Rocky Mountain Miracle by Christine Feehan

Author:Christine Feehan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Star

chapter

8

COLE DUSTED OFF THE BOX before he brought it down to Maia. Jase had obviously managed to remove things he’d treasured and conceal them before his father could throw them out. It said a lot about the boy’s courage. He’d only been ten when his mother had been killed. He must have been terrified to defy his father and gather her things. The housekeeper would have reported it had she seen him, and there were the cameras to avoid, yet the boy had managed to keep a few precious items. As Cole placed the box carefully in front of Maia, he realized his genuine affection for the boy was growing. And that was frightening.

He couldn’t warn Maia how much the contents of the box meant to Jase because the teenager was right beside him, anxiously watching his every move. He could only hope she would notice as she seemed so aware of every little nuance involving the boy.

“This is wonderful, Jase,” Maia said, warmth and enthusiasm spilling over into the room. “Like discovering a treasure box. How ever did you know it was up there?”

Cole let his breath out. “He managed to put up there when he was ten, right after he lost his mother.”

Maia looked up at the gruff note in Cole’s voice. “I’ll be very careful going through it, Jase, don’t worry.” She slipped off the couch and sat tailor fashion on the floor beside the box. “Do you remember what you put in here?”

Jase sank down beside her. “Yeah. I never went up to the attic, although I thought about it a lot, but I was afraid the old man would catch me and throw it all out.” He glanced at Cole fearfully as if he might be revealing too much.

“That was smart,” Cole said. “If he caught you, there would have been hell to pay. While you’re looking over what we have, why don’t I fix us something to eat. How’s the head feeling, Doc?” He needed her to look at him. He had to know Jase was safe with her, but he had to get out of the room before that box was opened.

His blue gaze met and clung to hers. Maia sat very still, letting the heat in his eyes wash through her. She saw into a part of him he tried so hard to hide. Ravaged. Damaged. A man struggling to overcome his own past in order to save a boy. She didn’t want to see it because it only drew her deeper into the lives of the Steeles and she didn’t want that. She’d disclosed too much to him already. Kissed him when she should have resisted. She ached for the boy he’d been and the man he’d become. “A bit of a headache, nothing serious,” she answered.

Jase watched Cole leave the room. “He says it’s okay to celebrate Christmas; I don’t think he really wants to.”

“Maybe he needs to celebrate it, Jase,” Maia said. “He’s a grown man, and he’s quite capable of deciding what he does and doesn’t want to do.

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