Claiming His Christmas Inheritance by C.J. Carroll

Author:C.J. Carroll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-08-12T20:06:16+00:00

* * *

Zed hovered over his wife as she lay crumpled on the church recreation hall center stage floor. Her eyes fluttered rapidly, like an overworked moth. Her gaze finally fixed on him.

“Tash, are you all right?”

Tasha licked her lips. Her scrutiny went past him to the others surrounding her, including the pastor and Calista.

Tasha tried to sit up. “I’m fine. I didn’t eat much today. Sometimes I have trouble with low blood sugar.”

Zed gripped her upper body and slowly pulled her up. Thankfully, he’d caught her before she’d hit the ground. He’d been able to gently lay her on the floor.

“Calista, why don’t you get Tasha some water,” Pastor Landry said. “And maybe a piece of the cake we made for them, to help with her blood sugar.”

“I’m on it,” Calista declared stoically, as if she’d been given orders by a drill sergeant.

Zed drew Tasha to himself, as an anchor to steady her. He didn’t care whether she liked it or not. She needed him. Period.

To his surprise, she gently laid her head on his shoulder, obviously grateful for his support.

Pastor Landry went to the podium to address the concerned crowd. People’s voices carried like an overactive beehive.

“Folks, everything is all right. Tasha is going to be fine. We’ll give her a moment to get her bearings and then we’ll let the newlyweds cut their cake.”

Zed led Tasha to her seat on stage and sat beside her. Her brown curls, pressed against his face, smelled faintly of jasmine. He imperceptibly moved his nose a little closer, to take in the wonderful scent of her.

His heart was dancing hard. In the commotion with Tasha, he’d ignored the way his chest thrummed, but now...

It had started at that kiss. He’d been startled by Tasha’s gesture. Something real had happened during the embrace.

He felt a smile teasing his lips. Had Tasha really fainted because of lack of food? Or had she been as blown out of the water as he had by that kiss?

Tasha chose that moment to raise her head. Apparently noticing something in his expression, she sat back and disengaged from him.

“What?” she asked.

Zed tried to play it off. It would serve no good whatsoever to talk about it. For either of them. “Nothing. I’m just happy you’re going to be all right.”

Her stare remained locked on him until her eyes finally lit up, as if she’d become aware of something. “Oh, wow! You’re gloating.”

He stared at her, amazed. No woman had ever been able to read him so well. Not since his mother. He searched in vain for an explanation, without success.

“You think I fainted because your kiss was all that and a bag of chips.” She shook her head in apparent wonder. “You might as well strut and preen across the stage like a proud peacock.”

“Tasha—” he protested.

A small grin flirted on her lips, as well. “Don’t deny it. Your man card just got an upgrade, right?”

He chuckled hard. “Well, your reaction confirms I’ve got skills.”

Astonishment rolled across her face.

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