A tear slid down her cheek, but she didn’t wipe it away. “Max, does Damien know how much you still care about him?”
He chuckled. “No, and don’t tell him. I deserve what I got back then.” He cupped her chin, keeping his gaze to hers. “But Damien deserves a second chance from the woman he loves...you. Liza is very malicious, and she wanted to break you and Damien apart. By refusing to talk to him, you’re letting her win. Do you want her to win?”
She scowled. “Absolutely not. I can’t stand that woman.”
“Good. Then do something about it. Go tell Damien you love him and that you forgive him for not telling you about his past. Give him the chance to love you like he’s never loved before.”
More tears streaked down her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands. Sobs tore from her throat, making her whole body shake.
Max’s comforting arms moved around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. He didn’t know how much she wanted to run to Damien and forgive him for everything. But she’d been hurt by other men, too. She’d never been good enough. Why would she be good enough for Damien?
“Will you do that, Cyndi?”
She lifted her head and through blurry eyes looked at him. “Are you sure he wants me? When he’s had all those women to choose from, why would he pick someone like me?”
He shook his head and wiped his thumb over her cheek. “Cyndi, why wouldn’t he want you? You’re everything Liza isn’t. You’re kind, loving, caring, and you’re the funniest person I know.”
She snorted a laugh. “Then you need to get out more often.”
He laughed. “I’m being serious.” His thumbs dried her cheeks again. “Please, Cyndi. Give Damien another chance. I know he’ll make you happy.”
Nodding, she sniffed and pulled away. “Okay, I’ll go talk to him.”
“That’s my girl.”
She took hold of his hands and squeezed. “And what about you? Are you going to talk with him and mend your friendship?”
He sank back in his seat and gripped the steering wheel. He blew out a deep breath. “That’s going to be harder to fix, I think. I betrayed his trust. I was an idiot who’d been taken in by a beautiful woman.” He shook his head. “Mending our friendship will take a little longer.”
She placed her hand on his arm. “If you’d like, I could add a good word for you.”
He looked at her and grinned. “You’d do that?”
“Look what you’ve done for me.” She shrugged. “What else are friends for?”
He turned and met her for a hug. Her heart grew full again, but from the thought of going to Damien and apologizing. Would he take her back? Or would she have to fight for him? That gorgeous man was definitely worth it.
HEALTHY FLAKES OF SNOW floated down from the wintry sky as Damien stood beside the front-room window and watched the white powder slowly blanket the land. Inside his cabin in the woods, the low burning fire heated the spacious area, keeping him toasty warm. The first snowstorm of the season had hit hard this year, and he was grateful he’d made it to Colorado before it’d happened. Christmas time was always better away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, and for a man who loved to ski, his cabin retreat was perfect.
About an hour ago, he’d ventured outside to use his snowplow to remove some of the snow from the driveway and road leading to his cabin, but then realized he was the only person up here so why should it matter? He didn’t have anyone coming to visit soon. His mother and sister, Michelle, were safe at home. He’d given all his employees a week off with pay for the holiday, and besides celebrating the riddance of the hemorrhoid named Liza that had been plaguing him lately, he didn’t have any worries.
No worries—just one constant ache in his heart.
Cyndi.
Would the pain ever leave? She’d not returned to her townhouse since the truth had come out. He’d waited to hear from her, and when she didn’t call, he decided to give her one last chance. He drove by her work yesterday to surprise her with a visit, but saw something that gripped his stomach and caused his heart to break all over again.
In Channel Nine’s parking lot, sitting in Max’s car, Cyndi and his former friend were embracing. To Damien, that told him what he needed to know and it was like a knife in the chest for as much pain it brought. She wasn’t coming back into his life, but staying with Max instead.
While it lasted, their relationship had been short and very sweet.
And unforgettable.
He’d eventually get over her, maybe in a year or two, and be on his way to finding another woman. Could anyone replace her? He’d been through hundreds of women, and none had come close to having Cyndi’s spontaneous charm and wit. None had made him smile so much, or hurt so badly. None had captured his heart the way Cyndi had, and made him feel complete. None had made him think of marriage and a family.
Releasing a heavy sigh, he turned away from the window and walked over to the fire. The embers popped, and a log broke in half. He took the poker and stirred the fire, then threw on another log.
From the stereo, Christmas songs played, low and soft. Soothing. Yet, they brought a deep longing that wouldn’t leave. He’d never been alone during this time of year. Of course, the women who’d kept him company didn’t mean anything, but at least they’d kept him from the kind of loneliness that reached into his soul and ripped it into tiny pieces.
Grumbling, he moved to the heavily cushioned chair and sank into it. He stared into the fire, but only saw one thing. Cyndi’s smiling face. In the image he created, she reached out for him, her mouth forming the words I love you.
A knot tightened in his throat and brought tears to his eyes. “I love you, too, mí amore.”
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, but saw a different picture. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she told him to leave. Her beautiful complexion had turned a chalky white, pain etched at the corner of her eyes and around her lips. She pushed him away and told him she needed space.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed in deeply, willing himself not to get emotional again. Lately, it seemed he couldn’t keep from doing this when he was alone.
The song on the radio ended and another started, reminding him again how lonely Christmas was without someone to love by his side. Then a low hum began that wasn’t part of the song. He glanced at the radio. The humming grew louder. It came from outside.
What on earth was that noise?
He jumped from his chair and rushed to the window. Through the heavy falling flakes of snow, a light shone in the distance. A snowmobile?
He squinted, peering closer at the object. Within seconds, the light formed, and it was indeed a snowmobile. Someone wearing bright red clothes drove the vehicle.
Santa?
Nah, couldn’t be. His eyes must be playing tricks on him. He hurried to the door and flung it open. The blast of cold air caused a shiver to run over his body and he rubbed his arms.
