Read Online Second Chance Christmas (The Colorado Cades) by Tanya Michaels - Free Book Online
Authors: Tanya Michaels
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some minor bruises and lacerations. He discovered that trying to handle a panicking adolescent was a bit like trying to bathe a cat. Since he ended up with a gash courtesy of the girl’s ski, his supervisor sent him into town for a tetanus shot and told him they’d see him tomorrow.
After swinging by the doctor’s office, Justin intended to go home. He didn’t have any ulterior motives. But when he spotted the sign for the locally owned Christmas tree farm...
He glanced at the digital clock in his dashboard. It was four o’clock. Had Elisabeth made good on her promise to take Kaylee tree-shopping? There was another place out by the highway they could have gone, but that lot hosted a temporary vendor who would be gone by December twenty-sixth and had no real ties to town. If he knew Elisabeth, she’d want to support the community.
As if his SUV had a will of its own, the vehicle made an unscheduled turn. A moment later, he found himself on a bumpy road leading to the customer parking lot. Sure enough, there was Elisabeth’s car. She must be here somewhere, with Steven. Was the man worthy of her? He heard Kaylee’s voice in his head. He doesn’t like me . Having grown up with a younger sister—and dealing with a shrieking girl this afternoon—Justin knew that there were some instances of melodrama. Was Kaylee’s aversion to the man a knee-jerk reaction to the news that she was leaving? Or was there any real basis for her complaint?
He stepped out of the SUV into the bracing cold. Nearby was a large striped tent with electric cords running beneath the canvas, most likely for space heaters. He supposed he should start there and get information on how selecting and purchasing a tree worked. Until now, he hadn’t considered buying one, but why not? He was here; he might as well support the local economy, too. Nothing that would eat up too much space in the house he rented, just a simple, modestly sized tree.
As he entered the tent, he immediately spotted a dozen people he knew. Including Elisabeth. She stood out like a beacon in a bright blue coat. Kaylee was similarly eye-catching in lime-green and a headband with felt reindeer antlers. With them was a short man with hair the color of wheat. Steven?
Only one way to find out . He strode in their direction.
Elisabeth’s eyes widened when she saw him, and she hurried to meet him. It might have been flattering if she didn’t give the impression that she was trying to run him off. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. “Stalking me?”
Pretty much. “Of course not. I’m here to get a tree, like everyone else.”
“Justin!” Kaylee launched herself at him in what was probably intended as a hug but was executed as a tackle worthy of the Denver Broncos. He knelt down to return the embrace. “We got a tree, a real big one. Are you gonna come over and see it? Did you pick one out?”
“Not yet. You got any advice on what to look for?”
She tilted her head, giving his question earnest consideration. “Something extra, extra wide on bottom so lots of presents will fit under it.”
He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He rose, extending a hand toward the blond man. “You must be Steve Miller. Justin Cade. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah.” The man shook his hand. “ The Justin Cade? I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” Elisabeth looked startled. Apparently, she hadn’t been the one volunteering information about him.
“All day while you were at work,” Steven confirmed. “Did you know that Justin can imitate the voice of every single character on SpongeBob SquarePants? Alas, the best I can do is a passable ‘ruh-roh’ from Scooby Doo.”
Justin laughed, liking the guy despite himself.
“It was nice to see you,” Elisabeth said, “but we were just leaving. Good luck finding—”
“Leaving?” Kaylee wailed. “We haven’t even got hot chocolate. You promised. And Justin doesn’t have a tree. He needs our help picking a
After swinging by the doctor’s office, Justin intended to go home. He didn’t have any ulterior motives. But when he spotted the sign for the locally owned Christmas tree farm...
He glanced at the digital clock in his dashboard. It was four o’clock. Had Elisabeth made good on her promise to take Kaylee tree-shopping? There was another place out by the highway they could have gone, but that lot hosted a temporary vendor who would be gone by December twenty-sixth and had no real ties to town. If he knew Elisabeth, she’d want to support the community.
As if his SUV had a will of its own, the vehicle made an unscheduled turn. A moment later, he found himself on a bumpy road leading to the customer parking lot. Sure enough, there was Elisabeth’s car. She must be here somewhere, with Steven. Was the man worthy of her? He heard Kaylee’s voice in his head. He doesn’t like me . Having grown up with a younger sister—and dealing with a shrieking girl this afternoon—Justin knew that there were some instances of melodrama. Was Kaylee’s aversion to the man a knee-jerk reaction to the news that she was leaving? Or was there any real basis for her complaint?
He stepped out of the SUV into the bracing cold. Nearby was a large striped tent with electric cords running beneath the canvas, most likely for space heaters. He supposed he should start there and get information on how selecting and purchasing a tree worked. Until now, he hadn’t considered buying one, but why not? He was here; he might as well support the local economy, too. Nothing that would eat up too much space in the house he rented, just a simple, modestly sized tree.
As he entered the tent, he immediately spotted a dozen people he knew. Including Elisabeth. She stood out like a beacon in a bright blue coat. Kaylee was similarly eye-catching in lime-green and a headband with felt reindeer antlers. With them was a short man with hair the color of wheat. Steven?
Only one way to find out . He strode in their direction.
Elisabeth’s eyes widened when she saw him, and she hurried to meet him. It might have been flattering if she didn’t give the impression that she was trying to run him off. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. “Stalking me?”
Pretty much. “Of course not. I’m here to get a tree, like everyone else.”
“Justin!” Kaylee launched herself at him in what was probably intended as a hug but was executed as a tackle worthy of the Denver Broncos. He knelt down to return the embrace. “We got a tree, a real big one. Are you gonna come over and see it? Did you pick one out?”
“Not yet. You got any advice on what to look for?”
She tilted her head, giving his question earnest consideration. “Something extra, extra wide on bottom so lots of presents will fit under it.”
He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He rose, extending a hand toward the blond man. “You must be Steve Miller. Justin Cade. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah.” The man shook his hand. “ The Justin Cade? I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” Elisabeth looked startled. Apparently, she hadn’t been the one volunteering information about him.
“All day while you were at work,” Steven confirmed. “Did you know that Justin can imitate the voice of every single character on SpongeBob SquarePants? Alas, the best I can do is a passable ‘ruh-roh’ from Scooby Doo.”
Justin laughed, liking the guy despite himself.
“It was nice to see you,” Elisabeth said, “but we were just leaving. Good luck finding—”
“Leaving?” Kaylee wailed. “We haven’t even got hot chocolate. You promised. And Justin doesn’t have a tree. He needs our help picking a
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