Read Online The Christmas Stalking by Lillian Duncan - Free Book Online

state police assured her the roads would be cleared by morning.
    And then she could leave and put this whole fiasco behind her.
    Next time she needed a vacation she’d go to the Bahamas.
    No reason to come back here—ever.
    The hurt in Robby’s eyes when she’d accused him of shooting Mark and being her stalker said it all. They might have had a future together, but she’d blown it.
    Singing no longer made her happy. Maybe she’d sell her house and move somewhere out of the public eye. Maybe she’d retire and find a place she could call home. A real home.
    Someone knocked on the hotel door.
    She’d only ordered room service fifteen minutes earlier. Jumping off the bed, she went to the door and opened it.
    Robby stood there, looking almost as tired as she felt. Arresting his best friend had to have been a nightmare.
    “Do they need to ask me more questions?”
    “They’ve left and they took Len with them. He’ll be held at a local mental health facility until he can undergo a mental evaluation. Then he’ll most likely face charges at a later date.”
    Her eyes filled with unexpected tears. “Poor Len. Do they know what’s wrong?”
    “Not yet. That will be up to the psychiatrists to decide.” He grimaced. “I can’t believe I didn’t see the signs.”
    “You can’t blame yourself.”
    “Intellectually, I know that, but my heart’s telling me I should have done more.”
    Her heart broke for him. And she’d betrayed him even more than his best friend had. At least, Len had a reason, she didn’t. “I’m so sorry.”
    “It comes with the job. You’re not ready?”
    “Ready for what?”
    “Christmas Eve services, of course. Remember I invited you and you accepted.”
    “Yeah, but that was before...” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I thought you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me ever again.”
    “Before what?” His gaze met hers.
    Hope sparked in her heart.
    “Before…before I destroyed whatever we had going with my accusations. You must hate me.”
    “Oh...that.” He cupped her chin in his hand and looked into her eyes. “I understand why you thought it. I’m not going to say it didn’t hurt, but it’s something we can get past. And I don’t hate you—far from it.”
    The spark turned into flame as her heart jumped for joy. “Really?”
    “Really. Now, we’ve got Christmas to celebrate. Let’s get a move on. Tonight’s the Christmas Eve service and tomorrow is Christmas dinner at my brother’s house—Trenton style. And that means a lot of noise and a lot of food. Are you up for it?”
    “But I don’t have any gifts.”
    “Christmas isn’t about gifts—it’s about love. And besides, God gave you a beautiful gift. Your voice.”
    “Yeah, but that gift almost got me killed. I may never sing again.”
    “Of course you will. When God gives a gift like that, you can’t keep it to yourself.” He put his arms around her and pulled her close. His lips grazed her ear as he whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll always keep you safe.”
    Always.
    “Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.”
    “Oh, I intend to keep that one—if you’ll let me.” His lips met hers.
    Holly moved closer. She’d found her home.
     
    ****
    Their feet crunched across the glistening field of ice and snow as they walked hand in hand across the park to the tiny white church.
    Holly’s heart was full of love and joy and some trepidation. “Do you think people are going to be angry at me?”
    “Of course not. Why would they be?”
    “Oh...I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve disrupted their lives.”
    “None of it was your fault.”
    They walked up the steps to the church.
    She remembered the guilt that had tugged at her the last time she’d walked inside the church, but there was no remorse this night. Only joy.
    She gazed at the pulpit.
    Christmas trees with white lights adorned the stage, giving it a festive feel.
    Her feet slowed, but Robby’s hand on her elbow urged her