Read Online Once Upon a Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online

up all these decorations?”
    â€œOh, yeah…” She reached up for another box. “It’s a tradition, you know.” She forced a smile.
    â€œHere, let me get that for you.” He stepped in front of her, easily lifting it down from the cabinet.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œWell, this is all wrong.” He set the box in her arms then bent down to pick up the larger one from the floor.
    â€œWhat’s all wrong?”
    â€œThis bah-humbug attitude over Valentine’s Day.”
    â€œI know,” she admitted sheepishly. “And I do feel guilty for being so negative. I know Poppi would be disappointed in me.”
    He nodded. “He would definitely not approve.”
    She turned away now, walking toward the front of the store. She could hear him following her as she went over in the lounge area. It brought no comfort to her to realize that the lighting out here was much brighter than the back room. But why should she care about what her sister’s boyfriend thought of her? She set her box down on the coffee table then turned to peer at him. “Hey, how did you get in here anyway? Do you have a key or something?”
    â€œI leased the office upstairs from Poppi. It’s the headquarters for KidsPlay. I normally use the outside exit when I work late.” He set down his box. “I was just getting ready to leave when I heard the noise down here. I knew the store was closed by now, so I thought I better check it out. I came down the interior stairs.”
    â€œOh…” She picked up a sassy-looking cupid and attempted to straighten its slightly bent bow. “Do you always work this late?”
    â€œSometimes.”
    â€œWell, thanks again for your help.” She made a stiff smile as she tossed the cupid back into the box. “I better get busy or I’ll be here all night.” She glanced around, wondering where the ladder might be hiding.
    But Lane just stood there and, with a stern-looking expression, folded his arms across his front. “I’m sorry, Emma, but I think an intervention is needed here.” He stepped between her and the boxes, almost as if he was protecting the decorations.
    â€œWhat?” She frowned at him but then remembered her threatening words about burning everything. “You don’t honestly think I’m going to destroy my grandfather’s decorations? I was just kidding about setting them on fire.” She forced a laugh. “Don’t worry, Lane, I’m not really a pyromaniac. And I won’t be torching anything tonight.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t think you would. But just the same I believe you need an intervention. Especially since you’re going about this all wrong.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œI mean you do not have the right spirit .”
    She let out a long sigh.
    â€œAnd if you can’t decorate the bookstore cheerfully, you should not do it at all.”
    â€œI know…I know…” She held up her hands in a helpless gesture. “What can I say?”
    He rubbed his chin as if thinking. “You’re probably not aware that I helped Poppi decorate for Valentine’s Day these past couple of years.”
    â€œSeriously?” She tilted her head to one side, studying him. “You honestly helped him decorate?”
    He nodded. “Uh-huh. Which is precisely why I know you’re going about this all wrong, Emma Burcelli.”
    â€œSo…what do you recommend?”
    â€œI recommend that you go find the ladder, the Scotch tape, the masking tape, the push pins, thumbtacks, and whatnot. Meanwhile I’ll go get what’s missing.”
    â€œWhat’s missing?”
    He shook his finger at her. “You take care of your list and I’ll take care of mine, Miss Burcelli, and we will meet back here.”
    It didn’t take long to locate tape and pins, but the ladder was another matter. She finally found it