A Holiday Proposal Read Free

against the counter and grinned. “What’s it been? Two months of wedded bliss now?”
    Keira nodded and blushed the color of cotton candy, which complemented her blond hair. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you?”
    Holly pursed her lips, trying to hide the smile that the question provoked. It seemed she couldn’t get off the Matthew train just yet. Seeing him at the hospital had been a shock. She hadn’t thought about him in years, yet he was all she’d thought about since seeing him. He’d been so sweet with his niece. He was definitely good with children.
    “From the look in your eyes I’d say you have some news. Did you finally meet Mr. Right?”
    Holly hesitated. Of all the things Keira could have guessed, she had to guess that? Matthew Cook was definitely eye candy, and a really nice guy, too, but she couldn’t imagine herself with him, or anyone for that matter, at least not now. She needed to focus on work if she didn’t want a repeat of the day that changed her life. She shivered.
    A soft smile covered Keira’s face. “Hmm. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words, especially when it’s accompanied by that lovely look you had in your eyes when you first walked in. Who is he?”
    “No one.” Holly turned toward the door that led up to her apartment. “Don’t forget to let Pete know about the dripping faucet.” She couldn’t be attracted to Matthew. Well, maybe just a little, but that would be the end of it. If she didn’t keep her focus where it belonged, who knew what disaster would happen? No way did she care to find out. Nope, men were distractions and distractions were off-limits!

Chapter 2
    T he phone rang, shattering the quiet morning. Sunday, the only day Holly allowed herself to sleep in, and someone had the nerve to call at eight-thirty! She snatched up the bedside receiver. “Hello?”
    “Did I wake you?”
    Her eyes shot open, and she scooted up. “Hi, Todd. I’m awake, just not up.”
    “I wanted to confirm lunch at your parents’ house this afternoon.”
    A shadow of doubt crossed her mind. It wasn’t right to deceive her family, but Mom had given her no choice. “Yes. It’s still on. Like I said, my sister and her husband are in town for the day. I don’t know why my mom is making it such a big deal. They just live in Wenatchee. She could visit them seven days a week if she wanted.”
    Todd chuckled. “How about if we ride together? I could swing by and pick you up.”
    “No. I’ll meet you, unless you want to join me this morning. I’m going to go to church, then will head over from there.” According to Todd, he only went to church on holidays, but there was no harm in inviting him on a nonholiday.
    “Thanks, but no. I’ll meet you at your parents’.”
    She let out her breath in a silent whoosh. Maybe it was for the best, anyway. They didn’t want to lay it on too thick with her family. “Okay. Do you need directions?”
    “I have the address. See you this afternoon. Unless you want to get breakfast before church?”
    “After this past week, all I want to do is sleep. I plan to lie in bed until the last possible moment.”
    “Have it your way. See you later.” The line went dead.
    Great. Now Todd was upset with her, and she couldn’t afford to make him angry. He was doing her a huge favor by coming to lunch. Her mother had been on her case ever since she graduated from nursing school to find a man and get married. Todd was the perfect decoy. He was a good friend, handsome and charming, and came with no strings. Mom would be pleased she brought him, Todd would get a free meal and Holly would get a reprieve from her mother’s disapproving looks. The plan was win-win for everyone. Hopefully by lunchtime Todd would be over his annoyance at her turning down breakfast or they might not be able to pull off the ruse.
    She’d never forget the day they met. She’d gotten turned around in the small hospital and Todd came to her rescue. They’d been