Read Holiday Serenade, The for Free Online Page B

ornament out each year, her hands—and some other interesting parts—always ended up covered in glitter, but she didn’t care. It was The Universal Law of Glitter, something you couldn’t help but learn volunteering at your kid’s school, helping with art projects
    The star winked like it was trying to tell her something. She took a deep breath and reached for her inner calm. Follow the star, she heard from somewhere inside her.
    The whole message thing was a little unnerving and confusing, so she stalked out of her office and grabbed her coat. She and Rhett needed to get something clear. Her job was important to her. Cutting her out of the party planning was disrespectful.
    As she drove to his house, turning onto the road that spanned the ridge line above town, she took a moment to marvel at the beauty of Dare Valley. The holiday lights gave it a golden halo, like it was trapped inside a giant Christmas globe. The carpet of plush white snow that covered the valley made it look as though moonlight had broken through the earth’s core and was shining out. She took a moment to be grateful for being where she was, for this sense of rightness in her life when everything else seemed off.
    She had avoided going to Rhett’s house because she didn’t want to be alone with him. Correction. She was afraid of what she might do if she was alone with him.
    Just like he’d observed the other night, she still wanted him. That hadn’t changed.
    The decorations on his house surprised her as her Subaru crunched its way down the drive. He’d put up Christmas lights, the white strings flickering on and off on the roof and in the bushes lining his front porch. An inflatable Santa swayed in the cold wind, looking as if he might have indulged in too much peppermint schnapps in his hot chocolate.
    The front light flicked on as she left the car. She took a deep breath and walked toward the front door, taking note of the classy holiday wreath that was decked out with silver bells and pinecones. The door opened before she reached it. And there stood Rhett Butler Blaylock at home: another thermal long–sleeve shirt—black this time—defining every muscle in his upper body and a pair of well–worn jeans with a hole in the knee.
    Again, his wardrobe had done a three–sixty since he’d returned to her. No more crazy fur coats or gallon–size cowboy hats. While he still wore leather, he’d tailored it back to jackets, which he could still make look sexy, as if he were some reformed bad boy. Which she supposed he was—for now.
    “Abbie,” he said, a question in his voice.
    Right, why had she come again? Her heart was rapping hard in her chest now, long–repressed pleasure receptors begging to be released from the cage she’d stuffed them in.
    “Hi, Rhett,” she managed, taking careful steps in case there were any icy patches. “Can I come in?”
    His eyes slid over her before settling on her face. Even if they weren’t physically involved, she still liked knowing he was attracted to her. She was glad she’d taken the time to change into black pants and boots and a snug black wool coat. Black had always set off her coloring well.
    “This isn’t a social call, is it?” He made a sound, half laugh, half resignation. “You got your invitation in the mail and found out that I asked Mac to keep you out of the party planning.”
    “Yes,” she answered honestly.
    When he sighed, his breath could be seen from the warm glow of the yellow porch light. “Well, part of me had hoped you would show up here alone at some point because you wanted to see me, but… Okay, you might as well come in if you’re planning on dressing me down.”
    With that piece of honesty resounding throughout her body, causing tremors everywhere, she crossed the threshold. The urge to look up and see if there was mistletoe got the better of her. She made a quick glance.
    His dark chuckle turned the tremors inside her into seismic waves of desire. “I thought