Winter's Embrace by Kathleen Ball

Author:Kathleen Ball [Ball, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Amazon: B00JZXK60M
Barnesnoble: B00JZXK60M
Goodreads: 22020969
Publisher: Secret Cravings
Published: 2014-04-23T18:30:00+00:00

* * * *

Rudeness wasn’t him, but she made him so dang mad. They weren’t on the same page at all. He thought he and Rachael were a package deal and Winter didn’t see it that way.

The door opened and Winter walked into the house. “I don’t understand why you are so mad.”

“I give you one job to do, watch Rachael, and you weren’t watching her.” Stone hardened his heart. “My first concern is Rachael.”

“You know this isn’t about me being out on the porch. You’re just mad that you haven’t gotten your way.”

Rachael charged down the stairs again and ran to him, clearly having been eavesdropping. “Daddy, don’t yell. I want a mama for Christmas. I thought Winter was going to be my mama.”

He caught her in his arms and stroked her back as she cried. Soon, his shirt was soaked and disappointment filled him. He’d wanted Winter for Rachael’s mama, too. His heart raced so fast he couldn’t think.

“The foreman’s house is just about done. You’ll be able to move into it soon.”

Winter gasped, took a step toward him then turned away. “Fine.”

How had everything gotten derailed? He’d been walking around like a wounded bull the last few days. Her long silences were killing him. Why couldn’t she just forgive him and then they could get on with building a life together? He couldn’t change the past, but he could try his damnedest to make up for it if she’d just let him.

“Daddy, no mama?” She squirmed in his arms until he let her down. She ran right to Winter this time.

Stone watched Winter pick Rachael up. “I’ll still be here. I promised I’d never leave you. I’m just going to have a house of my own. You’ll see, everything will be fine.” Winter put on a smile, but it faltered.

Too bad it was Christmas Eve. His timing had always been bad.

“Come on, Rachael, you can help me make dinner, and don’t forget we have to put out cookies and milk for Santa.”

“I thought you were going to live here like a real mama.”

Winter hugged Rachael to her. She looked over Rachael’s head, her lips pressed into a tense line. “It will all be fine, you’ll see.”

Stone watched them walk away, his heart in his throat. What had he just done? Could it be undone? He’d talk to Winter tonight, apologize and everything would be fine. Except the pain in his chest didn’t agree.

The night didn’t play out as expected. He tried everything to get a moment alone with Winter but she was quite good at avoiding him. She was also good at letting him know she was mad at him. Hell, the piece of pie she served him was barely a sliver, and she knew that cherry was his favorite.

She kept close to Rachael and he never got a chance to talk to her. Disappointment assailed him as he watched her go upstairs to put Rachael to bed.

“Your daughter wants you to tuck her in.” Winter’s voice sounded grave.

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