The Christmas Cottage(13)

Holly took another big breath and let it out slowly. For the first time in she couldn’t remember how long, she felt relaxed. She’d go so far as to say she felt content. It had been such a long, long time.

Steve’s warmth and the heat from the fire comforted her like sleeping under an old quilt. Lulling her. Calming her. She relaxed against Steve and he gently put his hand on hers.





CHAPTER SIX



Steve looked down at Holly sleeping peacefully tucked up against his side. She’d endured so much in the last year. Losing her husband, then adding on to that the loss of her dog, Tucker. No wonder she’d come to Comfort Crossing to hide out this holiday season.

His breath got in a rhythm with her breathing. He tightened his arm around her shoulder. He’d give anything to take away her pain and felt horrible he’d thrown Christmas at her at every turn.

She sighed in her sleep. The firelight flicked flashes of light across her face. She was a beautiful woman with strong cheekbones and long eyelashes that lined her now-closed emerald eyes.

He let the warmth wash over him and held her tightly against him, hoping that telling him about last Christmas would somehow release the stranglehold the memories held over her. Let her move on with her life instead of hide away from the pain.

He knew about hiding away from pain and loss. One day, you just had to pick up and move on. No matter hard it was.

The next thing he knew he was lying on the couch with Holly curled up against him. Louie was on the floor and the fire was dying. He glanced at the clock and saw it was the middle of the night. Should he extract himself and go home? That might wake her up. How had they gotten from sitting up on the couch to stretched out flat against each other, her one leg was entwined in his? He really had no desire whatsoever to get up. It was cold outside. Excuse one. He didn’t want to wake her, she needed her sleep. Excuse two. She just felt so damn good up against him. Well, that was probably the most honest excuse.

He could feel her heart beat against his chest. Her hair was mostly pulled out of the clip she’d used to pull back her hair, and it fell in silken locks across his shoulder.

She stirred and he held his breath, willing her not to wake up. He must have done something right with the karma police because she settled back up against him. He really hoped she stayed asleep. Or maybe he wanted her to wake up.

It was quite a while before he felt himself begin to drift back to sleep.

Then he was wide awake because Holly stirred and kissed his neck.

Oh, sweet keeper of the stars, he was cold-shower awake now. He kissed the top of her head, knowing full well she was still asleep.

He figured he’d just stay here, tortured, for the rest of the night. He didn’t want to wake her. Didn’t want to scare her off. But he sure as all get out didn’t want to leave.

* * * * *

Holly slowly woke up, trying to figure out where she was. Then, bang, she knew. She was lying almost on top of Steve, who was snoring quietly. She tried to untangle herself… one of her legs was locked firmly between his. As she moved, he tightened his arm around her.

Just great. She needed to get up before he woke up and found out they were hopelessly entangled. How did this happen?

Last night slowly came back to her. Telling Steve about Dave and Tucker. Steve had been so understanding and let her take her time to tell it all. She felt like a weight had been lifted this morning. Like she could go on and face each day now.

But she didn’t want to face Steve like this. On the couch. Curled up around him.

She started to pull away, slowly and carefully.

“Hm.” Steve growled a friendly rumble. “Morning.”

“Morning. I’m sorry. I guess I fell asleep.” She tried to slide her leg out from between his.

“Looks like we both did.” He stretched slightly and she felt herself go along for the ride, plastered against his hip.

She did manage to pull her leg out this time and pushed up to a sitting position.

He looked quite content, stretched out on the couch, grinning up at her. The beast.

“What are you smiling at?” She tugged the clip out of her hair and raked her fingers through the mess, sure she looked a fright.

“You look darn sexy in the morning.”

She had no words.

He pushed up and swung his legs to the floor. He reached over and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. And grinned at her again.

She self-consciously straightened her sweater.

He reached out and touched her cheek then. Just a brush of his hand.

“I better go,” he said. In that low sexy voice of his. Maddening voice. Teasing voice.

“About last night. Thanks for listening to me.” She reminded herself to keep from getting lost in his dark brown eyes.