A Christmas To Remember
Ski-lodge manager Elisabeth is the quiet Donnelly twinsedate, mature, responsible. It wasnt like her to fall in love with ski patroller Justin Cade, famous for his killer smile, blue eyes and way with women. But it was just like him to dump her when things began to get serious.
Now hes suddenly back in her life, and the timing couldnt be worse. Elisabeth has plans to marry a successful businessman, and with Christmas around the corner, she wants to make the holidays special for her adopted young goddaughter. Falling for Justin all over again would definitely not be the sensible thing to do. But maybe, for once in her life, Elisabeth should follow her heart instead of her head.
Justin instinctively pulled her against him to avoid the collision.
The instant her body touched his, his mind went blank, heat silencing his intended reprimand to the hooligans. Elisabeths sharp intake of breath was audible and, from his view over her shoulder, did mesmerizing things for her cleavage.
She craned her head to look up at him. Thanks. The word ended on a near whisper as their gazes locked. She was right there, so close, in his arms the way shed been hundreds of times before. The urge to kiss her was so natural.
Justin? Her voice was a squeak of uncertainty, jarring him from lust-addled memories.
He immediately dropped his hands to his sides, hoping he looked more innocent than he felt. Just wanted to make sure you didnt get hurt.
A hollow chuckle escaped her. Ironic, coming from you.
He flinched. Guess I deserved that.
He took a step back, trying to repress the desire hed felt, trying to repress memories of how exquisitely responsive shed always been to his kisses.
I should go, she stammered.
Dear Reader,
When I wrote my first Colorado Cades book (Her Secret, His Baby), I knew I couldnt wait for the chance to give the heroines brother Justin his own story.
Search-and-rescue patroller Justin Cade is many thingsan excellent skier, a terrific big brother and an incorrigible charmer. But, after losing both his parents young, the one thing he doesnt do well is commitment. Seemingly carefree Justin refuses to get close and risk more pain, a lesson Elisabeth Donnelly learned all too well.
Now that Elisabeth has custody of her orphaned goddaughter, its more important than ever to make smart decisions for the future. No more pining over blue-eyed heartbreakers! Shes engaged to marry a man who is in many ways Justins opposite. So why are fate and several meddlesome siblings determined to throw her and Justin together?
When her goddaughter goes missing in a blizzard, Elisabeth relies on Justin for help. But can she rely on him emotionally? Luckily, Christmas is the season of miracles.
If you enjoy Justin and Elisabeths story, be sure to follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook for updates on the next book in the Colorado Cades trilogy.
Happy holidays,
Tanya
Second Chance Christmas
Tanya Michaels
www.millsandboon.co.uk
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author and three-time RITA® Award nominee Tanya Michaels writes about what she knowscommunity, family and lasting love! Her books, praised for their poignancy and humor, have received honors such as a Booksellers Best Bet Award, a Maggie Award of Excellence and multiple readers choice awards. She was also a 2010 RT Book Reviews nominee for Career Achievement in Category Romance. Tanya is an active member of Romance Writers of America and a frequent public speaker, presenting workshops to educate and encourage aspiring writers. She lives outside Atlanta with her very supportive husband, two highly imaginative children and a household of quirky pets, including a cat who thinks shes a dog and a bichon frise who thinks shes the center of the universe.
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For Sally Kilpatrickmy gratitude goes beyond words. Fully expressing my thanks may require interpretative dance and puppetry.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Excerpt
Chapter One
Justin Cades specialty was women. While his colleagues on rescue patrol could attest he was a remarkably skilled skier, it was his expertise with females that made him infamous throughout Cielo Peak, Colorado. He may have set a town record with the number of women hed dated, but he also used his powers for good. When a neighbor had been hell-bent on running over her unfaithful husband, it was Justin whod charmed her into relinquishing her car keys. Over the summer, when his sister, Arden, had been in the clutches of pregnancy mood swings, it was Justin whod had the most success calming her.
So when he heard an outraged female shriek, Justin Cade, you heartless ass! across the sporting goods shop, he wasnt too worried. His first reaction was gratitude that shed momentarily drowned out the incessant Christmas music. Retailers had barely waited for Halloween to pass before bombarding shoppers with holiday tunes. There were still two weeks before Christmas, but Justin had hit his limit on fa-la-las and rum-pa-pum-pums.
Preparing to face his accuser, he turned from the shelf of ski wax, a conciliatory smile in place. It faltered when he caught a glimpse of red hair. Elisabeth? Conflicting feelings swirled through him, and his pulse had already accelerated in the split second it took him to realize his mistake. It wasnt Elisabeth Donnelly. Stupid to think it might have beenshe was far too poised to shout across a store.
No, it was her twin sister, Evangeline, better known as Lina, barreling toward him. What did I do to rile her? When it came to the Donnellys, hed tried to keep a low profile since breaking up with Elisabeth five months ago.
Lina skipped the traditional hello in favor of threatening him. If I werent a foot shorter than you, Id tear you limb from limb. Its kismet, running into you after what I learned this morning. The universe wants you to know this is your fault.
He ducked his head in agreement. Youre probably right. Unfortunately, my sins are so numerous, Im not sure which one you mean.
Elisabeth. Her voice was ice. You remember her, dont you?
Vividly.
The Donnelly twins, though they shared the same height and build, were not identical. Impulsive Lina, with her strawberry-blond ponytail, was cute. Elisabeth was striking. Her hair was a deeper red, cut in a silky bob that perfectly framed her features and moss-green eyes. Because Lina was more outspoken, people considered her the more fiery of the two. Anyone foolish enough to believe that had never kissed Elisabeth. Shed been like live flame in his arms.
