Read Online The Christmas Proposition by Cindy Kirk - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cindy Kirk
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vehicle.
After saying goodbye to her new friend and exchanging phone numbers, Mickie hopped inside the truck. Rachel waited outside with Derek while he stowed their gear. “I think we showed you today that girls can enjoy outdoor activities and sports as much as boys.”
“Some girls,” he said with a rueful smile. “Not all.”
She wasn’t sure who he was thinking of, but she understood. Tom had tolerated skiing but had never had the passion for it that she did. Impulsively, Rachel looped her arm through Derek’s. “Well, the two with you today had a fabulous time.”
His blue eyes met hers. “That’s because you…and Mickie…are special.”
Ignoring the little sparks of electricity from his nearness, Rachel laughed. “Don’t tell me you just figured that out?”
By the time they were ready to leave the Teton Village area, the snow had began to fall again and darkness was rapidly descending. Thankfully, the blizzard that had been predicted hadn’t yet materialized. The digital display on the vehicle’s dash said it was suppertime.Derek’s growling stomach had already made that connection.
He slanted a sideways glance at Rachel and marveled at her wholesome good looks. The blue of her parka accentuated the color of her eyes. She’d pulled off her stocking cap on the drive from Teton Village, her golden hair a mass of curls brushing her shoulders. With a slight flush of pink on her cheeks, she looked like one of those angels that topped a Christmas tree. He thought about telling her so, but decided not only would that be corny but also inappropriate. After all, she was his friend, not his girlfriend.
Derek wheeled the Escalade out of the Teton Village parking area and onto Moose Wilson Road. “Anyone else but me hungry?”
“I am,” Mickie said.
Rachel smiled at the child’s enthusiasm. “Me, too.”
“We should all stop somewhere and eat,” Mickie said.
“That does sound like fun.” Rachel turned in her seat to face Mickie. “But I’m afraid I didn’t budget for eating out this evening. I’m sorry, kiddo.”
In the rearview mirror, Derek could see the disappointment on the child’s face. But she didn’t beg. It was as if she knew most of the money Rachel had spent today had been on her.
The ski jacket and pants, helmet, even the cost of the lessons had all come out of Rachel’s pocket. Derek had wanted to pay, but she’d politely but very firmly turned him down.
“But I’d be happy to make something for all of us,” Rachel offered.
Which, Derek realized, would necessitate Rachel using her groceries to feed him.
“I have an even better idea,” he said. “Why don’t we go to my place and I’ll fix dinner?”
“We couldn’t impose—”
“I have an ulterior motive,” he said.
“What’s an all-terrier motive?” Mickie asked.
Derek didn’t crack a smile. “It means that while you’re there, I’d like you to help me decorate my tree.”
Mickie’s eyes drew together in thought. “Decorating a tree takes a lot of time, huh?”
“Are you saying that you don’t want to do it?”
“No, I want to do it. I think it would be super-duper fun.” Mickie’s enthusiasm seemed to grow with each word. “Rachel doesn’t put up her tree until Christmas Eve. By then it will be almost time for me to leave.”
Two spots of color settled on Rachel’s cheeks. “I explained that was always our tradition.”
Derek knew exactly who “our” was. He wanted to ask her why she felt the need to hold so tightly on to past traditions, but kept his mouth shut. When she chose to put up her tree wasn’t his business.
“What do you say, Rachel? Can we go to Mr. Rossi’s house? Can we, please?”
Rachel shook her head. “Fred has been alone most of the day. I hate to leave him alone all evening as well. I’m afraid we’re going to have to pass.”
If it wasn’t for the tears in Mickie’s eyes, Derek wouldn’t have pressed the issue. But he agreed with the child.
After saying goodbye to her new friend and exchanging phone numbers, Mickie hopped inside the truck. Rachel waited outside with Derek while he stowed their gear. “I think we showed you today that girls can enjoy outdoor activities and sports as much as boys.”
“Some girls,” he said with a rueful smile. “Not all.”
She wasn’t sure who he was thinking of, but she understood. Tom had tolerated skiing but had never had the passion for it that she did. Impulsively, Rachel looped her arm through Derek’s. “Well, the two with you today had a fabulous time.”
His blue eyes met hers. “That’s because you…and Mickie…are special.”
Ignoring the little sparks of electricity from his nearness, Rachel laughed. “Don’t tell me you just figured that out?”
By the time they were ready to leave the Teton Village area, the snow had began to fall again and darkness was rapidly descending. Thankfully, the blizzard that had been predicted hadn’t yet materialized. The digital display on the vehicle’s dash said it was suppertime.Derek’s growling stomach had already made that connection.
He slanted a sideways glance at Rachel and marveled at her wholesome good looks. The blue of her parka accentuated the color of her eyes. She’d pulled off her stocking cap on the drive from Teton Village, her golden hair a mass of curls brushing her shoulders. With a slight flush of pink on her cheeks, she looked like one of those angels that topped a Christmas tree. He thought about telling her so, but decided not only would that be corny but also inappropriate. After all, she was his friend, not his girlfriend.
Derek wheeled the Escalade out of the Teton Village parking area and onto Moose Wilson Road. “Anyone else but me hungry?”
“I am,” Mickie said.
Rachel smiled at the child’s enthusiasm. “Me, too.”
“We should all stop somewhere and eat,” Mickie said.
“That does sound like fun.” Rachel turned in her seat to face Mickie. “But I’m afraid I didn’t budget for eating out this evening. I’m sorry, kiddo.”
In the rearview mirror, Derek could see the disappointment on the child’s face. But she didn’t beg. It was as if she knew most of the money Rachel had spent today had been on her.
The ski jacket and pants, helmet, even the cost of the lessons had all come out of Rachel’s pocket. Derek had wanted to pay, but she’d politely but very firmly turned him down.
“But I’d be happy to make something for all of us,” Rachel offered.
Which, Derek realized, would necessitate Rachel using her groceries to feed him.
“I have an even better idea,” he said. “Why don’t we go to my place and I’ll fix dinner?”
“We couldn’t impose—”
“I have an ulterior motive,” he said.
“What’s an all-terrier motive?” Mickie asked.
Derek didn’t crack a smile. “It means that while you’re there, I’d like you to help me decorate my tree.”
Mickie’s eyes drew together in thought. “Decorating a tree takes a lot of time, huh?”
“Are you saying that you don’t want to do it?”
“No, I want to do it. I think it would be super-duper fun.” Mickie’s enthusiasm seemed to grow with each word. “Rachel doesn’t put up her tree until Christmas Eve. By then it will be almost time for me to leave.”
Two spots of color settled on Rachel’s cheeks. “I explained that was always our tradition.”
Derek knew exactly who “our” was. He wanted to ask her why she felt the need to hold so tightly on to past traditions, but kept his mouth shut. When she chose to put up her tree wasn’t his business.
“What do you say, Rachel? Can we go to Mr. Rossi’s house? Can we, please?”
Rachel shook her head. “Fred has been alone most of the day. I hate to leave him alone all evening as well. I’m afraid we’re going to have to pass.”
If it wasn’t for the tears in Mickie’s eyes, Derek wouldn’t have pressed the issue. But he agreed with the child.
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