Be Mine for Christmas by Alicia Street, Roy Street Read Free Book Online Page A

From a… vision, for lack of a better word. It sustained me. More than that, it told me to hold on, not to give up.”
    “Wow. What did you see?”
    He locked his gaze on her for a moment and said, “You.”
    Ellie had expected him to say it was a saint, an angel, a ghost, or spirit of some kind. But her? “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
    “I saw your face. You spoke to me, begged me not to give up. To hang on. Then you would go running through these rows of evergreen trees. Every so often you’d stop and gesture for me to follow you.”
    Ellie’s eyes went wide. “Is that why you bought this farm?”
    “I’d already bought it, but as I once told you, I was going to build condos on it. After my accident my values changed totally. I have a much deeper sense of what’s important in this world. As a result, I had a slight rift with my older brother and father. They owned part of this property and gave me a hard time when I wanted to buy them out and continue my life as a tree farmer.”
    “How can you be sure it was me you saw?”
    “Ellie, it was your face and your voice. A part of me couldn’t stop waiting for you. Then you came along and I knew. I tried to keep it casual, but when you showed up here…” He shook his head.
    She pouted. “I hope this vision isn’t the only reason you like me.”
    Reece laughed and pulled her into his arms. “How can you say that? Face it. The chemistry between us is explosive.”
    “Mmmm.” She reached her arms around his neck. “I think this is going to be a very special Christmas.”
     
    **
     
    The snow stopped by morning and the sun came out bright and sparkling. Brandon feared Santa might have skipped their house since he was not at home, but he found gift after gift with his name on it under Reece’s tree.
    There was also one marked for Ellie. “Oh. This choker is so beautiful. I love it.” She kissed Reece and added, “I’ll wear it to the party tonight.”
    All of the gifts Ellie had bought were still at her apartment, including the sweater she’d gotten for Reece. And the gift Brandon’s “Daddy” had supposedly sent. But the boy still got a Christmas morning “Daddy” call from Ellie’s brother.
    When the excitement settled down, Reece and Ellie went to the kitchen to make some pancakes and eggs, leaving Brandon to play with his new toys. Ellie had barely finished beating an egg when she heard her son crying in the living room.
    She rushed into the room, Reece right behind her. She tried to hold Brandon, but he pushed her away. “What’s wrong, Brannie? Did you hurt yourself?”
    “You’re a liar! I hate you! I called Daddy’s number on your cell and got cousin Carly. She told me the truth. All this time it was my Uncle David talking to me.”
    “I’m so sorry, Brandon. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. But I guess I handled it the wrong way.”
    “Daddy doesn’t want me. That’s why he ran away from us.” He burst into tears.
    Her lips tightened in anger. “Daddy ran from me, not you. But he is a selfish man who doesn’t really care about anybody.”
    Brandon rubbed his small fists against his eyes, still recoiling from his mother’s attempts to hold him. “All those cards and presents. He didn’t send any of them, did he? He doesn’t want to be my daddy. Nobody wants me.”
    Reece rushed in and knelt next to the boy. “I want you, Brandon. And so does your Mom. And when I marry her, I’ll be able to adopt you and be your father for real. Would you like to be my son?”
    The small boy dove into his arms.
    “I’d call that an answer,” Ellie said.
    Reece hugged him and turned to Ellie. “What about your answer, Ellie, my love? Will you marry me? Will you be mine for Christmas?”
    “Yes, Reece. Yes.” Tears streaming down her cheeks, she joined their embrace, happier than she’d ever been.
     
     
    *****

 
     
    Don’t miss Alicia and Roy Street’s Dance ‘n’ Luv contemporary romance series.
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