Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley by Emma Cane Read Free Book Online

house was overflowing with people. Kate was so busy taking coats and organizing boots that she didn’t notice the next pair of boots handed toward her was Tony’s until she looked up and met his eyes. She paused for a moment, and he gave a faint grin. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt under an open flannel shirt.
    She straightened up as Ethan came through the door, threw his snow-covered coat on a pile, gave her a brief kiss on the cheek, handed over his boots, and sped on past, all at the speed of light. Barney gave a joyous bark, and they collided in a petting, wagging frenzy.
    â€œSo you’re the welcome committee?” Tony asked.
    Flakes of snow were melting in his dark hair. He put his hands in his pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet, eyeing her a little too closely. She felt flustered, knowing there was flour on her sweater because she’d refused to wear an apron, and there’d been so much to do that she’d only put on half her makeup.
    â€œEveryone has a job,” she quipped, setting both pairs of boots on a throw rug nearly overflowing with footwear.
    Why was she feeling nervous around Tony? Was it still because she’d gone to him first, out of instinct, and didn’t know how she felt about it—or how he felt about it, except awkward?
    She offered a bright smile. “Where’s the rest of your family?”
    â€œDad’s picking up a couple of the widows, who had midday dinner at the Silver Creek Ranch but still wanted to join your parents. As for Lyndsay . . .”
    To her surprise, he avoided her gaze, looking past her to the holiday mayhem of kids running around, arguments over the Xbox, and someone calling that they needed more forks for the tables.
    â€œLyndsay?” she prodded.
    â€œShe’s feeling under the weather, or so she told me.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œMe, I think she wanted to see her new guy but didn’t want to share him just yet.”
    â€œOf course, that makes sense.” But Kate felt like Lyndsay had very different reasons for staying away, and they all centered on her. She lowered her voice. “Tony, I didn’t plan on being here. She knows that, right? I feel terrible if she felt like she had to avoid me.”
    â€œKate—”
    â€œJust call her and say we have over thirty people.”
    â€œKate—”
    â€œWe can stay on opposite sides of the house, and—”
    He caught her elbow, and she stopped her rambling to stare up at him in surprise. She didn’t remember the last time he’d deliberately touched her. His fingers were surprisingly warm, though he’d just come from outside.
    â€œShe makes her own decisions,” he said. “I think she’s an idiot. Just because you two aren’t close anymore. I mean, damn, doesn’t she realize she’s making me feel bad, like I was the cause of the wreck of your friendship, a friendship which started long before me?”
    â€œYou?” she cried in disbelief, then lowered her voice when she saw her mom staring with interest from the kitchen doorway. “Tony, you can’t possibly believe she feels that way. It’s me she’s angry at, and very defensive on your behalf. You’re her brother.”
    He shrugged. “It doesn’t feel that way to me.”
    She groaned. “Trust me. I know Lynds—okay, I used to know her as well as you did, maybe better. She doesn’t blame you for anything.”
    â€œWell, she should. The marriage wasn’t one-sided, after all, so neither was the divorce.”
    Now it was her turn to shrug. “Tell her from me that I wished she’d have come. It would have been good to see her.”
    He gave her a doubtful look, then started to move past her. It was her turn to catch his arm, then quickly let go.
    â€œYou think I wouldn’t want to see her?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s been a long time. Not sure why you’d want to revisit