Her Wish Before Christmas (Holiday Hearts) Read Free

his forehead. “What happened?” Sorrow tinged his features and stoked a longing in her she thought she’d buried years before.
    “Stroke.” She sniffed and took a deep breath. I can do this . “Cilla found her in the store. We think she fell and hit her head. Passed away a couple weeks later. I’m sorry no one told you. I guess your parents didn’t know.”
    “I guess not. Mom’s in Florida, and Dad’s in Arizona. I don’t talk to them much.”
    There was a sober acceptance in his statement. A maturity that wasn’t there before. Age had added depth and character to his handsome features. A slight crinkle at the corner of eyes flecked with green and gold enhanced the boy-next-door appeal of his looks.
    Words failed her. Refusing to drown in awkward silence, Genny picked up the broom and headed to the spot where the evening had taken a turn for the worse.
    He stood close to her with the dustpan while she swept up a pile of glass. His stare weighed down on her, clashing with hers every time she looked at him. Careful of the remaining panes of glass still in their respective doorframes, she braced her hip against the side of the cabinet and tried to slide it over to get to the fragments underneath. Crafted out of solid oak, it didn’t budge. She propped the broom against a nearby chair and pushed with both hands.
    “Just going to stand there, or are you going to help a girl out?”
    He took hold of the other side. His added strength tipped it, shifting the items displayed on the shelves.
    “Easy. Just a few inches.” The cabinet swayed, then settled. A cluster of bowls and ornaments on the open top shelf rocked and one fell out. Connor caught the intricately carved wooden dish in a chest hug. The contents spilled over him and across the floor.
    “Good catch.” He shrugged and remained quiet, his focus never leaving her face.
    “Oh, man, I haven’t seen these in years.” She bent to gather the necklaces and small scraps of paper that had fallen out.
    “What are they?” He leaned closer, his hand brushed hers sending sparks of awareness firing over her nerves. Warmth radiated from him, cocooning the moment from reality as he examined one of the pieces of gold-foil paper.
    “Oh, uh, nothing. Just something my sister and I used to play with as kids.” Genny tucked the items into the bowl and back onto the shelf.
    “You were never a very good liar, Genny.” Connor smiled at her.
    His charm was hard to resist. I can’t forget lessons of the past that easily . The questions she had buried tumbled into each other. She’d fantasized about this moment so many times and all the answers she wanted to demand. But she refused to open old wounds.
    “Thanks for your help. But I’ve got this. I’m sure you have more important things to do than help me clean up my own mess.” Her hands strangled the smooth plastic of the broom handle as she concentrated on sweeping any missed corners. Anything to keep from saying what was really on her mind.
    “I do have to run. I just stopped in to say hello.” He stepped close and looked at her as though he had something more to say but closed his mouth in a hard line. Within kissing distance . Why did her mind go there? He brushed a hand across her cheek and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A familiar gesture that used to bring her so much joy. “Good night, Genny. It was good to see you.”
    Watching him leave, she swallowed the urge to call him back. The abrupt dismissal bit deep. He’d broken her heart when she was eighteen and ready to marry him—the shards of a shattered heart far sharper than glass. What the hell do you do when the love of your life strolls in after more than a decade apart? The bells on the door interrupted her thoughts. Is he back for more shocking announcements?
    “Was that Connor O’Rourke I saw walking out of here?” Cilla rushed to Genny and stopped abruptly. “What happened?” She gestured to the broom and pile of broken