Read Online Christmas With the Alexanders by M. Malone - Free Book Online

get hurt. Even unintentionally. Or get pushed into anything she can’t handle.” Jackson narrowed his eyes.  
    Ahhh. That’s what this was really about. His brother was referring to Eli’s varied and experimental sexual background.  
      Eli wished he could tell his little brother not to worry, that he had absolutely zero interest in Kay and wouldn’t hurt her. But he’d done enough lying to his family. There were so many things they didn’t know about him. So many horrible things he’d done in his past. He couldn’t face it if they ever learned the truth about him.  
    Or if Kay did either.  
    She looked at him like he was her knight in shining armor. For one magical moment, he’d been selfish and taken what she offered. It had truly been selfish, too because he knew if she ever found out the truth about him she wouldn’t want him anywhere near her.
    “Kay is a sweet girl and I like her a lot, but she’s too young for me. I’m just sticking close to keep her safe.” Eli almost choked over the words. But it was Christmas. It was time he thought about what was best for her. Best for them all.
    “If anyone’s a danger to her, it’s you,” Eli continued. “You guys spend a lot of time alone together. She looks up to you and that could easily turn into something else. She’s been taken advantage of before. She needs to know someone will help her for the right reasons.”
    Jackson watched him for a long moment. “Oh hell, it’s already too late.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You already care about her,” Jackson stated accusingly.
    Eli stopped walking. “I told you, I’m just looking out for her. It’s nothing.”
    “You wouldn’t say that if you could see your face when you talk about her.” Jackson clapped Eli on the shoulder so hard it almost knocked the wind from him. “I take back everything I just said. Instead I’ll say good luck.”
    Eli held open the door to the barn where his parents kept their stash of firewood. “I don’t need luck. But I do need your help with something.”

    *   *   *   *   *

    KAY LOOKED UP anxiously when the back door opened. After Eli had left, she’d agonized over every little thing she’d done. Had she been too forward? Maybe she shouldn’t have been so obvious, staring at the mistletoe. They’d just gotten on good footing, and maybe he’d felt obligated to kiss her.  
    He probably hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings.
    She watched as Jackson stepped across the threshold. Then he closed the door behind him and headed straight for her. Her heart sank. Eli hadn’t come back and Jackson had the carefully detached look she’d come to recognize as his bad news face.
    “Hey there. Eli wanted me to tell you that something came up and he had to go. But I’ll drive you to your parents’ house later.”
    Kay nodded. “Of course. Thank you. I really appreciate it.” She walked back to the hallway leading to the bedrooms, resisting the tears that burned behind her eyelids. She would never know how she managed it, but she kept it together until she got in the bedroom. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she let go and tears spilled over her cheeks.  
    It wasn’t just that she was hurt and embarrassed. It was the fact that she’d really believed for that one shining moment that Eli felt the same way she did.  
    After a few more minutes feeling sorry for herself, Kay blew out a breath and wiped her eyes. As tempting as it was, she couldn’t hide back here forever. Julia would wonder where she was, and it would put a damper on the atmosphere if they were all worried about her. They’d done more than enough of that for one holiday.
    She opened the door to the hallway slowly. It was empty. Thank God. She didn’t want anyone to see her with her eyes all red and puffy. She went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face, then returned to the family room.
    The kids were still playing with their new toys, but the adults were trying to