree line and she could smell the mellow smoke from the wood-burning fireplace at the farmhouse. She nervously made peppermint tea and arranged gingerbread cookies on a plate. She stilled herself from glancing at her watch, eagerly anticipating Noah’s return. When he’d left, he’d had a fine dusting of glitter all through his hair from helping Sophie with her Christmas list. It was all Lily could do to stop herself from rifling her fingers through to loosen it.

He’s a wonderful father. Too bad I can’t say the same for Kyle Graham.

Pictures of Kyle frolicking on the beach in Jamaica with his newest squeeze had appeared in an online tabloid this morning, and Lily had to talk herself down from hurtling her laptop off her desk when she saw them.

“It’ll be okay,” she addressed her still-flat stomach. “We’ll make it just by ourselves.”

“Who are you talking to?” Noah gently shut the door to the barn behind him. Lily nearly jumped out of her skin, sloshing peppermint tea over the break table.

“Oh! Just talking out loud. Are you ready to decorate? I got us some gingerbread cookies from McAllister’s bakery...” Lily trailed off when she realized she was nervously talking.

“What can I help you with?” Noah asked simply. He was dressed casually, his broad shoulders straining the fabric of the blue fleece he wore. The glitter was gone from his chestnut hair and he smelled of the same warm, woodsy soap and something darker and muskier. Lily longed to stand on tip-toe, wrap her arms around his neck, and breathe in the scent of him. Her heart rate ascended as he approached, and she turned to the spilled, hot liquid before her in an attempt to focus.

Settle down. He may be a fantastic father, but he’s also an athlete. A man who kissed you and walked away without a thought at Alex and Blake’s request. He won’t stay here, they never do. Get it together.

Noah sat down at the table and helped Lily mop up the tea. Her heart slowed down its frenzied beat. Lily felt herself relax in his company, the tension knotting her shoulders melting away by degrees.

“We need to decorate in here. We won’t go as crazy as the outside, but my mom loved to dress up the office for Christmas. I want to do it right in her memory. And I thought I –we – could call the mayor about a permit for the proposed Winter Lights Festival and parade.”

Noah finished his tea and rubbed his hands together. “Let’s do this.” The pair decorated for nearly two hours, stringing up shiny foil paper chains from the rafters and adorning five miniature fresh trees with all the Christmas trimmings, one for each corner of the barn, and one for the center of the lofty space. Lily stopped for a moment, gazing around the room, her heart full, tempered by a dull ache.

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