Read Online Midnight Angel by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

care.
    She swallowed hard, searching for a
distraction. “What’s in the box?”
    “Part of your Christmas gift.”
    “It’s early! I didn’t know we were going to
exchange gifts tonight. Mine isn’t even wrapped yet.” She had
something special for him when they’d separated the day they’d been
in Boston. She hadn’t decided when to give it to him.
    He stood and grasped her hand, pulling her
down beside him on the couch. “I want you to have this and I don’t
want anything from you in exchange.”
    “Not even if its the watch you were eyeing
in the store window?” She tipped her head to the side and looked at
him through not-so-innocent eyes.
    He shook his head. “You noticed that? Man,
you are something else. Want to know what my—what Melanie got me
for Christmas last year?”
    She stiffened, but he held on tightly to her
hands. “No, but something tells me you’re going to tell me
anyway.”
    “She bought me a weekend for two at a spa.
Seaweed wraps, facials and full-body massages.” He grimaced, his
disgust with her gift evident even now, a year later.
    Holly burst out laughing, her nerves over
the mention of Melanie giving way to complete shock and amusement.
“She really doesn’t know you at all.”
    “No, she doesn’t. Not like we know each
other.” He held out the gift box. “It’s sentimental, not
expensive,” he said, his voice dropping low. His tone held a hint
of embarrassment.
    She couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not
looking for anything expensive. I wasn’t looking for anything at
all.”
    “I know, but this is something I want you to
have.” He rose and began pacing the room. Obviously something was
on his mind, so she set the box aside until he could explain.
    “About a month ago, I dreamed about you.
Nothing unusual—I always dream about you.”
    Her breath caught in her throat. “You
do?”
    “Yeah. That time I dreamed about us
exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, and I was determined to make
that dream come true again. As soon as possible.”
    Despite her resolve to remain strong, her
throat swelled and her heart began pounding hard in her chest. “So
you really came back for me?”
    “I told you I did.” He jerked his head
towards his gift. “Open it.”
    She did as he asked, untying the bow and
ripping off the paper. The white box was generic without a hint of
what was inside. Curious, she pulled off the top and peeked inside.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she lifted the gift gently in
her hands.
    “The angel I bought your family for their
tree,” she said, memories swamping her. “You’re giving it back to
me?”
    He knelt beside her. “It’s all in how you
look at things, babe. I want you to hold on to this and think of
why I’d give it to you, okay? How it could impact
us
.” He
took the angel from her hand and placed it on the table.
    Then he swept her into his arms and into the
bedroom.
    * * *
    Christmas Day, Holly awoke feeling warm and
sated, and she tingled all over. She’d never felt as cherished and
cared for as she had when Dylan had made love to her last
night.
    She closed her eyes and let herself
remember. His warm body melding with hers, his eyes warm and
giving. Most of all, she recalled the absolute feeling of
fulfillment as he came inside her.
    She rolled over to glance at the clock on
the nightstand but the first thing she saw was her angel instead.
They’d never put it on the tree, she thought. That was something
they’d get to later on, she hoped, because she already sensed Dylan
had left again this morning. Knowing Dylan, since he was home for a
short visit, she felt sure he’d gone to see his mother.
    She felt just as certain he’d be back.
    Lying alone in her bed gave her time to
think, maybe for the first time since Dylan’s surprise visit to her
office. As she let
all
her feelings wash over her, her
first thought wasn’t of Dylan, but of John. It wasn’t so much guilt
she felt as a heaviness in her heart because he