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ripping off the paper. The white box was generic without a hint of what was inside. Curious, she pulled off the top and peeked inside. Her breath caught in her throat, and she lifted the gift gently in her hands.
    “The angel I bought your family for their tree,” she said, memories swamping her. “You’re giving it back to me?”
    He knelt beside her. “It’s all in how you look at things, babe. I want you to hold on to this and think of why I’d give it to you, okay? How it could impact us .” He took the angel from her hand and placed it on the table.
    Then he swept her into his arms and into the bedroom.
    *     *     *
    Christmas Day, Holly awoke feeling warm and sated, and she tingled all over. She’d never felt as cherished and cared for as she had when Dylan had made love to her last night.
    She closed her eyes and let herself remember. His warm body melding with hers, his eyes warm and giving. Most of all, she recalled the absolute feeling of fulfillment as he came inside her.
    She rolled over to glance at the clock on the nightstand, but the first thing she saw was her angel instead. They’d never put it on the tree, she thought. That was something they’d get to later on, she hoped, because she already sensed Dylan had left again this morning. Knowing Dylan, since he was home for a short visit, she felt sure he’d gone to see his mother.
    She felt just as certain he’d be back.
    Lying alone in her bed gave her time to think, maybe for the first time since Dylan’s surprise visit to her office. As she let all her feelings wash over her, her first thought wasn’t of Dylan, but of John. It wasn’t so much guilt she felt as a heaviness in her heart because he was a wonderful man. But there would be time to deal with her feelings for John soon enough. Right now, she had a rare morning off and she intended to enjoy it by lounging in bed and not thinking of problems or possible solutions.
    She reached for the television remote and turned on one of the morning shows, caught one segment, then dozed through the weather. She woke up again just as an entertainment reporter was dishing on the latest buzz from Hollywood.
    She watched the list of stars who celebrated birthdays and heard the latest scandals before a picture on the screen caught Holly’s attention. Actress Melanie Masterson’s beautiful face flashed before Holly’s eyes.
    Curious despite herself, and compelled to watch, she sat up straighter in bed and raised the volume.
    “Ms. Masterson issued a statement through her publicist announcing a New Year’s Day wedding to her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Dylan North,” the reporter said.
    Holly pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs.
    “Neither Dylan North nor his representative was available for comment, but this reporter happened to see them at a party earlier this year and they were glued together. Whatever caused their breakup obviously wasn’t serious enough to keep them apart in the coming year. Diane, back to you.”
    Holly shook her head. “No way,” she said to the television screen.
    Melanie might be beautiful, but she didn’t understand Dylan, not the way Holly did. And though Dylan loved his career, he wouldn’t settle for a shadow of the type of woman he wanted. Then there was the fact that he’d been in Holly’s bed last night. Not Melanie’s. The other woman obviously had an agenda. Still, Dylan wasn’t here with Holly now, and this unsettling news did nothing to relax her.
    She’d lost her luxurious morning in bed, and she yanked the comforter down, rose from bed and headed for the kitchen. If nothing else, coffee would get her day back on track.
    No sooner had she reached the kitchen when her house phone rang, and she snatched up the receiver. “Hello?”
    “Hi, babe.”
    On hearing Dylan’s voice, her spirits soared. “Dylan!”
    “Good morning,” he said gruffly.
    She felt herself smile. “Good morning to you, too.”
    “Do you have