Read Online Be Mine at Christmas by Brenda Novak - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brenda Novak
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“See? That’s my problem. He’s never given me a locket.”
“But you like him,” Angela said.
“Who doesn’t?” Her voice grew dreamy. “He’s a tough catch, so be forewarned. But maybe you’re better at big-game hunting than I am. Anyway, he’s nice, sexy and brave. He keeps us all safe while looking like a dream in that uniform.” She leaned forward. “And have you seen the calendar? I have May permanently taped to my ceiling. The mere sight of that picture makes me—”
Angela cleared her throat.
Sheila’s eyes darted toward Kayla. “—makes meproud of our local firemen,” she finished. But her smile said what she hadn’t been able to say. And Angela completely understood. After Kayla had gone to sleep last night, Angela had sat up staring at the picture that featured Matt with a fire hose slung over one muscular shoulder. He was wearing nothing but a fireman’s hat and a pair of pants slung so low on his narrow hips that they revealed the line of hair descending from his navel—the line of hair she’d seen for herself last night, along with what the picture didn’t show.
The memory of his hands on her body, of his body joining perfectly with hers, played in her mind again.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping to stem the tide of mortification, arousal and embarrassment rising to her face. When he’d brought her home, he’d asked her to call him after she got settled in the room, had murmured that he wanted to talk to her about what had happened between them. She’d mumbled something noncommittal, thanked him for the quilt and turned away before he could give her even a peck on the cheek. But she hadn’t been able to make herself dial his number. She felt too guilty for taking advantage of his ignorance where Kayla was concerned, knew it would make him hate her when he found out.
When he found out…
Now it was only a matter of time, wasn’t it? Because she’d already fallen in love with him and every member of his family. And if Kayla had the chance tobe part of them, of what they had, Angela wouldn’t let anything stand in the way—least of all herself.
Instinctively, she reached across the table to take Kayla’s hand.
“What is it, Angie?” she asked, the question in her voice telling Angela she was squeezing a little too hard.
She had to do it, right? She had to tell for Kayla’s sake.
The lump in Angela’s throat made it difficult to speak. “Nothing. I just—I love you,” she said.
Kayla smiled sweetly as Sheila looked on. “I love you, too. I’m so glad you brought me here.”
A crushing pain made it difficult to breathe. Letting go, Angela tried to smile. “Me, too,” she said, then hid behind her menu because Sheila was watching her strangely, and she knew she’d start crying if she didn’t.
God, it’s going to be tough to give you up, she thought.
S TEPHANIE’S HEAD POUNDED as the voices of the other people droned on and on. She was in a shelter, she realized slowly, lying on a mattress, gazing at the cavernous ceiling. She didn’t know how long she’d been there or who had brought her in. But she could tell they’d given her something to help her deal with the spasms that racked her body. She could also tell it wasn’t enough.
Getting up, she started for the door. She wanted to go back. Jaydog would fix her up. He always did. For a few tricks, he’d get her exactly what she needed.
A woman wearing nurse’s scrubs caught hold ofher arm before she could reach freedom. “Miss, I don’t think you want to go out there. The help you need is right here.”
“You don’t have what I need,” she argued.
“It isn’t easy, but you can do it.”
“Let me go.” She tried to jerk away, but the woman’s grip only tightened.
“Listen to me,” the woman said, her voice low, harsh. “Is this the kind of life you want? Look at yourself!” She handed her a mirror, and Stephanie almost didn’t recognize the face that stared back at
“But you like him,” Angela said.
“Who doesn’t?” Her voice grew dreamy. “He’s a tough catch, so be forewarned. But maybe you’re better at big-game hunting than I am. Anyway, he’s nice, sexy and brave. He keeps us all safe while looking like a dream in that uniform.” She leaned forward. “And have you seen the calendar? I have May permanently taped to my ceiling. The mere sight of that picture makes me—”
Angela cleared her throat.
Sheila’s eyes darted toward Kayla. “—makes meproud of our local firemen,” she finished. But her smile said what she hadn’t been able to say. And Angela completely understood. After Kayla had gone to sleep last night, Angela had sat up staring at the picture that featured Matt with a fire hose slung over one muscular shoulder. He was wearing nothing but a fireman’s hat and a pair of pants slung so low on his narrow hips that they revealed the line of hair descending from his navel—the line of hair she’d seen for herself last night, along with what the picture didn’t show.
The memory of his hands on her body, of his body joining perfectly with hers, played in her mind again.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping to stem the tide of mortification, arousal and embarrassment rising to her face. When he’d brought her home, he’d asked her to call him after she got settled in the room, had murmured that he wanted to talk to her about what had happened between them. She’d mumbled something noncommittal, thanked him for the quilt and turned away before he could give her even a peck on the cheek. But she hadn’t been able to make herself dial his number. She felt too guilty for taking advantage of his ignorance where Kayla was concerned, knew it would make him hate her when he found out.
When he found out…
Now it was only a matter of time, wasn’t it? Because she’d already fallen in love with him and every member of his family. And if Kayla had the chance tobe part of them, of what they had, Angela wouldn’t let anything stand in the way—least of all herself.
Instinctively, she reached across the table to take Kayla’s hand.
“What is it, Angie?” she asked, the question in her voice telling Angela she was squeezing a little too hard.
She had to do it, right? She had to tell for Kayla’s sake.
The lump in Angela’s throat made it difficult to speak. “Nothing. I just—I love you,” she said.
Kayla smiled sweetly as Sheila looked on. “I love you, too. I’m so glad you brought me here.”
A crushing pain made it difficult to breathe. Letting go, Angela tried to smile. “Me, too,” she said, then hid behind her menu because Sheila was watching her strangely, and she knew she’d start crying if she didn’t.
God, it’s going to be tough to give you up, she thought.
S TEPHANIE’S HEAD POUNDED as the voices of the other people droned on and on. She was in a shelter, she realized slowly, lying on a mattress, gazing at the cavernous ceiling. She didn’t know how long she’d been there or who had brought her in. But she could tell they’d given her something to help her deal with the spasms that racked her body. She could also tell it wasn’t enough.
Getting up, she started for the door. She wanted to go back. Jaydog would fix her up. He always did. For a few tricks, he’d get her exactly what she needed.
A woman wearing nurse’s scrubs caught hold ofher arm before she could reach freedom. “Miss, I don’t think you want to go out there. The help you need is right here.”
“You don’t have what I need,” she argued.
“It isn’t easy, but you can do it.”
“Let me go.” She tried to jerk away, but the woman’s grip only tightened.
“Listen to me,” the woman said, her voice low, harsh. “Is this the kind of life you want? Look at yourself!” She handed her a mirror, and Stephanie almost didn’t recognize the face that stared back at
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