Holly grinned. “I know I did.”
She lifted her hot chocolate and took a sip. Luca and Blake walked by them, but it was the older cousin that made Holly curious. His gaze moved to Noelle and stopped. The interest in his eyes was unmistakable.
Holly switched her focus to her sister. Noelle was eyeing Blake back. Shock shook through Holly and she choked on her drink.
“Are you okay?” Noelle asked, tapping Holly on the back.
“Uh, yeah, I guess.” Holly swallowed hard, and tried to get her breath back.
The sparks between Blake and Noelle had disappeared as he and Luca moved to the other side of the living room. Ivy turned and walked toward their mother, but Noelle stayed by Holly.
She stayed quiet for a few minutes as her mind whirled with ideas. Blake still helped them on the ranch, but he’d moved out and built himself a fancy house about a mile from here. He and Luca had formed a business to help other ranches with supplies... just as Holly had suggested to Luca. Both men were very successful. So why wouldn’t Noelle be interested in someone like Blake Montgomery?
“Hey, Elle? What was that all about?”
Noelle blinked as though she was coming out of a dream. She shook her full head of wavy auburn hair. “What do you mean?” she asked sweetly, laced heavily with innocence.
“What do you mean?” Holly mimicked her sister and slapped her arm. “What do you think I mean?” She nodded toward Blake. “I saw the way you looked at him, and he looked at you.”
Her sister’s cheeks brightened with a pink color. “You’re seeing things.”
“Elle, you can’t lie to me. I noticed the sparks.”
Huffing, Noelle folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her gaze on Holly. “You’re overthinking this. There are no sparks. I’m not interested in anyone. Besides,” she flipped a lock of hair over her shoulder, “I don’t want to start dating. Not for a few more years.”
“Why?”
Noelle expelled a deep breath. “Because my husband cheated on me,” she said in a whisper. “I don’t exactly trust men right now.”
Holly nodded. “I understand.” She took hold of her hand. “Sorry I said anything.”
Noelle smiled, bent and placed a kiss on Holly’s cheek. “Let’s just worry about you right now, and about getting that baby out of you.”
Rubbing her tummy, Holly sighed. Underneath her palm, the baby moved. “Yes. I can’t wait to hold my little princess.”
As she watched her family and friends mingle and celebrate her special night, peace settled over her. Last Christmas she wasn’t sure if she knew what having the Christmas Spirit meant. Now she knew. Spending time with people she loved, giving and caring to those around her was what Christmas was all about. And from this day forward, she would teach her children how to love and give. She would teach her children... to be just like their father. Because it was people like Rafe who helped people like Holly find the magic.
And she was happy to report, she’d found it at last.
THE END
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Marie Higgins is an award-winning, best-selling author of clean romance novels that melt your heart and have you falling in love over and over again. Since 2010, she’s published over 70 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat romances. She’s broadened her readership by writing mystery/suspense, humor, time-travel, paranormal, along with her love for historical romances. Her readers have dubbed her "Queen of Tease", because of all her twists and turns and unexpected endings.
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