The Man Who Saved Christmas by Marisa Carroll

Author:Marisa Carroll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

“I HOPE THE KIDS don’t give Matt too hard a time,” Ellie said as they crossed the parking lot to the cottage. It was quiet here, without a hint of wind. Moonlight gleamed on the dark, open water far out on the lake, fractured into sparkling crystals on the ice close to shore. Twinkling, crystal Christmas lights outlined the door and windows of Ellie’s cottage.

“He can hold his own,” Ben said. He turned her to face him in the shadow of the cottage door. There were bits of starlight caught in the curling tendrils of hair that escaped her hat, and in her eyes. She smelled of cold, clear air and warm, soft woman. It was a dizzying combination. Ben sucked in his breath, willing his voice steady. “Thanks again for trusting him with your children.”

“I do trust him,” she said softly. “I told you that. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have let them stay with him. But I’m worried about him.”

Ben nodded. “So am I. Every morning I wonder if I’m going to wake up and find out he’s taken off during the night. But every morning he’s still there. I’ve been in touch with his caseworker in Ohio. She doesn’t like giving long-distance advice, but she says to take it one day at a time.”

“Does he still blame you for his friend’s death?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m sure he does. But whatever he thinks about me, he blames himself more. A hell of a lot more. But I can’t force him to deal with his pain. I’ll lose him completely if I do that. In the end, it will be up to him.”

“It’s always up to each of us to deal with his own pain.”

He knew she wasn’t referring only to Matt’s demons, but his own, as well. He didn’t want to talk about death and guilt. Not tonight. Not when he had Ellie all to himself, even if it was only for a short time. He reached around her and opened the door. The cop in him spoke before he could censor the words. “You should keep this door locked.”

“No one locks their doors in North Star, at least not during the day.”

“It’s night,” he told her. They stood for a moment in the darkness, so close together he could feel the movement of the baby.

“It’s evening. Very early in the evening.” Her voice was soft and slightly breathless from the cold and the walk, but her words washed over him like silken petals.

“Thanks for walking me home, Ben.” Over her shoulder he could see into the cottage’s main room. The house was warm and smelled of cinnamon and spice. There were more tiny white lights strung along the bookcases and above the counter that separated the kitchen and living room.

“My pleasure.” He leaned forward to brush a kiss across her lips. She took a step backward.

“I...” She hesitated. Ben’s heartbeat turned erratic, painful. He straightened, rubbed his hand across his cheek, feeling the roughness of the scar tissue beneath his fingers.

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