The Christmas Gift by Darlene Gardner

Author:Darlene Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

LATER THAT EVENING Rayna waited approximately thirty seconds after her parents said good-night to put on her coat and head for the door.

She passed through the living room where Grandma sat in the armchair beside the Christmas tree, leafing through the book of dating tips Krista had bought her for Christmas.

“What do you think of this, Rayna?” Grandma was so intent on the page, she didn’t lift her head. “If you think you’re in love with two men, go with the second. You wouldn’t have fallen for him if you really loved the first.”

Rayna paused beside the chair and considered the quote. Since meeting Trey, she’d barely glanced at another man. “Makes sense to me.”

“I thought so, too.” Grandma finally looked up, peering at Rayna over her reading glasses. “Are you going somewhere, dear? I was going to suggest you, me and Krista have a nightcap when she gets out of the shower.”

Rayna could no longer hear water running, giving her more cause to hurry. Between clearing snow for the neighbors and visiting with the Snyders, Krista hadn’t been around much today. That was fine with Rayna.

“Sorry, Grandma. I can’t.” Rayna was careful to speak in a voice too soft to carry through the closed door of her parents’ bedroom. “I’m going to Trey’s.”

Grandma appeared about to say something, possibly about this being Rayna’s last chance to spend time with Krista, but then she smiled. “Have fun, dear.”

“Thanks, Grandma,” Rayna said and left the house.

She was grateful Grandma didn’t give her a hard time about spending nights with Trey like Mom did. Never mind that Rayna was twenty-one. Just last week, her mother had suggested withholding sex was a good way to get a guy to ask you to marry him.

Thankfully Mom’s outdated notion was wrong.

Because Trey was going to propose tonight.

Excitement raced through Rayna at the thought, so powerful the baby must feel it, too. Trey had stopped by earlier in the afternoon to give her a pretty silver watch, a gift she’d opened while her parents looked on. He’d whispered in her ear that she should come to his place tonight. He had another, much more special present for when they were alone.

What else could it be besides an engagement ring?

After hearing Trey minimize their relationship at the hockey rink and discovering his brother didn’t know about her, Rayna feared committing to her was not even on his radar.

It felt like a dream come true that Trey could actually be ready to settle down.

Rayna was flying so high she barely remembered getting in her car, starting the engine and driving the five miles to the house Trey shared with his buddies. Thankfully the road had been plowed, and she arrived safely.

With the piles of snow in the yards and on the sides of the street, Trey’s house was nearly indistinguishable from the others in the neighborhood.

She operated on auto pilot, parking the car, walking up the shoveled sidewalk, climbing the short set of steps to the porch, ringing the doorbell.

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.