Christmas Up in Flames by Lisa Harris

Author:Lisa Harris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-09-06T20:33:12+00:00

* * *

Claire was already regretting her decision to talk with Reid. Somehow everything she’d convinced herself wouldn’t happen had, and he’d become too much of a distraction. He’d kissed her, and if she were honest with herself, she’d wanted to kiss him, as well. He’d managed to stir everything up inside her that she’d thought was long buried. But while she’d persuaded herself that Reid no longer held a piece of her heart, that she no longer felt anything toward him, she’d been wrong.

It had been another hour before they’d been able to slip out of the police station to the small park with wooden benches a few hundred yards away. A thin layer of snow covered the ground along with the decorations put up every year, making the quiet spot look like a slice of winter wonderland. But all the red ribbons, lights and decorated wreaths couldn’t fix what had gone wrong between them.

She sat down next to him on a bench overlooking the park, glad he’d chosen here instead of a restaurant. At least here they’d have more privacy, though sitting in a restaurant would have given her the distractions she needed.

“I turned the security footage in to the IT man,” she said. “Hopefully he’ll be able to find the erased footage and get us a close-up of our arsonist.”

“That would be wonderful.”

“We can also be fairly certain that it wasn’t any of the regular guests. Though I don’t want to assume anything, if it was one of them, they wouldn’t have any reason to erase any of the footage, because they were supposed to be there.”

“True. Except they might not want to be seen coming and going in the middle of the night.” She swallowed hard, ready to get to whatever he’d brought her here to tell her. “I’m pretty sure you didn’t ask to see me because you wanted to talk about the case. I really don’t want something like this to come between us. I’d like—if possible—for us to at least remain friends.”

“I am sorry about last night,” Reid said. “And I just want to be clear that I wasn’t trying to start anything between us. It took me by surprise.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I was taken off guard, as well. But the truth is, I’m not looking for a relationship.”

Especially with you.

She fidgeted in her seat, suddenly feeling extremely awkward.

“I never was good at beating around the bush, so I’m just going to come out with it.”

“Okay.”

“Someone told me this morning that you have a child.”

Nausea swept through her. This couldn’t be happening. This...this wasn’t how he was supposed to find out. If he ever did find out, she was supposed to be the one who told him. And now...and now it was too late.

“Claire.” His fingers wrapped around her arm. “Are you okay?”

“Who told you?”

“Is it true?” he countered.

“Yes. His name is Owen, and he’s turning five this month.”

All the reasons her mother had used to convince her seemed to vanish. What had she been thinking all these years? She never should have kept Reid’s son from him.

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