Read Online The Wedding Date: A Christmas Novella by Cara Connelly - Free Book Online

squeezed into that tiny box she’d built for him. But the truth was, if she fucked like she kissed, he wasn’t going anywhere.
    Besides, when she let down her guard, he wanted to eat her up.
    “Those condos you lined up for me,” he said when he reached her, “they around here?”
    “Within a few blocks.”
    “So we’ll be neighbors.”
    She shrugged, but with discomfort, not indifference. “I guess. Not that people see much of each other here. Lots of professionals.”
    “They all travel at light speed like you?”
    That got a laugh out of her. She had a great laugh. It rolled up from her belly, rising a register along the way. Too bad she hoarded it like gold.
    “I’m serious,” he said. “You’d be arrested for speeding in Texas. Mowing innocent folks down on the sidewalk.”
    She laughed again, and his chest swelled. He liked to make people laugh, but he’d never felt proud of it before. He caught her hand, hooked it through his arm. “This’ll slow you down,” he said. When she shied, he clamped it to his side. “Might speed me up too,” he offered. “You never know.”
    “There’s not far to go.” She pointed at a brick house across the street. Red shutters, lace curtains, and candles in the windows.
    “Their dream house?”
    “Nope. That’s in Natick. They’re moving in after New Year’s.”
    Amelia met them at the door, apron over her jeans. Now that he was awake, Cody saw she was as pretty as Julie, but more petite. Otherwise, they might almost have been twins if not for the hair. Amelia’s was an eye-catching blonde, usually his favorite. But Julie’s glossy chestnut was something special. It suited her, lush and fiery.
    Amelia kissed his cheek like he was already family, raised her brows at the wine, then steered him into the living room where a Christmas tree glittered, a fire crackled on the hearth, and a very fine-looking woman who could only be Julie’s mother came at him like a dog at a bone.
    “You’re Cody,” she said, latching onto his large hand with both of her small ones. “I’m Ellen, and I’m so glad to meet you.”
    “Pleased to meet you too, ma’am,” he said, and her eyes widened two sizes.
    Amelia laughed. “I warned you, Mom. That drawl’s deadly.” She winked at Cody. “Come on out to the kitchen and you can open the wine. I’m dying to try it. It’s ten points up from our usual.”
    Julie had disappeared toward the back of the house. Now he followed Amelia in that direction, Ellen tagging along. “So, Cody, Amelia says Julie’s helping you find a place. She usually works with couples, you know. She must like you.”
    “I sure do hate to disagree with you, Ellen. But I think if you asked her, she’d tell you I roped her into it.”
    He smiled at her. She stumbled over the doorjamb.
    Julie was already in the kitchen. Steadying her mother, she aimed a look at Cody that said to be careful where he pointed that thing. He fired one at her too. She sniffed, but her cheeks went rosy.
    “Cody.” Amelia pulled him toward the stove where a man half his size was lifting a tray of lasagna out of the oven. “This is Ray, my fiancé.”
    Ray threw him a grin as he maneuvered the tray onto a trivet. “I hear you’re from Texas. My Dad’s from out in the Hill Country.”
    “No kidding.” Cody grinned too. “I grew up out there. My brother still runs the ranch.”
    Ray shed the potholders, stuck out his hand. “I bet my Dad could pin it down within five miles if he heard your drawl.”
    “Any real Texan could,” Cody agreed.
    Amelia pressed a bottle and corkscrew into his hand. Ellen set out six glasses. “My boyfriend’s coming,” she said, smiling up at him. “It’s so nice that Julie won’t be the odd man out again.”
    “Mom!” Julie hissed.
    Cody popped the cork. Poured a swallow in one glass and passed it to Julie, smiling slyly. “She didn’t approve of my choice,” he whispered loudly to Ellen.
    “I didn’t not approve,” Julie