He cleared his throat. What about your sister? Is she okay?
No, shes lost her ever-loving mind! She told us over brunch that she and Kaylee... Lina trailed off, blinking furiously. Theyre leaving Cielo Peak. And I blame you.
Leaving? But Elisabeth had spent her entire life here. She helped run the family-owned Donnelly Ski Lodge. Her father had been grooming her to take over since she was a teenager. And Justin couldnt imagine her uprooting Kaylee Truitt. Hed only met Elisabeths goddaughter a handful of times, but even he understood how traumatic the past year had been for the little girl.
Are you sure theyre leaving? he asked. Maybe you mis
Would I be this upset if I wasnt sure?
He still didnt see what this had to do with him, but he reluctantly empathized with her agitation. Justins own sister was preparing to move away, and he hadnt seen his older brother in over a month. Soon, Justin would be alone.
Shaking off that melancholy thought, he refocused on Lina. I know youll miss her. The two of you have always been close, but
Spare me the faux sensitivity! I dont want sympathy from someone who acts like people are disposable. You have a different woman on your arm every week.
Be that as it may, he countered in a low, tight voice, I know a little something about losing family. He hadnt meant to say anything so personal. This damn season was getting to him. If time healed all wounds, why wasnt December ever any easier?
Im sorry. I forgot about your sister-in-laws crash. Linas pale cheeks flushed with shame. And your parents
Died a long time ago. No need to dredge it up now. He couldnt. He couldnt stand in the middle of the store and discuss his mom and dad with a casual acquaintance while some ridiculous song about wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas played overhead. With effort, he relaxed his clenched jaw. If youll excuse me, Im going to make my purchase and forget this charming encounter ever took place.
He grabbed a container of ski wax and moved to pass her.
She touched his arm. Elisabeth is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.
What did Lina expect him to do? Justin could barely be trusted to handle his own life. He shrugged. Maybe she needs a temporary change of pace. It doesnt have to be a permanent, forever-and-ever decision.
Actually...we arent just talking about a change of scenery. Its way worse. Being on the rebound from you made my normally brilliant sister stupid.
Not possible. Elisabeth was the sharpest person he knew. She had a mind like a computer.
After you broke her heart, Lina continued, she met a software developer from Albuquerque. Justin, shes getting married.
* * *
AM I DOING THIS WRONG? It was a question Elisabeth Donnelly had begun asking herself daily since becoming guardian to her six-year-old goddaughter. Despite the months that had passed, there were still moments she couldnt believe she was a parent, couldnt believe that her friend and former college roommate, Michelle, was gone.
Right now, Kaylee was staring back across the kitchen table with brown eyes that were exactly like her late mothers. From her curly dark hair to her freckles, the kindergartener was a mini-Michelle. Similarities between mother and daughter werent just physical, either. They had being orphaned in common. Former foster child Michelle Truitt had gone to college on a state scholarship and had no known relatives. Shed been a single mom. Elisabeth couldnt predict how Kaylee would feel about having a father figure for the first time in her life.
You understand everything Im telling you? Elisabeth asked cautiously. Earlier that Sunday, while Kaylee had gone with a classmate to a holiday puppet show, Elisabeth had taken the opportunity to tell her parents and sister about her engagement. Their reactions had been immediate and dramatic. In comparison, Kaylees unblinking expression revealed nothing.
The little girl nodded. Youre marrying Mr. Steven. Were all gonna live together.
Right. But you dont have to say mister, honey. You can just say Steven, like you do Elisabeth. At the funeral, her heart had squeezed into a painful knot when Kaylee asked between sobs, Do I hafta call you Mommy now? Elisabeth had blurted no so quickly shed worried about making the child feel unwanted. To soften the refusal, shed clarified that it was Kaylees choice.
Choices. Since August, it felt as if Elisabeth had been constantly second-guessing hers. While shed never been as brashly confident as her sister, the former prom queen, Elisabeth had been sure of herself in other, less outspoken ways. That steady self-assurance had been shaken by the one-two punch of the man she loved dumping her and being thrust a few weeks later into parenthood. Now there was a small person in her life who was wholly dependent on her, who would be impacted by every decision Elisabeth made.
Then Id better make the right ones. Do you like Steven? she prompted.
Kaylees only answer was a barely perceptible shrug of her slim shoulders.
Oh, dear. The two of you seemed to have fun at the zoo yesterday.
The girl didnt do anything so radical as smile, but her gaze brightened fractionally. Monkeys are funny. Then she shoved an entire cookie into her mouth. Was that her way of ending the conversation?
Sighing, Elisabeth told herself that Steven and Kaylee would have plenty of time to bond. At least theyd met now. Since nearly all of Elisabeth and Stevens relationship had been long-distance, shed refused to answer his proposal until hed spent a couple of days with Kaylee. Elisabeth had pulled Kaylee from school early on Thursday and taken her to Albuquerque. By the time theyd arrived back home this morning, Elisabeth was officially engaged.
Shed wanted her parents and sister to hear the announcement first so they had time to work through theirmisgivingssurprise and could help bolster Kaylees enthusiasm. That plan might not work as well as shed hoped. Lina had looked downright betrayed by Elisabeths news, but surely she would remain positive in front of Kaylee? Over the past four months, Lina had proven herself a natural-born aunt.
An aunt whos about to be nine hundred miles from her niece. Elisabeth and Steven wanted to get married before his upcoming promotion took him to California. Moving to neutral ground together, as a family, would give them the perfect fresh start. Hed suggested that after he got settled into his new job, they could take Kaylee to Disneyland.