Read Online Turn To Me by Tiffany A. Snow - Free Book Online Page A

had to take the whole thing down and get rid of it.  I think Mom and Dad would have been fine without a tree, but I certainly wasn't.  It was still four weeks until Christmas!  So that was the year we bought an artificial tree.”
    Blane laughed with me, reaching across the console and threading his fingers through mine.  We spent the rest of the drive recounting favorite stories from our childhood Christmases.  Well, mostly me telling the stories.  It seemed to me that Blane didn't have a lot of favorite memories from his childhood.  I told him about the time I'd gotten my Barbie Dream House, the best Christmas present ever, and how my mom and I used to sing Christmas carols by the fire.  Sometimes my dad had joined in, but more often than not he had just watched us, a smile on his face.
    We arrived at the tree farm about an hour later as it began to snow again.  The place looked like a winter wonderland with Christmas lights peeking out from under their gloss of snow.  Christmas carols drifted through the air as they played over the sound system inside the large barn where Blane led me.  It was warm and cozy inside, the air thickly coated with the scent of pine and balsam.
    “May I help you?” a kindly man asked, looking to be in his early sixties.
    “We're looking for a tree,” Blane said with a genial smile. 
    “Well you came to the right place!  I'm George and I can help you get started.”
    He gave Blane a saw to use and pointed us in the direction of the trees.  “Just find one you like, make sure it's not too tall – they all look smaller in the outdoors than they will in your living room – and cut it down.  Bring it back here and we'll finish it up.”
    We thanked him and started walking where he'd pointed.  Not many people were there and I figured it was probably the weather keeping them away.  Not that I was complaining.  The further we walked, the more magical it seemed with just Blane and me in the silence of the snow covered woods.
    He held my hand, helping me through the drifts, some of which were up to my knees.  We talked quietly, pointing out different trees to each other and inspecting them for flaws.  I laughed at how particular he was – I didn't mind a tree with a bare spot or two. 
    Finally, we found one we both could agree on, which was a good thing since it was starting to get dark.  I got down on my knees, helping Blane scoop the snow away from the trunk.  When it was finally clear enough, I watched as he sawed through the trunk and cheered when it fell over.
    “Ooh, Blane,” I cooed, batting my eyelashes at him.  “You're so strooong.”  I giggled at the expression on his face, then squealed in surprise when he started to chase me.
    I laughed as I ran, scooping up a handful of snow which I quickly packed into a ball and hurled at him.  He ducked and it sailed over his head.
    “Ha!  Missed me!” he gloated just as I lobbed another that hit him square in the face.
    I erupted in gales of laughter now, but had to take off again as a barrage of snowballs came flying at me.  I ran behind a stand of trees, huffing from the exertion.  Scooping up some snow, I waited, packing it into a tight ball.  When I didn't hear anything, I cautiously peeked from behind my trees.
    I screamed, startled as Blane stepped directly in front of me, then started laughing at how he'd gotten the drop on me.  He was grinning, watching me as my giggles gradually subsided.  I noticed his long eyelashes were wet from the snow.
    “You're terrible at this game,” I said loftily, nose in the air.  “I think I won.”
    “I don't know about that,” Blane said, his voice a husky rasp that made my laughter die in my throat.  Putting his hands on my hips, he tugged me closer to him.  The look in his eyes was one I knew well, and my heart started beating faster.  “I'm pretty sure I won this game.” 
    My breath caught in my throat as his gaze lowered to my mouth.  Bending down, his