A Wallflower’s Christmas Wish: Boxed Set by Andresen Tammy & Anders Annabelle

Author:Andresen, Tammy & Anders, Annabelle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Hurt and anger she hadn’t expected twisted in her gut. He’d rescinded his offer? It wasn’t every day that a man offered a girl marriage, and then to pull that offer away just seemed cruel.

Then again, she’d been about to say no. Holly pressed her fingers into her eyes. Part of her had wanted to say yes. He stole her breath and scrambled her mind every time he touched her, and she longed to lose herself in that feeling.

It would be so easy as his wife to slip into a haze of lust. But what would happen to her family? Love was what they’d lost, and only love would put them back together.

She scrubbed her hands down her face, turning to leave the grove. Her heart was heavy in her chest as she made her way across the square. What had Jack meant when he’d said that he wouldn’t allow a woman to hurt him again?

But her feet stopped in the snow. Another woman had surely broken his heart. A hand covered her mouth. Had she added to that hurt just now?

It pained her to think of hurting him. Then she remembered he was the rake. The one feeding her cookies in a grove of pine trees. How could a woman have hurt him?

She started walking again, but her feet just didn’t want to carry her home. She thought of what had happened to his family. One death had nearly torn her, her sisters, and her father apart. How could he have coped with the loss of everyone he loved?

Just thinking of her sisters dying made her knees weak.

And then her breath caught. He needed love to heal too. He’d said as much. And rather than giving it to him, she’d rejected him. It was all so clear.

Love would heal, but she was the one who needed to give more.

Turning about, she started for the inn once again. She asked the innkeeper but Jack hadn’t returned. Leaving, she went home wondering what to do next.

The house was quiet and she stared out the window. Where had he gone? She wished she’d responded better to his proposal. Hours passed as she turned the thoughts over in her mind and dinner time approached, but she was no closer to answers, and she hadn’t caught sight of Jack even once. How was she going to check on him again without arousing the suspicion of the entire town? But the answer came by way of burning food. The smell permeated her room, only her nose didn’t curl. Instead, she gave a smile. This was the perfect excuse to return to the inn.

Walking arm in arm with her sisters, Holly’s stomach fluttered with excitement. She hadn’t a clue what she’d say to him but this time she amended to lead the conversation with her heart, rather than her fear, and see where it took them.

She didn’t want to accept his proposal. She still wasn’t certain if she truly cared for him or if she just lusted after him, but she did wish to explore her feelings more.

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