“Don’t!” she cried with such passion that Vaughn jumped. “Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I am completely sincere.” He slid off the swing and crouched down in front of her. He wanted her to see how vulnerable he was to her. Taking her right hand in his, he removed her glove and kissed the inside of her palm.
She pulled back her hand.
“I plan to stay in Buffalo Valley,” he continued, undaunted.
Her eyes widened, but she bit her lower lip as if to suppress her reaction.
“I’m going to invest in the community, become part of it, make a contribution.”
Carrie’s gaze darted away and then returned. “Don’t tell me things like that just because you think it’s what I want to hear.”
“It’s true, Carrie.”
She closed her eyes and lowered her chin. “I want so badly to believe you.”
“Believe me,” he whispered, then nuzzled her throat. He didn’t kiss her, although the temptation was strong. “All I’m asking for is another chance,” he said again.
“Oh, Vaughn.” She pressed her hands against his shoulders—to bring him closer or push him away?
Vaughn helped make the decision for her. Crouched down as he was, his face level with her own, he leaned toward her and grazed her lips with his. Her mouth was cold, yet moist and welcoming. She moaned softly and he rubbed his warm lips over hers, seducing her into deepening the kiss.
One moment he was crouched in front of Carrie and she was leaning forward, giving herself to the kiss. The next he was losing his balance and tumbling backward.
Carrie let out a small cry of alarm as she went with him. Vaughn did what he could to protect her. He threw his arms around her waist and took the brunt of the impact as she landed on top of him in the snow.
“You’ve knocked me off balance from the moment we met,” he said.
Carrie smiled then, for the first time since he’d joined her. “You’ve done the same thing to me.”
“Good.”
“No promises, Vaughn.”
“I disagree.” He brushed the hair from her face, barely aware of the snow and the cold.
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There’s promise every time I look at you, Carrie Hendrickson. Promise each time I kiss you.” Then, because he couldn’t keep himself from doing so, he showed her exactly what he meant.
As soon as their lips met, Carrie whimpered and he wrapped his arms more firmly around her.
“This is only the beginning for us,” he whispered.
Carrie placed her head on his shoulder and gave a shuddering sigh.
“I was never really worried about your brothers,” Vaughn confessed. “You were always the one who terrified me.” He laughed and rolled, reversing their positions in the snow. Her eyes were smiling as he gazed down on her.
“So you want to give me your heart?” she said, looking up at him. She flattened her hand against his coat.
“Don’t you know?” he asked her.
“Know what?”
“You already have it.” And then he went about proving it.
Mr. and Mrs. William Hendrickson
and
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kyle
Request the honor of your presence at a reception to celebrate
the marriage of their children
Carrie Ann Hendrickson
and
Vaughn Richard Kyle
When: December 15th
Where: Buffalo Bob’s 3 of a Kind
Main Street,
Buffalo Valley, North Dakota
RSVP
* * *
ISBN-13: 9781488082122
A Country Christmas
First published in 2014. This edition published in 2019.
Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Return to Promise
First published in 2000. This edition published in 2019.
Copyright © 2000 by Debbie Macomber
Buffalo Valley
First published in 2001. This edition published in 2019.
Copyright © 2001 by Debbie Macomber
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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