The Magic of Christmas by Victoria Bylin Carolyn Davidson & Cheryl St.John

Author:Victoria Bylin Carolyn Davidson & Cheryl St.John [Carolyn Davidson, Victoria Bylin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-08-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

His breath rasped in the same rhythm as hers. She recognized the slackening of his jaw, the intent in his eyes. He understood her in ways no one else did. She loved him. She’d been too foolish to know it before she’d left with Brodie, but she knew it now.

His eyes drifted to her lips, lingered, then bounced to her eyes. She saw the same fierceness she’d seen the day he’d first kissed her, the day she’d pretended to be hurt and had scared him. This time, though, she wasn’t pretending. She was hurt. She felt dirty and used.

Dylan leaned closer.

If she raised her chin, he’d match their lips and remind her of the innocence she’d lost. Desire made her cheeks burn. Shame made her look at the floor. The combination stung like salt on a wound.

He stepped back. “Put on your shoes.”

Startled, she raised her chin. “Why?”

“We’re going outside.”

She craved air that didn’t smell like Dylan, but she wouldn’t leave her baby. “I can’t. Cora’s asleep.”

“We’re not going far.”

He turned to the hearth, where she’d left her shoes. He picked them up, then pulled out a chair. “Sit down.”

“What for?”

He handed her the fancy boots. “Put them on or I’ll do it for you.”

I dare you!

The thought came from the spirited girl she’d once been. The glint in Dylan’s eyes belonged in the here-and-now. They’d changed, yet they hadn’t. When he lowered his chin, Maddie raised hers. “You’re a pain.”

His eyes twinkled. “So are you.”

While she buckled her shoes, Dylan put on his boots and fetched the coats. He held the new one for her. As she slipped into the sleeves, she felt small. With clumsy fingers, she worked the buttons and looked up. “I have to check Cora.”

“Sure.”

She peeked behind the curtain and saw her daughter sleeping soundly. Maddie wanted to hide with her under the blanket, but Dylan had been right about bleeding out Brodie’s poison. She felt better. She also trusted Dylan. If he wanted to go outside, she’d follow. She let the curtain fall back in place and turned back to the room. Dylan opened the door and motioned for her to pass.

She stepped on the porch, looked up and gasped. The clouds had broken into silver bands. Between the jagged strips, she saw black velvet studded with diamonds. Moonlight rained down on the yard, turning the snow into white satin. The beauty filled her with awe but saddened her, too. The night, like her life, was black and white. She looked down at her toes.

Dylan put his arm around her waist. As he looked up, she felt the tug of his arm urging her to look at the sky. He hummed with pleasure. “It’s awesome, isn’t it?”

Look up.

The voice in her head belonged to Riley. Maddie wanted to lift her eyes, but she felt unworthy of such beauty.

Dylan released his grip, lifted something off the porch and then hooked his arm around her waist. “Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise. Follow me.”

She saw a tool in his hand but couldn’t make out the details.

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.