Unwrapping His New York Innocent: Billion-Dollar Christmas Confessions Series, Book 1 by Heidi Rice

Author:Heidi Rice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-07-28T15:34:05+00:00

* * *

Ellie shivered, the words dropping into the pit of her stomach, the flat direct gaze piercing the bubble of exhilaration that had kept her happily cocooned from the chill all day.

She wasn’t sure if Alex meant the comment as a warning. Not to get too close. Not to make the mistake of thinking this interlude, this time together, meant more than it did. But she understood it as such.

Today had been magical in so many ways, just like last night. He’d held her in strong arms this morning while she’d stumbled over the ice and prevented her from falling flat on her bum more than once. He’d chuckled as she’d oohed and ahhed over the magnificent artistry of the window dressings in Saks and Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s and had been happy to stroll along Fifth Avenue being jostled by tourists and native shopaholics alike. He had suggested the best place to get hot pastrami sandwiches and eaten them with her on the sidewalk. And he’d insisted on treating them both to a hot chocolate at his favourite chocolatier and kissed the milk moustache from her upper lip. He’d even strolled through the park with her before sunset and held her as they watched the sun drop towards the trees in a blaze of red. And for once his hard-bitten cynicism had been softened by the magic of Manhattan all dressed up for the season of goodwill. But it was back with a vengeance now, as she recalled the way he’d talked about his family.

There was a bitterness and anger there, which he was determined not to acknowledge. And she couldn’t help wondering what had caused it. Why would anyone want to lose such a close connection? A connection she’d yearned for her entire life. To have people who knew you, who understood you, who had grown up with you and had the same experiences, and who could reminisce with you about the people you’d lost. To have people to share your pain as well as those small domestic joys that had been a part of your childhood, but no one but you could remember now?

Except, not everyone had a good childhood. A happy childhood. Even a functional childhood. Why had it never even occurred to her the things she’d yearned for growing up might have their own challenges, provide their own problems?

She’d been so lonely as a child, had never felt as if she truly belonged. As a result she had always yearned for more. More family, more people she could depend on, more memories, more connections, and parents who didn’t live such small, secluded lives and didn’t depend on her to give their lives meaning.

And as a result, here she was in New York, living her very best life and falling for a man who couldn’t be more emotionally unavailable if he tried.

Falling for? What the hell? You’re not falling for Alex Costa, Ellie.

Because that would be insane.

‘You’re cold,’ he said, when she shivered again. But as his tawny gaze searched her face, she was scared it saw more than she wanted it to see.

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