The closer the snowmobile came, the more it looked like someone dressed as Santa Claus. He grinned and shook his head. They must not have the right cabin.
He waited by the door and watched as the battery-powered sleigh brought the jolly man to his porch. The person stopped and killed the engine, then climbed off. Lifting a big, red cloth bag, he swung it over his shoulder. The weight must have been heavier than the person imagined because he stumbled backward. After retaining his balance, he treaded forward.
“Ho-ho-ho. Merry Christmas.”
The merry voice was too high to be a man, although made to sound like it.
He narrowed his eyes at the unexpected visitor. “Are you lost?” Damien asked, his voice filled with laughter.
“Nope, not lost. Just late.”
Then the person looked up at him. Familiar, big blue, twinkling eyes met his stare. Red cheeks and nose matched the Santa suit. Then she smiled through the full, fake white beard and his heart leapt to his throat.
“Merry Christmas, darling.” S
he shrugged, holding out her hands, palms up. “Sorry it took so long to get here. Can you imagine nobody believes in using a snowplow in the mountains?”
A laugh sprang from his mouth and in three steps he stood in front of her. He slid his arms around her middle and lifted her, crushing her against him. The padding she wore underneath the red suit made her feel as if she’d gained fifty pounds, but he was certain it helped keep her warm.
“Cyndi, you crazy nut. What are you doing out in the middle of nowhere?”
The bag dropped from her hand just before she threw her arms around his neck.
“I couldn’t let another day go by without finishing my article. I’ve completed all but one of the Ten Ways to Win a Man. I realized the reason we weren’t together was because I hadn’t concluded the final Way.”
“And what way is that, mí amore?”
“Take me out of this cold weather and I’ll tell you. I swear my butt has been frost-bitten, and I don’t think I have any fingers or toes left.”
His face hurt from the wide smile he wore, but he pulled her inside the cabin, shutting the door behind him. Before putting her down, he walked them in front of the fireplace and set her on her feet.
“Ah, yes.” She stretched her gloved hands in front of the fire. “That’s more like it.”
He lifted the red Santa hat off her head, and with it came the full beard. Her brown hair tumbled over her shoulders. He cupped her cold face, his thumbs rubbing her skin briskly. “Better?”
Her eyes softened and she smiled. “Much.”
She yanked off her gloves and placed her hands over his. Pulling them from her face, she kissed his palms.
His heart raced, blood surging through his body with excitement once again. Am I dreaming?
She met his eyes and smiled. “Damien, I love you. I’ve loved you since that night I was mugged, I think, but I definitely loved you when you helped me make that chicken dinner for Max.”
Moisture gathered in his eyes, and even hers were misty. A knot of emotion lodged in his throat. “What about Max?”
She shrugged. “What about him?”
“Aren’t you with him?”
She snorted a laugh. “You must not have a very long memory.” She shook her head. “You’re the man I want, not him.”
“But I saw you in his car and you were in his arms.”
She crinkled her forehead. “When was that?”
“Yesterday while you were at work.”
She smiled and sighed. “He was comforting me and explaining to me about his former college friend. He encouraged me to give you another chance.” She held up her hands in surrender. “I happen to agree with him.”
“Then you forgive me for not being fully honest with you?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Do you think I’d travel all this way in this frigid weather if I hadn’t?” She chuckled and squeezed his hands. “I love you, and I didn’t want to go another day without letting you know how I feel.”
A sob tore from his throat and he wrapped her in his arms, pulling her body against his. He kissed her forehead. She tilted her head back and her mouth met his.
Heat from the fireplace didn’t have anything to do with the inferno raging through his heart now. His heart beat with life once again, and happiness poured into his soul.
He broke the kiss and smiled down at her. “I love you, too.” He caressed her quickly warming cheek. “Thank you for making my Christmas wonderful.”
“Thank you for making my life wonderful. Oh, and that reminds me... I have a Christmas present for you.”
She moved out of his arms and to her red bag. She stuck her hand inside and pulled out a shoe-sized box wrapped in gold paper and handed it to him. “Here, this is for you.”
He couldn’t stop smiling as he carefully opened the present. His heart hammered like a kid opening his first present on Christmas Day. Inside the box was a snowglobe. A woman wearing a lavender fur jacket stood inside, with her hands out and her head looking up. More love and emotion filled his heart for his Cyndi. “Where did you get this?”
“I saw it at a store yesterday, and I just had to get it.” She covered her hands over his and helped him shake it. “Quickly, make a wish.”
He stared into Cyndi’s eyes instead of watching the snow drift around in the globe. “My wish has come true.”
Nodding, she grinned. “So has mine. That’s why I knew this was the right globe...just like you are the right man for me.”
Emotion gripped his heart, and he willed himself not to cry in front of her, but his eyes misted anyway. “Cyndi, I never want to lose you again. I was completely miserable with you gone, and that’s not a good way to live.”
She cocked her head. “So what do you want to do about it?”
He chuckled. “I want to marry you, that’s what I want to do about it.”
Love shone through her twinkling eyes and she nodded. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
He took her back in his arms, bent his head, and captured her lips again. This time the kiss was slower, more meaningful. He knew he never wanted to be without this kind of love. Cyndi made him feel like a man again, and he couldn’t imagine life without her.
She was the one to break the kiss this time and she sighed, laying her head on his chest. “So, what do you really think about that Internet article? Do you think it works? Did I win your heart?”
He ran his fingers through her hair, lifting her face to his. “Yes, but more importantly, I won yours.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marie Higgins is a best-selling, multi-published author of Christian and sweet romance novels; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. She’s been with a Christian publisher since 2010. Between those and her others, she’s published over 50 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat stories and 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.
Visit her website / blog to discover more – https://authormariehiggins.wixsite.com/romance
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