Read Online Second Chance Christmas (The Colorado Cades) by Tanya Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

clarified. “It’s hurt. Physically, literally. Injured.”
    “Oh, that.” He raised a hand and pressed below his cheekbone, wincing. There would definitely be a bruise there. “Battle wounds from rescuing a damsel in distress. She—”
    “Spare me any details of how she offered to kiss it all better,” Elisabeth said, her tone withering.
    There was an awful lot of disdain in her voice for someone who shouldn’t care about his love life. Could she possibly be jealous? Of course not. Just as he was not bitter about her becoming Mrs. Elisabeth Miller.
    “You misunderstand,” he said. “The damsel in question was twelve. There was some flailing—she caught me with both an arm and a ski—but the physical pain wasn’t nearly as bad as the loss of hearing she probably caused. Do all preteen girls shriek like banshees?”
    At that, Elisabeth smiled. “I have news for you, it’s not just the tweens. I was in Denver for Kaylee’s fifth birthday. She was overstimulated and overtired and threw an epic fit. I thought my ears would actually start bleeding.”
    “And now? Any tantrums since she moved in with you?”
    “Not at first, but she’s getting there.”
    “Why do you sound like tantrums would be progress?”
    “In some ways, it would be a relief. I think all normal kids throw one or two. Lord knows Lina did. But when Kaylee first moved in with me... She was far too solemn for a child her age. And painfully tentative, as if she was afraid I’d make her leave if she did anything wrong. She needs to know this is permanent, that I’ll love her no matter what.”
    Her tone was fiercely maternal. She made a damn good mother, even if she’d only been on the job for a few months.
    Did her fiancé have what it took to be an equally capable father? And what kind of husband would he make? The man seemed like a decent, likable guy, but what was with that kiss on Elisabeth’s cheek? Obviously, they weren’t going to make out in front of Kaylee and a bunch of Christmas-tree enthusiasts, but shouldn’t there be some chemistry between them? Justin knew firsthand how passionate Elisabeth could be.
    “Stevie wasn’t what I expected,” he said.
    “Don’t call him ‘Stevie.’ It’s patronizing.”
    “Can I call him Maurice?” he teased. “Or how about ‘the space cowboy’? From ‘ The Joker’? Oh, come on, that was funny.”
    Kaylee bounced back toward them, waving goodbye to the girl with pigtails. “That was Marissa. She’s in the class next to mine. Marissa’s mom says maybe I can come to their house after Christmas. They have a rabbit!”
    “That sounds like fun,” Elisabeth said, but Justin noticed the concern in her eyes. Was she worried about Kaylee finally starting to make friends just as the time came to leave Cielo Peak?
    They moved to the front of the line, ordering three cocoas with extra marshmallows. As he stirred his, he felt Elisabeth’s gaze on him and caught her staring at his cheek again.
    “Don’t worry,” he told her. “It looks worse than it is.”
    “I forget sometimes how dangerous your job can be,” she admitted. “You take care of yourself out there, okay?”
    “Always.” As he’d demonstrated when he broke up with her, looking out for himself was what he did best.
    * * *
    E LISABETH ’ S RESERVATIONS ABOUT staying with Justin at the tree farm were no match for Kaylee’s delighted giggles as the girl darted between scotch pines and blue spruces. Justin played “Marco Polo” with her, pretending not to know exactly which row she was in until she jumped out to surprise him, eliciting comical shrieks.
    It was bittersweet to watch them together. He was so damn good with her. Probably because he himself is a big kid at heart . She had to remind herself that knowing how to have fun wasn’t the same thing as being reliable. There was a man back at her place who would never let her down or break her heart.
    “Okay, you two, you seem to have forgotten why we’re here.