Read Online The Christmas Proposition by Cindy Kirk - Free Book Online
Authors: Cindy Kirk
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cologne teased her nostrils and how each time his hand brushed hers, her heart skipped a beat. A curious thrumming filled her body and the type of thoughts running through her head had no business in a church.
She determinedly forced her attention back to the sermon, to the message of hope and promises fulfilled. Every so often she’d glance at Derek, but his eyes and attention were on the minister. On her other side Mickie hummed happily under her breath.
The day, which had started out so simply, had taken an odd turn. What worried Rachel the most was she didn’t mind. Not one bit.
“Are you coming to brunch with us?” Lexi asked Derek after the service ended, taking the words right out of Rachel’s mouth.
She’d planned to extend the invitation immediately after the benediction, but Nick had called out a welcome from farther down the pew and then David and July had hurried over. With everyone talking, Rachel could barely get a word in.
“The food at The Coffeepot is great.” David cast apointed glance at Travis, who’d just sauntered up with Mary Karen and her three boys. “Though I can’t vouch for the quality of the company.”
“Hey.” Travis punched David in the shoulder. “The Almighty has big ears.”
Mary Karen grinned. “It’s nothing He doesn’t already know.”
“I appreciate the invitation,” Derek said. “But I ate before church specifically so I could head to the slopes to get some skiing in before the storm hits this afternoon.”
Beside Rachel, the humming stopped.
“I wish I could go with you,” Travis said. “But I’ve got a patient in labor and need to stay close.”
“We’re still on for Friday?” Derek asked.
“You bet,” Travis said. “That’s my day off and one of my partners is taking call.”
After saying their goodbyes, the couples hurried off, children in tow. Rachel understood the hasty departure. The Coffeepot was the place to go after Sunday services and you had to get there right away to get a table.
From where she stood, Rachel rested her back against the pew, pretending her off-balanced feeling had to do with her new high heels and not the way Derek made her feel. “Are you going to Snow King or Jackson Hole?”
“I’m thinking Jackson Hole, though I may change my mind,” Derek said, seemingly no longer in a rush to leave. “I’m not meeting anyone, so it’s just where I feel like going once I leave the house.”
“The conditions couldn’t be better,” Rachel said, unable to keep a hint of wistfulness from her tone. The mountain slopes already had a good solid base of snowand a recent storm had added eight inches of perfect powder.
Mickie stepped forward. “I want to learn to ski. Addie knows how and she’s only eight.”
By the time the little girl finished speaking her cheeks were bright red. Still, her eyes remained riveted on Derek’s face. Rachel clamped her hand gently but firmly on Mickie’s shoulder. She knew the little girl wanted to learn to ski, but teaching her wasn’t Derek’s responsibility. “I’ll take you this week, sweetie. I promise.”
“If you don’t have plans for the afternoon, we could all go together,” Derek said.
“You don’t have to invite us—”
“Sure he does,” Mickie interrupted.
“No.” Rachel shot her a warning glance. “He doesn’t.”
“I want you to come.” Before Rachel knew what was happening he reached over and took her hand. “You. And Mickie.”
His thumb caressed her palm, making rational thought difficult.
“Mickie doesn’t have anything to wear—” she stammered.
“We can stop at one of the village stores,” Derek said in a husky baritone that sent shivers up her spine.
“Please, Rachel. Pleeeeease.” Mickie grabbed her sleeve. “I really want to go skiing with you and Mr. Rossi.”
Over Mickie’s curly brown head, Derek’s eyes found hers.
“It’s up to you.” The liquid blue depths drew her in,tempting her. Asking her to venture from the
She determinedly forced her attention back to the sermon, to the message of hope and promises fulfilled. Every so often she’d glance at Derek, but his eyes and attention were on the minister. On her other side Mickie hummed happily under her breath.
The day, which had started out so simply, had taken an odd turn. What worried Rachel the most was she didn’t mind. Not one bit.
“Are you coming to brunch with us?” Lexi asked Derek after the service ended, taking the words right out of Rachel’s mouth.
She’d planned to extend the invitation immediately after the benediction, but Nick had called out a welcome from farther down the pew and then David and July had hurried over. With everyone talking, Rachel could barely get a word in.
“The food at The Coffeepot is great.” David cast apointed glance at Travis, who’d just sauntered up with Mary Karen and her three boys. “Though I can’t vouch for the quality of the company.”
“Hey.” Travis punched David in the shoulder. “The Almighty has big ears.”
Mary Karen grinned. “It’s nothing He doesn’t already know.”
“I appreciate the invitation,” Derek said. “But I ate before church specifically so I could head to the slopes to get some skiing in before the storm hits this afternoon.”
Beside Rachel, the humming stopped.
“I wish I could go with you,” Travis said. “But I’ve got a patient in labor and need to stay close.”
“We’re still on for Friday?” Derek asked.
“You bet,” Travis said. “That’s my day off and one of my partners is taking call.”
After saying their goodbyes, the couples hurried off, children in tow. Rachel understood the hasty departure. The Coffeepot was the place to go after Sunday services and you had to get there right away to get a table.
From where she stood, Rachel rested her back against the pew, pretending her off-balanced feeling had to do with her new high heels and not the way Derek made her feel. “Are you going to Snow King or Jackson Hole?”
“I’m thinking Jackson Hole, though I may change my mind,” Derek said, seemingly no longer in a rush to leave. “I’m not meeting anyone, so it’s just where I feel like going once I leave the house.”
“The conditions couldn’t be better,” Rachel said, unable to keep a hint of wistfulness from her tone. The mountain slopes already had a good solid base of snowand a recent storm had added eight inches of perfect powder.
Mickie stepped forward. “I want to learn to ski. Addie knows how and she’s only eight.”
By the time the little girl finished speaking her cheeks were bright red. Still, her eyes remained riveted on Derek’s face. Rachel clamped her hand gently but firmly on Mickie’s shoulder. She knew the little girl wanted to learn to ski, but teaching her wasn’t Derek’s responsibility. “I’ll take you this week, sweetie. I promise.”
“If you don’t have plans for the afternoon, we could all go together,” Derek said.
“You don’t have to invite us—”
“Sure he does,” Mickie interrupted.
“No.” Rachel shot her a warning glance. “He doesn’t.”
“I want you to come.” Before Rachel knew what was happening he reached over and took her hand. “You. And Mickie.”
His thumb caressed her palm, making rational thought difficult.
“Mickie doesn’t have anything to wear—” she stammered.
“We can stop at one of the village stores,” Derek said in a husky baritone that sent shivers up her spine.
“Please, Rachel. Pleeeeease.” Mickie grabbed her sleeve. “I really want to go skiing with you and Mr. Rossi.”
Over Mickie’s curly brown head, Derek’s eyes found hers.
“It’s up to you.” The liquid blue depths drew her in,tempting her. Asking her to venture from the
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