One Christmas Knight by Robyn Grady Read Free Book Online Page B

Christmas Day?” Emma asked Krys. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t bring it up but she had a right to know, didn’t she?
    Rick looked confused. “When’s that again?”
    “Tomorrow,” Damon said.
    Krystal spoke to the baby, “What do you want Santa to bring you, Sweet-pea?”
    Rick nuzzled Krystal’s hair. “I know what her daddy wants.”
    While Emma wanted to gag, Damon siphoned in a deep breath, blew it steadily out.
    Emma spoke up again. She felt as if a rope were slipping through her hands, wearing at the flesh. “I don’t think you ought to take the baby until her temp is down.”
    Krystal narrowed her eyes. “You said she’d be fine.”
    “No one likes to travel if they’re feeling unwell.”
    “Will she cry?” Rick asked.
    “That’s always possible,” Damon replied.
    “You sit in the back with the baby seat,” Rick said to Krys. Heading for the door, he threw a comment over his shoulder. “We’ll be seeing you again. We’re family now.”
    Krystal hesitated at the door. “Emma, I really owe you.”
    “I loved having her. If you ever need a sitter…anytime at all…” She swallowed, went on. “Call when you get home safely, okay?”
    Krystal blinked like she was holding back a flood of tears, maybe thinking of their parents, too, and then followed Rick to the car.
    As they drove away, Emma held back her own tears while Damon put an arm around her, rubbed her shoulder.
    “If you want to cry,” he said, “that’s okay. I could cry myself.”
    Emma felt as if she was sinking into an abyss. “There’s nothing I can do.”
    “Afraid not. It’s your sister’s choice.”
    “I always forgave her mistakes. That’s what family do. But, I swear, if anything happens to that little girl…”
    He tugged her close until she folded in against his chest, her cheek pressed to his sweater, her heart pounding against her ribs.
    “I can’t thank you enough for these past days,” she said.
    “I wanted to be here.”
    “I know. I’m just grateful…” She shut her stinging eyes tight, tried to be positive. But she felt hollow inside. Empty. Somehow dead.
    “Damon, I think I need to be alone for a while.”
    He dropped a soft kiss on her crown, rubbed her back. “You don’t have to be alone. I can stay.”
    Her lips pursed. “At least until tomorrow.”
    He placed a knuckle under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his.
    “Why don’t you come with me to Hawaii?”
    Emma slumped. If she could, she’d take back that earlier barb. Damon was inviting her to join him and his family for Christmas. Not a small deal. But…
    “I need to stay here in case Krystal needs me.”
    “In case Shelley needs you, you mean.”
    “Yes.” She pulled away, determined. “In case Shelley needs me.”
    He hesitated before saying, “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
    “Because someone I care about might not come back?”
    She was angry again. Upset. It hurt even more that he avoided her point. She didn’t know when or if she would see Kyrstal and Shelley again. What was different about Damon leaving for L.A.?
    A pulse beat in the side of his jaw before, finally, he nodded. “You’re right. It’s best you stay here.”
    “And it’s best that you go.”
    “If you need me―”
    She went inside, shut the door. Minutes later, when his vehicle’s engine started up and he drove away, Emma moved to the Christmas tree. Standing before that star, she put her head in her hands and cried.
 
    That night when Emma drove to Damon address, no lights were on in the house.
    Well, what did she expect? That he’d be here, twiddling his thumbs, holding his breath waiting for her to drop by. He had probably finished packing and was waiting at the airport. An escape to Hawaii had to look pretty good about now.
    She’d had something to say. But…wasn’t as if it’d make a difference anyway.
    Then she noticed light coming from around back, from the separate dwelling. Just then, an icy wind whirled