Second Chance Christmas (The Colorado Cades) by Tanya Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

“We’ll get through it together. That’s what families do.”
    Her statement struck a chord with him. How would he and Arden and Colin have coped without each other? And how would Justin manage when both his siblings were gone? An unfamiliar sensation speared him, and it took a moment to identify the pang as loneliness. Ridiculous . Between buddies and beautiful women, Justin was never alone.
    He poked at his food. “You mentioned last night that you had something to discuss?”
    She nodded. “With Steven in town this weekend, we have a small window of opportunity for engagement pictures. And I was wondering...would it be weird for you if I hired Arden? I was thinking she might be a good candidate for the wedding if she’s not already booked that weekend.”
    “She’s a great candidate,” he said loyally. “Her work is terrific.”
    “So it won’t bother you at all?” she prodded.
    “Why should it?”
    Her lips compressed into a thin line. “Right. Silly of me to think it might.” She set down her fork. “I know I said you could have thirty minutes, but Mom alerted me to a guest problem that needs to be addressed. Since we’ve concluded our business here...”
    “Don’t let me keep you.” He stood, reaching for his wallet. “I should get going, too.” His obligation to Lina was fulfilled. He’d given Elisabeth his unsolicited opinion on raising a child, and now he wanted to get out of here before the tension between them got any worse. Or Kaylee had a chance to ask him any more difficult questions like why he wasn’t her friend anymore.
    Elisabeth shook her head when he pulled cash out of his billfold. “You don’t have to pay for this.”
    Oh, but he already was. He followed her back to the lobby, trying not to notice the flattering way her jeans hugged her butt. In the past five months, he’d almost forgotten how fascinated he’d been with her composed nature, how he delighted in the challenge of getting her to open up to him. She was so cool and calm that every time she revealed an emotion—whether anger or laughter or something more vulnerable—had been like a victory. It had become addictive, helping her cultivate her responsive side and knowing he was one of the lucky few to glimpse it.
    But encouraging her to be free with her feelings had come back to bite him on the ass when she’d fallen for him harder than he’d ever anticipated. Hadn’t he warned her that he had no long-run potential? How could a woman with her intelligence want something lasting with him ? He was the guy who’d practically broken out in hives whenever Patti Donnelly hugged him or Graham Donnelly had called him “son.” Well, you certainly solved that dilemma . Now the Donnellys wanted nothing to do with him.
    From around the corner, there came the pounding slap of footsteps, and a defeated-sounding woman issued a listless reminder not to run. Then two tall boys, not quite teenagers, zoomed into view. At their current speed, they were in danger of mowing over Elisabeth. Justin instinctively pulled her out of the collision course and against him.
    The instant her body touched his, his mind went blank, heat silencing his intended reprimand to the hooligans. Elisabeth’s sharp intake of breath was audible and, from his view over her shoulder, did mesmerizing things for her cleavage.
    She craned her head to look up at him. “Thanks.” The word ended on a near whisper as their gazes locked. She was right there, so close, in his arms the way she’d been hundreds of times before. The urge to kiss her was so natural....
    “Justin?” Her voice was a squeak of uncertainty, jarring him from lust-addled memories.
    He immediately dropped his hands to his sides, hoping he looked more innocent than he felt. “Just wanted to make sure you didn’t get hurt.”
    A hollow chuckle escaped her. “Ironic, coming from you.”
    He flinched. “Guess I deserved that.”
    What about what she deserved? If she’d found a man