Read Online The Edge of Heaven by TERESA HILL - Free Book Online Page A

feelings behind that pretty face of hers. "What are you up to?"
    "Well... I may not have told you the whole truth about what you're getting into, decorating and all."
    "A few lights?" He shrugged. "How hard could it be?"
    "Okay, you've been warned. I gave you a chance to get out of this, and you didn't take it."
    She must have taken that as his agreement, because she took him by the hand, touching him once more. It still felt good. He started to pull his hand from hers, but she tugged until he turned around and followed her.
    "Boxes are in the basement," she said. "Far left corner, marked Christmas decorations—Outside. I think there are twelve."
    "Twelve?"
    "We'll leave the inside boxes down there for now." She plowed ahead to what must be the basement door. "They'd only get in the way."
    He stopped, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "No one could have twelve boxes of decorations just for the outside of their house."
    "Bet me," she said. "Loser fixes dinner."
    So, he was staying for dinner, huh?
    He knew that wasn't such a good idea.
    She frowned. "You can't run out on me now."
    "Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"
    "I know you," she said, her index finger tapping against his chest. "I know you wouldn't leave me alone, and I'm grateful for that. Thank you."
    This time—thankfully—there was no kiss accompanying the words.
    God, he'd kissed her.
    Bad, bad idea.
    And he'd liked it.
    A lot.
    An even worse idea.
    Life was getting more complicated by the moment.
    "All right. Boxes," he said. Twelve. That should keep his hands off her for a while, maybe his mind, too.
    "Right down there." She opened the door, flipping on the light above the wide, well-maintained stairway, then pointing to the far-left corner of the basement. "And the extension ladder's in the garage."
    He paused on the top step to turn back to her. "Extension ladder?"
    "It's a long way to the top of the house," she said.
    He remembered. It was. "What do you plan to contribute to this effort?"
    "I'll tell you what to do. Every step of the way." She looked like she'd enjoy it, too.
    "Gee, thanks." Her smile, he couldn't help but notice, was enough to light up a room. It came slowly across her face, seeming to warm him as it did. There was chilly air coming from the basement and drifting past them, but he was very, very warm.
    "I'll hold things," she said. "Hand them to you. You'll need that."
    "That's it?" As long as she wasn't holding him, he might be okay.
    "And I'll cook for you tonight."
    "Emma..." He hadn't been fishing for an invitation.
    "We're both here," she reasoned. "We both have to eat. And once all the decorations are up, you'll need food."
    "Yeah, but—"
    "And I'll try to keep my hands off you."
    She said it lightly, teasingly, a twinkle in her eyes.
    He responded the same way. "You do that."
    "I'm not usually... Well, I don't make a habit of..." He just stood there, one step down, which brought him near to eye level with her. He watched her struggle for the right words, her embarrassment growing. "I'm sorry."
    "Emma, it's not that I didn't like it. Not at all."
    "Oh," she said.
    It would be much easier if it was all coming from her, if he didn't like it or want more of her. "Look, I'm not staying here," he said. "I'm just passing through. A day or two. That's it."
    "Okay."
    But he didn't seem to have changed her mind about anything.
    "I'm going to get busy," he said, making a full retreat when nothing else seemed to be working.
    There were indeed twelve boxes marked Christmas decorations—outside. He didn't count the ones labeled Christmas decorations—inside. He just carted the outside ones up the stairs and to the front porch. She came outside, all bundled up, and handed him a small key on a crowded ring. He got the extension ladder from the garage, took her advice in beginning at the tip-top corner of the house, three stories up and dead center. It seems they were going to outline the whole front face of the house.
    He took a strand