Their Christmas Resolution by Kaylie Newell

Author:Kaylie Newell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-06-21T21:56:28+00:00

* * *

Ian threw his keys on the motel room dresser and took off his jacket. He couldn’t see the ocean outside the window in the inky darkness, but he could hear the now familiar sound of the waves crashing on the beach. So familiar that it was almost comforting, like a lullaby in those early morning hours, when he’d finally put his laptop away and turn off the light.

He’d gotten into the habit of lying on his back with his head in the crook of his arm, and listening to the ocean, churning and restless in the distance. That’s how he’d always thought of himself. Restless. Never wanting to slow down, never wanting to stay in one place too long. That’s why San Francisco suited him so well—whenever he thought about slowing down, even a little, another deal popped up, another opportunity that needed chasing down.

But now that he was back here, back in Christmas Bay, the thought of easing his foot off the gas was beginning to tempt him at unexpected moments. Like tonight, when he’d stood there looking down at Stella in the cold, silver clouds puffing from her mouth.

Where was this coming from?

Rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt, he walked over to the darkened window and looked up at the stars overhead. He couldn’t get used to how many of them there were. They looked like spilled table salt, scattered over the heavens. They were beautiful. Just another thing he’d never taken the time to appreciate before.

He crossed his arms over his chest, shifting his gaze to his reflection in the glass. It was probably just his imagination, but he felt like he looked different. Maybe it was his hair, grown slightly longer since he’d been here. He didn’t trust anyone in Christmas Bay to give him a trim. Or maybe it was the stubble. He hadn’t shaved this morning and had been thinking of letting it go for a few days. He’d probably look like a lumberjack by the time Christmas rolled around. But when in Rome, right?

Even as he thought it, though, he knew those things weren’t really why he looked different. It was because he felt different. And there was an expression in his eyes that brought that realization home. Something that unsettled him, and made him turn away from his reflection.

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and tapped the screen to see a list of text messages from the office. It was a welcome distraction. For the last half hour, all he’d been able to think about was Stella. Her hair, her skin, her eyes, which were wide and dark and lovely. He’d been about to lean down and kiss her tonight. He’d actually had to clench his fists at his sides when she’d gazed up at him and licked her lips. His self-control had been stretched to the limit, making him wonder if he had the strength to let her walk away from him. And then, miraculously, he had.

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