Read Hers for the Holidays for Free Online Page A

he said, taking the room in again. “You grew up here.”
    It was a statement, not a question. She didn’t answer.
    “I was really sorry to find out about your mother, Lydia. Are you doing okay?”
    She shrugged again, unwilling to give, and he was unsure what he was supposed to do, so he turned back to the wall.
    “Who’s the other girl in this birthday photo?”
    “You shouldn’t be here,” she said sharply.
    There it was. Might as well get it over with now.
    “If it wasn’t me, it would have been Tessa. She was worried sick about you.”
    He saw the flash of guilt in her eyes, and she looked down at the floor as she responded. “I know. I meant to get in contact with her, but it’s been busy.”
    “Too busy to let her know you were okay? Where you were? Or too worried that she’d find out everything you told her about your life before Philly was a lie?”
    Straightening, Lydia took a step into the room. “I don’t need to explain any of this to you or to anyone, for that matter. You had no right to poke around in my life. My mother died. I’m here to settle everything, and that’s no one’s business but mine. Why would you care anyway? I thought you were off...somewhere.”
    Ely took a step closer, too, feeling the draw. He figured if he’d come this far, he might as well go the rest of the way. As he moved in, he picked up the clean scent of her soap and shampoo and his body hummed with recognition.
    “Why did you leave? You look happy, in these pictures. What happened?”
    “Nothing. I just needed to get out. What are you going to tell Tessa?”
    “I’m not sure yet. I need to let her know you’re okay, at least.”
    Lydia frowned.
    “Or you could do that yourself. I don’t need to tell her anything.”
    “I’d prefer if you didn’t. It’s not your place.”
    He nodded. She was right about that.
    “What did Kyle mean about someone causing you trouble?”
    Lydia rolled her eyes. “Kyle has an active imagination.”
    “I don’t think so. What’s been going on?”
    “I’m serious. Don’t go playing bodyguard on me, Ely. Nothing is going on.”
    They stood, closer now, facing off, and Ely was getting tired of the verbal thrust and parry. He had to curl his fingers in to stop from touching her. Or shaking her. She was stubborn and seemed set against giving in. Or just intent to give him a hard time.
    It wasn’t enough to make him want to let her off the hook. If she was in trouble, he wanted to know.
    “I won’t leave until I know for sure, Lydia,” he said calmly and saw anger flicker in the depths of her eyes. It traveled down to her cheeks and blossomed there. When she licked her lips before speaking, his response was sharp and true, like a shot of adrenaline through his system.
    “Fine, whatever,” she said, throwing her hands up and walking into the kitchen. He took a deep breath and followed.
    She paused at the entry, taking in the room. “Thanks for cleaning up—you didn’t need to do all that.” She sounded surprised.
    “I didn’t mind. It looked personal, if you want my opinion. Strangers might steal something, or look for valuables, but this was more like someone wants to scare you. Or send a message. So again, who would do this? Or at least, why?”
    “Maybe it was those guys from earlier who followed me back here,” she said as she grabbed a teakettle from the stove.
    Ely shook his head. “No one followed you back. I made sure.”
    “How could you? Where is your truck?” she said, yet again avoiding his question.
    “Down the road, in a ditch.”
    “I didn’t see you following me,” she said, frowning.
    “I’m really good at it.”
    She paused. “You won’t be able to get to it now. The snow’s coming down too hard. There are two extra rooms upstairs, or you can have the couch.”
    She came to the table with two glasses of hot, black tea, setting one down in front of him. Ely didn’t really care for tea, but he picked it up and took a sip anyway.