Midnight Angel by Carly Phillips Read Free Book Online Page B

on her face
that widened when she saw him. She wore casual sweats and a pink
sweatshirt she’d cut at the arms and across the middle. With her
tousled curls and lightly made-up face, she looked delicious, good
enough to eat and definitely good enough to come home to every
single day.
    He grinned and whistled louder.
    “Someone’s in a good mood,” she said.
    He stepped inside and swung her through the
air before setting her bare feet down on the floor. But not before
letting her slide down the length of his body and feel how much
he’d missed her. “I’m just enjoying life.”
    She looked at him curiously, and her gaze
narrowed as she studied him. “So just where were you that put you
in such a good mood?”
    “I was Christmas shopping. For you,” he
said, teasing her.
    “You were out doing something for me?” Her
blue eyes twinkled with delight.
    “You bet.” He debated whether to tell her
about the land now or wait to give her her gift until Christmas
Eve, like in his dream.
    A chimelike ring sounded from the kitchen,
drawing his attention. “I didn’t realize I left my cell here.” He
thought he’d left it at his mother’s place.
    Holly nodded. “It’s been ringing all
afternoon. I’m guessing voice mail picked it up.”
    He could hear the withdrawal in her voice,
and he rolled his suddenly stiff shoulders. The last thing he
needed or wanted was his other life intruding on the headway he’d
been making with Holly, but he couldn’t afford to be out of touch
for too long.
    He glanced towards the kitchen. “Let me
check the messages and then we can talk, okay?”
    She nodded. “Sure. I’ve got some gifts of my
own to wrap,” she said with a wink and left him alone.
    He grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper and
retrieved his messages, jotting down notes of who’d called. Then he
returned the most pressing messages.
    Holly entered the kitchen to find Dylan on
the phone, pad and paper in front of him. She stepped inside, not
wanting to bother him, but he gestured for her to come in,
indicating she wasn’t intruding on a private conversation.
    Still, he was obviously absorbed in the
discussion, and as she passed by the table, she saw he was noting
figures and names on the paper, then tossing alternative numbers
and people back at the person on the other end of the phone. He was
animated and engaged, and it was obvious to Holly he loved what he
did, down to what she assumed was negotiations on starring in a
movie.
    She was as much intrigued by his business as
she was dismayed by the realization that she’d never truly have
him. Not if it meant him settling in their small hometown and
leaving the glitz, glamour and business of Hollywood behind. If
she’d held any illusions or hopes, they were dispelled that
instant.
    Yet as much as the realization hurt, she’d
never want to take something away from him that he loved so much.
For the first time she understood what he meant when he said he’d
left so she could pursue her dream and not resent him later on. She
wouldn’t want him to resent her either. She cared too much. So she
would gladly take all he offered now and be grateful for this time
they shared. A time she intended to make the most of as soon as he
got off the phone.
    While she waited for him to finish his call,
she pulled a jar of Marshmallow Fluff out of the cabinet and a
spoon from the drawer. She hopped up on the countertop the way she
sometimes did when she was eating in a rush and feasted on her
favorite snack.
    “Yes, yes, I’ll think it over and get back
to you,” Dylan said, his deep voice interrupting her thoughts. He
paused before adding, “No, I’m not calling Melanie back. My
decision about this has nothing to do with whether
she
takes the lead female role.”
    Holly’s stomach jumped at the mention of the
other woman’s name. She scooped a heaping teaspoonful of
Marshmallow Fluff and stuffed it into her mouth for good
measure.
    Meanwhile Dylan groaned. “Can you call