Read Operation Christmas for Free Online Page B

she didn’t have to be alone and adrift in a crowd.
    He pulled her closer in a show of possession. However, she saw dark uncertainty in his eyes. He gave her a tentative lopsided grin. Did he realize how sexy it made him? He tilted his head near her ear and brushed away a dark curl from her neck with warm fingertips, sliding his hand down her spine to rest again at the small of her back. Pinpoints of pleasure trailed his touch. “Relax, Madeleine. These guys are great.”
    “And girls.” Her gaze settled on a beautiful one-legged woman dressed in stylish aqua chiffon. Her cocoa-colored skin and extreme short hair framed an oval face alive with a wide smile of white teeth. She stood with the assistance of arm crutches and a metal leg decorated at the ankle with a delicate Christmas bow in colors to match her dress. A wheel chair hovered near, as did a short wiry black man. Husband? Boyfriend? Husband she decided upon catching a glint of sparkle from a wedding ring as the woman adjusted her weight on the crutches.
    “That’s a very special girl to me. I’ll introduce you later,” Jess whispered and stuck out his hand to the man approaching. Chilly air replaced the heat of his hand, and she stiffened again. More introductions became necessary as several other men came to greet them. Each introduction helped set her at ease.
    It didn’t take her long to see past the few badly injured men or women laughing and having a good time. Most had no sign of outward damage. But she understood that kind of trauma best. The kind no one sees.
    “Hi, I’m Tamara.” Madeleine turned at the dull clicking sound crutches made against wood floor and a flurry of aqua came into view. “You must be Madeleine from Belmar Bakery. Love that place.”
    “Thank you.” Madeleine beamed back a smile as warm as the one she was receiving. “How do you know my name?”
    “Jess. He’s been flappin’ his jaw about you.” She leaned in to whisper while Jess remained occupied with the man next to him. Madeleine saw Jess send Tamara a silent warning with his flashing blue eyes. “He’s afraid I’m telling you he didn’t think you’d come. Love it when he’s wrong.” She turned her head to be sure Jess was still occupied. “Anyone here will tell you Tamara’s not shy about askin’ or tellin’, but Jess...man, you need a crowbar to get him to talk about his love life.”
    Madeline grinned. “I’m hardly Jess’s love life.”
    “You will be if he has any say.”
    “No. We’re just friends. But thanks. I’m honored.” Honored and scared witless over tonight’s leap of faith. Okay, so Grams had pushed her off the ledge more than anyone. Nonetheless, tonight represented her first date since high school; the first anything with the opposite sex since becoming a widow one year, eleven months, and ten days ago.
    That wasn’t all that scared her. Jess sent waves of awareness over her skin when he came near or so much as made a gentle touch with his hand or eyes. That alone sent her brain into deep freeze. She wasn’t ready for tingling attraction for anyone other than Danny. The wedding ring she still wore stated that fact. Any sexy thoughts about Jess could be banished if she simply let her thumb touch the gold band.
    Admittedly, she did make the effort to remove the ring prior to the date. When half off, she decided to leave it on so Jess understood her presence meant friendship and nothing more. These thoughts helped her to relax and decide to have a good time.
    The evening flew by but Madeleine noticed Jess never asked her to dance and wondered if the artificial arm might be the reason. Although he rarely left her side, he seemed adept at finding ways to be in deep conversation or inviting her back to the buffet table or getting a drink or something; anything but dance. She loved dancing. When a favorite slow number spun out over the room, she forced the issue. “Care to dance. I promise not to step on your toes.”
    He tipped his