The Twilight Before Christmas Read Free Page B

Matt didn’t want to recognize, moved inside of him like a dark shadow. He put a blatantly possessive hand on Kate’s back.
    Jonas ignored Matt’s body language. “I’ll still be making the same accusation when you’re all in your eighties, Kate. Where is everyone?” He looked around as if expecting her sisters to appear galloping over the mountaintop.
    “You look a little nervous, Jonas,” Danny observed from the safety of the truck. “What’d you do this time? Arrest Hannah and throw her beautiful butt in jail on some trumped-up charge?”
    He subsided when Kate turned the full power of her gaze on him. The wind rushed up from the sea, bringing the scent and feel of the ocean. “I had no idea you were so interested in my sister’s anatomy, Danny.”
    “Come on, Kate, she’s gorgeous; every man’s interested in Hannah’s anatomy,” Danny pointed out, unrepentant.
    “And if she doesn’t want them to look, what is she doing allowing every photographer from here to hell and back to take pictures of her?” Jonas demanded. “And just for your information, I wouldn’t have to trump up charges if I wanted to arrest Hannah,” he added with a black scowl. “I ought to run her in for indecent exposure. That glitzy magazine in Inez’s store has her on the cover… naked!”
    “She is not naked. She’s wearing a swimsuit, Jonas, with a sarong over it.” Kate sounded as calm as ever, but Matt noted that her hand tightened on the reins of her horse until her knuckles turned white. He moved even closer to her, inserting himself between her and the sheriff.
    “She might try a decent one-piece and maybe a robe that went down to her ankles or something. And does she have to strike that stupid pose just to make everyone stare… ” Jonas broke off as the wind gusted again, howling this time, bringing whispers in the swirling chaos of leaves and droplets of seawater. His hat was swept from his head and carried away from the group. The wind shifted direction, rushing back to the ocean, retreating in much the same manner as a wave from the shore. The sudden breeze took the hat with it, sailing it over the cliffs and into the choppy water below.
    Jonas spun around and looked toward the large house set up on the cliffs in the distance. “Damn it, Hannah. That’s the third hat I’ve lost since you’ve been home.” He shouted the words into the vortex of the wind.
    There was a small silence. Matt cleared his throat. “Jonas. I don’t think she can hear you from here.”
    Jonas glared at him. “She can hear me. Can’t she, Kate? She knows exactly what I’m saying. You tell her this isn’t funny anymore. She can stop with her little wind games.”
    “You believe all the things people say about the Drake sisters, don’t you, Jonas?” Danny said. He imitated the opening theme of The Twilight Zone.
    Matt stared down at Kate’s hand. The reins were trembling. He covered her hand with his own, steadying the leather reins she was clenching. “I’ll be happy to come look at the mill tomorrow, Kate. Would you like a leg up?”
    “Thanks, Matthew. I’d appreciate it.”
    He didn’t bother with cupping his hands together to assist her into the saddle. He simply lifted her. He was tall and strong, and it was easy to swing her onto the horse. She settled into the saddle as if born there. Elegant. Refined. As close to perfection as any dream he could conjure up and just as far out of reach. “I’ll see you then. Say hello to your sisters for me.”
    “I’ll do that, Matthew, and you give my best to your parents. It was nice to see you, Danny.” Her cool gaze swept over Jonas. “I’m sure you’ll be by the house, Jonas.”
    Jonas shrugged. “I take my job seriously, Kate.”
    Matt watched her ride away, waiting until a curve in the road took her out of sight before turning on the sheriff. “What the hell was that all about?”
    “You know all seven of the Drake women drive me crazy half the time,” Jonas