A Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

horse reached for him.
    He jumped back, dropping the apple piece. “What?”
    She grinned. “Nothing. Just messing with you.”
    “Charming.” He took another piece of apple and held it out to the horse. “Sorry about that,” he said. “You know women.”
    “Um, you’re talking to a girl horse.”
    “She understands just fine.”
    They finished giving the horses their holiday treats, then headed back to the house. When they stepped onto the porch, Dante paused. “Did you grow up here?”
    Evie looked out at the rolling hills of the ranch. The air was cool, but the sky blue. To the east, snow-capped mountains rose toward the sun.
    “Technically I was born in Fool’s Gold,” she admitted. “But I don’t remember much about it. We moved when I was pretty young.”
    Her earliest memories were of the tiny apartment they’d had in Los Angeles. The three boys had been crammed into the larger of the two bedrooms. May had taken the smaller bedroom for herself and Evie had slept on the sofa.
    “Are you happy to be back?”
    “I like teaching dance,” she said, willing to admit that much of the truth. “I wasn’t sure I would, but it’s gratifying. The girls are enthusiastic and excited to learn.” A few were talented, but she’d discovered she was less interested in skill than attitude when it came to her students.
    “Let me guess,” he said, glancing at her. “The clog dancing is your favorite.”
    She laughed. “It’s a very important art form.”
    “It’s loud and on top of my head.”
    For a second she allowed herself to get lost in his dark blue eyes. Then common sense took over, and she gave him her best sympathetic smile. “It’s for the children, Dante. Not everything is about you.”
    “It should be,” he grumbled. “Come on. The second half is starting.”
    “You know, I was run over by a football player only a few months ago. Does it occur to you that watching the game could be traumatic?”
    “Is it?”
    “No. I’m just saying it could be.”
    He wrapped his arm around her and drew her inside. “Stay close. I’ll protect you.”
    For a second she allowed herself to believe he wasn’t just being funny. That he was someone she could depend on. She knew better, of course. Her family had taught her that the people who were supposed to love you back usually didn’t and that it was far safer to simply be alone. She was done with love.
    * * *
    D INNER WAS MORE ENJOYABLE than Evie had allowed herself to hope was possible. With ten people sitting around a large table, it was easy to avoid awkward silences and difficult questions. Even more fortunate, May had sat at the opposite end, on the same side, so Evie didn’t have to try to avoid her at all.
    Once everyone had eaten their fill of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, vegetables, olives, rolls and a very confusing Jell-O mold, conversation turned to the holiday season in Fool’s Gold.
    “You pretty much need a schedule of events on the refrigerator,” Charlie was saying. “The town starts decorating this weekend. Next Saturday night is the tree lighting.”
    Heidi leaned against Rafe. “We’re doing hayrides.”
    Dante turned to her. “What?”
    Shane groaned. “Hayrides. Horses pulling sleighs.” He glanced out at the rapidly darkening night. “Or wagons if we don’t get snow.”
    Evie knew he sounded exasperated but guessed it was all an act. Shane liked everything about the ranch, including the close proximity to town. More important to him was how Annabelle enjoyed the holidays.
    She glanced around the table, startled to realize all her relatives were paired up. A year ago everyone had been single. Since the last holiday season, Rafe and May had both married and Shane and Clay had gotten engaged. Annabelle was pregnant. This time next year Shane and Annabelle would have their baby. Heidi and Charlie would probably be pregnant, and she would be gone.
    “I ate too much,” Glen, May’s husband,