Read Second Chance Christmas (The Colorado Cades) for Free Online Page B

she didn’t like to recall.
    “Good.” He gave her a relieved smile. “Glad to hear it. Please be sure to tell your sister.”
    “Oh, trust me, she’ll be getting an earful.” Elisabeth would already be headed up to the third floor for a sisterly chat if Lina weren’t with a client right now. It had been Lina’s idea to offer some limited day-spa services, which helped them generate income even after the snows melted for the year. Her hot stone massages were proving to be a big hit.
    Instead of a waitress, Javier himself came to the table for their orders. “Your usual salad, Señorita Donnelly?” He waited for her nod, then glowered at Justin. “And what do you want?”
    It was an excellent question, in Elisabeth’s opinion. What on earth did Justin want? Even if Lina’s crazy suspicion had been true and Elisabeth was rebounding, why would he care? He’d walked away from Elisabeth—and by extension, Kaylee—without a backward glance. Was he feeling some sort of belated guilt? Maybe it was one of those Dickensian situations, where he’d been visited by three ghosts who’d made it clear what a cad he was.
    None of that was her problem. She had Steven and a bright, sensible future awaiting her.
    Once Javier had gone, Justin leaned forward, his eyes earnest. “Obviously, Lina has some of her wires crossed, but just because she was wrong about your reasons for going to California doesn’t mean she’s wrong about everything. She’s afraid you might regret this move, and she could be right. You’ve never been so far from your family.”
    After this week, she wasn’t sure California was far enough from her meddling sister. Maybe I should ask Steven more about his company’s European offices.
    “And you’ve got Kaylee to consider,” he added.
    Despite her constant self-reassurance that she would not let Justin get to her, her temper flared. “You think I don’t know that? You think that’s not on my mind when I fall asleep at night and still there when I wake up in the morning? Raising a daughter is a massive responsibility. She needs structure in her life and as much security as I can possibly give her, which is why I’m lucky to have met a man like Steven Miller.”
    “I wasn’t implying that you take your responsibilities lightly.” Justin held up his hands in a placating gesture. “But, since you’ve never actually been away from your family, you might not understand how hard it will be. On both of you. Wait, his last name is Miller? Like The Steve Miller Band?”
    Before she could respond, a child’s excited squeal interrupted. “Justin!”
    Elisabeth whipped her head around, dismay pooling inside her. Oh, no. She’s not supposed to be here. Kaylee, showing more enthusiasm than she’d exhibited for anything since the monkeys at the Albuquerque Zoo, was hurtling toward them, joy lighting her small face.
    Trailing behind was Elisabeth’s mother. At fifty-four, Patti Donnelly’s red hair was faded and her figure was slightly plumper than in her younger years, but she was as lively as when she’d taught her girls how to hokeypokey on roller skates two decades ago. Her round, cherubic face, which usually made her look younger than her age, was crinkled in agitation. Although she didn’t question Elisabeth outright on Justin’s presence, her raised eyebrows spoke volumes.
    “I haven’t seen you in forever and ever,” Kaylee declared, scrambling into Justin’s lap.
    When the little girl had first met him, he’d earned her eternal affection with humorous impressions of every major character on SpongeBob SquarePants. Kaylee still asked when he’d come visit her but, mercifully, those requests had become less frequent. The last thing Elisabeth wanted was for the child to get attached to him all over again. She needed to explain that this lunch was for adult conversation.
    “Kaylee—”
    “Elisabeth, dear, might I have a word with you?” her mom interjected. “Lodge business. Should