Holiday Wishes by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

under the light. What had been a misshapen pile of rags was now a plump, sassy doll. Exaggerated lashes spiked out from wide eyes. Curls had been sewn back into place so that they fell teasingly over the brow. It was soft, friendly and pretty as a picture. Even a full-grown man could recognize what would make a small girl smile.
    She felt a ridiculous sense of accomplishment at seeing him smile at her work. “You approve?”
    â€œI’m impressed. How much do you sell something like this for?”
    â€œThis one’s not for sale.” Faith set it in a large box at the back of the room. “There are about a dozen little girls in town whose families can’t afford much of a Christmas. There are boys too, of course, but Jake over at the five-and-dime and I worked a deal a few years back. On Christmas Eve, a box is left on the doorstep. The girls get a doll, the boys a truck or a ball or whatever.”
    He should have known. It was so typical of her, so much what she was. “Santa lives.”
    She turned to smile at him. “He does in Quiet Valley.”
    It was the smile that did it. It was so open, so familiar. Jason closed the distance between them before either of them realized it.
    â€œWhat about you? Do you get what you want for Christmas?”
    â€œI have everything I need.”
    â€œEverything?” His hands cupped her face. “Aren’t you the one who used to dream? Who always believed in wishes?”
    â€œI’ve grown up. Jason, you should go now.”
    â€œI don’t believe that. I don’t believe you’ve stopped dreaming, Faith. Just being with you makes me start again.”
    â€œJason.” She pressed her hands to his chest, knowing she had to stop what could never be finished. “You know we can’t always have what we want. You’ll leave in a few days. You can walk away and go on to a hundred other things, a hundred other places.”
    â€œWhat does that have to do with right now? It’s always right now, Faith.” He drew his hands through her hair so that pins scattered. Rich warm sable tumbled over his fingers. He’d always loved the feel of it, the smell of it. “You’re the only one,” he murmured. “You’ve always been the only one.”
    She closed her eyes before he could draw her close. “You’ll go. I have to stay here. Once before I stood and watched you walk away. I don’t think I can bear it if I let you in again. Can’t you understand?”
    â€œI don’t know. I know I understand I want you so much more now than I ever did. I’m not sure you can keep me out, Faith.” But he backed away, for both of them. “Not for long, anyway. You said before I didn’t have a right to all the answers. Maybe that’s true. But I need one.”
    It was a reprieve, it was space to think. She let out a long breath and nodded. “All right. But you promise that you’ll go now if I answer?”
    â€œI’ll go. Did you love him?”
    She couldn’t lie. It wasn’t in her. So her eyes were direct and pride kept her chin high. “I never loved anyone but you.”
    It came into his eyes—triumph, fury. He reached for her but she pulled away. “You said you’d go, Jason. I trusted your word.”
    She had him trapped. She had him aching. “You should’ve trusted it ten years ago.” He swung from the workroom and into the frigid night.

Chapter 6
    Quiet Valley bustled with Christmas energy. From a jerry-rigged loudspeaker on top of the hardware store roof, carols rang out. An enterprising young man from a neighboring farm got a permit and gave buggy rides up and down Main Street. Kids, keyed up with lack of school and anticipation, shouted and raced on every corner. The skies had clouded over, but the snow held off.
    Jason sat at the counter in the diner and sipped coffee while he listened to town gossip. Word was the