A Hero Grinch for Christmas by Samanthya Wyatt Read Free Book Online

and padded to the table, facing the windows on the back side of the cabin.
    “Storm looks worse,” Hunter said. “You can’t see anything out there.”
    “Maybe I should radio Henry again, just to let him know I might be here a while.”
    He groaned. Or it could have been a growl. Who knew with him? She set her cup down.
    “Don’t you ever get tired of frowning?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “My aunt always said, ‘If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.’”
    “Looks to me like you didn’t take her advice.” he said.
    “Huh?”
    “You’ve still got it.” He leaned forward. “And it’s damned annoying.”
    “Why should my smile irritate you?”
    “You’ve got this happy-go-lucky thing going on. No one is that cheerful all the time.”
    She should be annoyed at his loutishness, but she was getting used to his moods. And she’d already decided she’d cure him of his scowl. On impulse, she stuck out her tongue.
    He choked, although it sounded strangely like a smothered chuckle.
    “I heard that,” she said.
    He pushed from the counter and turned his back.
    “Don’t ignore me.” She stepped closer to him. “I heard that sound you made.”
    “Nothing wrong with your hearing,” he muttered.
    “No, there’s not. What’s the point of being miserable? You do that to yourself, you know. We all have problems, but you need to let them go once in a while. Good grief, it’s Christmas. Look at this place.” She glanced about, indicating the vast room. “Not a single ornament in sight.”
    “I like it just the way it is.”
    She placed her hands on her hips. “Of course you do, Scrooge .”
    His hands fisting was the only sign of his temper. Then he just turned around and strode off.
    Dani didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved.
    ***
    “Look what I found.” Dani pulled a box labeled ‘Christmas’ from the top shelf of the closet nearly dropping it on her head. Excitedly, she flipped open the cardboard flaps and found an assortment of decorations. The ornaments looked old, nothing you would find in stores today. If she guessed right, these were family heirlooms. She carried the box into the spacious living room.
    “If we’re going to be stuck here for the holidays, we at least need some decorations. And, there’s two more boxes in the closet.”
    Hunter glanced up from where he was squatted by the hearth. “Knock yourself out.”
    “Such enthusiasm,” she said. From his earlier attitude, she figured he wouldn’t allow her to decorate. She pulled gold and red ribbons from the box.
    “Look at these.” Gold candelabras with white candles. She returned to the closet, dragging out the other boxes.
    “What are you doing?”
    The hair stood on the back of her neck at the sound of his voice so close to her ear. His breath shot a tingle down her spine. She’d love to lean into him, feel his strong body against hers. “I told you. There’s two more boxes.”
    “I’ll carry them.”
    “You get the big one. I can handle this one.” She grabbed the smaller one—something to keep her hands from grabbing his shirt and crawling all over him.
    There were lights in the second box, and she pulled a strand out. “Wish I could hang the lights outside?”
    “Besides the blizzard, have you seen how far the roof is from the ground?”
    “Ever hear of ladders?” She shot back.
    “Since you won’t be decorating outside, whether or not we have a ladder isn’t a problem.”
    “Then I’ll just have to hang them in here.”
    “You’re not serious?” At least he wasn’t yelling.
    “A tree would be nice.”
    He stood, that unhappy face as attractive as ever. “It’s freezing and you want a tree?”
    “Yes.” She crossed her arms, accidently squeezing her breasts together.
    His gaze dropped to her chest, then jerked back to her face. “You can forget it.”
    She never used female assets to get her way. But with Hunter, she couldn’t resist. She gave her best pouty look,