Read Online Hidden Gifts (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance) by Elena Aitken - Free Book Online
Authors: Elena Aitken
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said, his voice low and deep but somehow not menacing in the slightest. “Is it me you’re lying to? Or yourself?”
Morgan’s breath hitched. There’s no way he could know; no one did. But from the look in his eyes, it was clear that Bo had figured out that something was up. He was so close, she could smell him. A combination of pine and fresh air. If that was a cologne, they should bottle it. It clouded her thoughts and she struggled to maintain control. She was positive he’d be able to hear her heart racing but she refused to let him see how he affected her. Especially when she herself wasn’t sure. She worked hard to still her racing thoughts and to figure out her next move.
“Stay,” he breathed. She could feel the breath on her face as he spoke. His voice was softer, and despite herself, she met his gaze again. The hard, challenging eyes she’d seen a moment earlier were gone. Like his voice, they too were softer, almost as if they’d changed color. “Please,” he said. “Stay.” Bo reached between them and touched his hand to her cheek. His touch was brazen and far too intimate but it sent a thrill racing through her body, directly to her center.
She opened her mouth to speak. “I—“
“Morgan.” Ella’s voice surprised them both. Bo dropped his hand and they both took a step away from each other as Ella ran across the room and grabbed Morgan’s leg with one sticky, popsicle covered hand. The other held the drippy, red treat. “You’re here.”
“Of course.” Morgan smiled and glanced at Bo whose mouth was agape. Of course, if Ella had barely even spoken to him, it would definitely be unusual to hear her speak so clearly, let alone loudly.
After a moment, Bo regained his composure and mouthed the word please to her.
She glanced between them, father and daughter, and felt a tug that both excited and disturbed her at the same time. “Okay,” Morgan said. “I’ll stay.” She spoke the last words to Bo directly and then, so there was no misunderstanding, she added, “For Ella.”
Chapter Seven
By the third day Bo had been taking Ella to the Cub’s Club, he could already see a difference in her. She seemed happier, and more content. It was Morgan he had to thank for that. Ella really seemed to like her. And she wasn’t the only one. The few times he’d seen Morgan since their confrontation, he couldn’t ignore the pull he felt towards her. It wasn’t like anything he’d felt for any other woman before, which both irritated and excited him. But his feelings or attraction, or whatever it was he was feeling for Morgan, didn’t matter. What mattered was that Ella was happy. Or at least happier than she had been. And although Bo would never imagine that a little girl’s happiness would ever mean so much to him, there was no denying that when Ella smiled, so did he. And she was smiling. Still not as much as he thought a four year-old should, but it was a start.
“Ella,” Bo called from the kitchen. “Are you ready to go?”
She appeared in the hallway and ran towards him. The transformation that had taken place in only a few days was remarkable. Ella still didn’t say a whole lot, at least not to him, and there was still so much he wanted to know about her. He made a mental note to ask Morgan whether Ella had opened up to her about anything.
Grabbing an extra pair of socks for his pack, Bo said, “We should get going—we don’t want to be late.” Ella nodded in agreement, and together they left their suite and headed down the path towards the main lodge.
Still early, the air hadn’t had a chance to warm up yet. Bo zipped his jacket and glanced down at Ella to make sure she was warm enough. She only had a thin jacket, which she wore over the only sweater she had. It wasn’t much, and it definitely wasn’t suitable for the mountains. He’d have to get her some clothes if she were going to stay with him.
And there it was. The indecision he
Morgan’s breath hitched. There’s no way he could know; no one did. But from the look in his eyes, it was clear that Bo had figured out that something was up. He was so close, she could smell him. A combination of pine and fresh air. If that was a cologne, they should bottle it. It clouded her thoughts and she struggled to maintain control. She was positive he’d be able to hear her heart racing but she refused to let him see how he affected her. Especially when she herself wasn’t sure. She worked hard to still her racing thoughts and to figure out her next move.
“Stay,” he breathed. She could feel the breath on her face as he spoke. His voice was softer, and despite herself, she met his gaze again. The hard, challenging eyes she’d seen a moment earlier were gone. Like his voice, they too were softer, almost as if they’d changed color. “Please,” he said. “Stay.” Bo reached between them and touched his hand to her cheek. His touch was brazen and far too intimate but it sent a thrill racing through her body, directly to her center.
She opened her mouth to speak. “I—“
“Morgan.” Ella’s voice surprised them both. Bo dropped his hand and they both took a step away from each other as Ella ran across the room and grabbed Morgan’s leg with one sticky, popsicle covered hand. The other held the drippy, red treat. “You’re here.”
“Of course.” Morgan smiled and glanced at Bo whose mouth was agape. Of course, if Ella had barely even spoken to him, it would definitely be unusual to hear her speak so clearly, let alone loudly.
After a moment, Bo regained his composure and mouthed the word please to her.
She glanced between them, father and daughter, and felt a tug that both excited and disturbed her at the same time. “Okay,” Morgan said. “I’ll stay.” She spoke the last words to Bo directly and then, so there was no misunderstanding, she added, “For Ella.”
Chapter Seven
By the third day Bo had been taking Ella to the Cub’s Club, he could already see a difference in her. She seemed happier, and more content. It was Morgan he had to thank for that. Ella really seemed to like her. And she wasn’t the only one. The few times he’d seen Morgan since their confrontation, he couldn’t ignore the pull he felt towards her. It wasn’t like anything he’d felt for any other woman before, which both irritated and excited him. But his feelings or attraction, or whatever it was he was feeling for Morgan, didn’t matter. What mattered was that Ella was happy. Or at least happier than she had been. And although Bo would never imagine that a little girl’s happiness would ever mean so much to him, there was no denying that when Ella smiled, so did he. And she was smiling. Still not as much as he thought a four year-old should, but it was a start.
“Ella,” Bo called from the kitchen. “Are you ready to go?”
She appeared in the hallway and ran towards him. The transformation that had taken place in only a few days was remarkable. Ella still didn’t say a whole lot, at least not to him, and there was still so much he wanted to know about her. He made a mental note to ask Morgan whether Ella had opened up to her about anything.
Grabbing an extra pair of socks for his pack, Bo said, “We should get going—we don’t want to be late.” Ella nodded in agreement, and together they left their suite and headed down the path towards the main lodge.
Still early, the air hadn’t had a chance to warm up yet. Bo zipped his jacket and glanced down at Ella to make sure she was warm enough. She only had a thin jacket, which she wore over the only sweater she had. It wasn’t much, and it definitely wasn’t suitable for the mountains. He’d have to get her some clothes if she were going to stay with him.
And there it was. The indecision he
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