AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Princess, I care.”So much that it hurt. He cupped her face in his hands and gently caressed the cheekbones before tracing her lips with his thumbs. He leaned in, touched her nose with his, then kissed her. Her mouth was warm, soft and sweet. He wrapped a hand around the back of her head and kissed her more ardently, with just a hint of the desire he felt. A dizzying kind of kiss that had them both coming up for air, looking at each other in a dazed way.
He exhaled. “Princess, I love you. I love you so much that I’ve tried not to think about how you’re going so soon, because I don’t want to spoil the time we have together.” His throat thickened with what he still had to say.
“Oh.” A shy smile filled her face as her eyes sparkled like priceless jewels, clear and true. “Daniel, I love you too.”
At last!Thank You, God. The gift she’d just given him was better than any other he could ever receive. Contentment flowed as a sappy grin refused to be restrained. He loved her and she loved him. All was finally as it should be. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, enjoying the scent of her, the softness of her hair, everything he would miss as soon as he admitted—
“Am I interrupting?”
* * *
Yes!Sarah wanted to scream as she looked up to see Sam holding a couple of battered hockey sticks, a puck, and a smirk. She sighed instead. These Walton men certainly had timing on their lives. Bad timing, mostly.
Dan studied her and she forced a smile. “It’s okay. You two have fun.”
He helped her up to a handy rock, where she sat as the two brothers scrimmaged. They dodged and faked, looking like kids having the time of their lives, not two grown men in their twenties. They were really good. Well, Dan was really,reallygood. Not that she was biased or anything.
“Hey, Sar, are you cold sitting there? I can teach you some hockey moves if you want to warm up.”
Ah, no. Much preferred his previous method of warming up. Cheeks aflame, she looked down at her skates. How did she undo them? “I think I’m kinda done.”
“Then so are we.” Dan nodded to Sam, and they skated over. Sam tugged off his skates, grabbed the sticks, and disappeared.
Dan gave her another warm smile, then kneeled to help her again. He took his beanie off, and his lovely thick, dark hair was all mussed up. Itneededher to smooth it down. She yanked off her gloves.
Oh. His hair was so soft and velvety. She shivered. This suddenly felt way too intimate, and from his startled glance, he must feel the same. She traced along the planes of his cheeks until her fingers caressed the slight stubble of his jaw. He’d stopped trying to free her feet and was watching her, intently.
“You having fun, Princess?” The smooth baritone had roughened into a timbre she’d never heard.
She nodded, gazing into his eyes until he exhaled, broke eye contact, and finally finished tugging the boot free.
“So you like being out here, then?” His voice was still husky but had steadied to something approaching normal. He glanced up at her again.
“Yes.” Maybe a little too much. She was so glad Sam had disappeared.
“Good.” His smile was full and warm before he kissed her again, then wrapped her up in a long, long hug. Oh, she loved this man. When he next gazed at her, his eyes had shadowed again. “Sar, there’s something I really need to talk to you about. Tonight, after dinner.”
Her insides suddenly tensed. There was something she needed to say too. “Okay.”
* * *
“This salmon is amazing,Dan. You’re such a good cook.” Sarah smiled at him, then turned to the rest of his family, who sat around the dining table. “Isn’t it just fantastic to be here, inside and warm, enjoying such yummy food? I love Christmas!”
Her vivacity chased away the strain that had arrived with Luke two hours ago. Dan watched his family relax as Sarah’s natural warmth drew them out of themselves.
“Christmas has always been my favorite time of year too,” Sam said.
“Why’s that?” Sarah tilted her head, her hair glowing in the candlelight.
“I guess I like us being together.” Sam’s cheeks flushed. “It’s nice.”
“I agree. Family is so important, isn’t it?” She turned to Luke. “How about you, Luke? Which is your favorite holiday?”
As Dan’s salmon disappeared, Sarah skillfully drew each family member out, and the warmth he’d craved for years in his family began to flow like sweet honey. Even his mom and dad seemed to have finally found a sense of ease, proof indeed that Christmas was a time of miracles. Now he hoped for one more: that Sarah would be okay—would still love him—after he finally shared about his past.
Sarah turned to his parents again. “I hope you all know how much I appreciate being here. Thank you again.” She turned back to Dan and gave that sparkly smile that made him catch his breath. “I’m so glad I’m here with you.”
He gazed at her, his personal cheerleader, the one who stirred his heart and his family, the one who helped chase away the shadows of his soul. He smiled. “Me too.”
