Midnight Angel by Carly Phillips Read Free Book Online Page A

The town he’d
happily left behind once before.
    * * *
    A quick kiss, no explanation, and Dylan left
first thing the next morning. Holly told herself she was glad, that
things had played out as she’d expected. She told herself she could
handle the brief fling he obviously wanted and intended. And she’d
keep telling herself that until she believed her own words.
    She stopped at the office to do some
insurance paperwork and see a few sick patients, before heading to
the grocery store to fill her empty refrigerator and the department
store for gifts. Christmas carols played over the speakers in the
supermarket as she loaded her cart. As usual, the store was the
central meeting place, and more than one friendly face commented on
Dylan’s return and how his car had been parked on her street late
into the night.
    Her face flushed hot with the first remark,
and she was certain her cheeks remained pink as she went up and
down the aisles. By the time she reached the checkout line and
pushed her cart behind Dylan’s mother of all people, she was sure
she had reached her maximum state of mortification.
    “Holly, honey, how are you?” Kate asked, as
she placed her items onto the belt.
    “Just fine. And you?”
    “Good. Good,” she said, smiling. “About
Dylan—”
    “Yes?” Holly asked warily.
    Because of her relationship with Dylan and
all the time she’d spent with his family, she and his mother had
remained close after he’d gone. By unspoken agreement though,
they’d never discussed Dylan. Apparently that was about to
change.
    “I’m so happy you and my son have made your
peace.” Kate beamed, obviously unfazed that Dylan had been out all
night at Holly’s.
    But Holly was even more humiliated than
before. Not once last night had she given small-town gossip a
thought, and since she and Dylan were both adults, she certainly
hadn’t been thinking that his mother would notice his absence.
    She gripped the cart handle tighter, her
knuckles white as she tried to acknowledge Kate’s comment without
embarrassing herself further. “We’ve come to an understanding,” she
said diplomatically.
    Better than admitting Dylan had spent the
night in her bed, his big body wrapped around hers, his hands doing
all sorts of sinful, erotic things to her. And she had more than
reciprocated, relearning his body, what he liked, what he loved and
what really turned him on.
    She shivered and forced a smile for his
mother’s sake.
    Kate continued talking. “I told Dylan I
expected you both for dinner tomorrow night. It is Christmas Eve,
after all.”
    Before Dylan’s return, Nicole had invited
her over but she hadn’t decided whether she’d rather be alone.
“That’s sweet but I’m not sure what my plans are yet,” Holly
hedged. She and Dylan hadn’t made any more plans to see each other,
and she didn’t want his choices to be influenced by his mother’s
command.
    But Kate waved a hand, dismissing Holly’s
words. “Your mother would never forgive me if I left you alone on
the holiday when she was with her sister. Besides, look at all the
food in the cart. I’ll cook all day tomorrow. Dylan’s already
agreed, so it’s settled.”
    Holly inhaled deeply and let the decision be
made for her. “Then at least let me bring dessert.”
    “Nonsense, honey. You just spend time with
Dylan and let me worry about dinner. Just bring yourself around
four. Okay?”
    “Okay,” she said, knowing she’d bring
something
anyway. “I look forward to it.” Which was true.
She’d love to spend the holiday with Dylan and his family.
    She just hoped Dylan felt the same way.
    * * *
    Dylan returned from his meeting with the
real estate agent on an all-time high. He’d found the perfect
parcel of land and had already made an offer. If he closed his
eyes, he could envision exactly the kind of house he wanted to
build there. He returned to Holly’s, whistling as he rang the bell
and waited for her to answer.
    She opened the door, a smile