Read Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) for Free Online Page B

himself. The one subject they’d both avoided was Blaine. And that was okay with her.
    “Well, I’m glad,” he said, bringing her back to their conversation. “Because I have plans for today. That is, assuming you don’t have anything else to do.”
    “Turns out my calendar is totally open.”
    “Good,” Colin said. “Because I’ve been thinking about what you said last night. About not liking Christmas.”
    The smile faded from her face.
    “It’s not that I don’t like Christmas,” she said warily.
    “You said it was for kids. But over the next few days, I plan to show you that Christmas can be just as much fun, if not more so, for adults too.”
    “I don’t know.”
    “You said yourself you had nothing to do today,” Colin said with a grin. “So get ready. We need to leave in an hour.”
    Before she could think of a valid argument, her cell phone rang. Taking the opportunity she grabbed it off the nightstand and glanced at the caller ID. “It’s my mom,” she said to Colin. “I should take it.”
    “I’ll wait outside,” he said and stood up. “Remember, one hour.”
    “Don’t count on it,” she said, but he was already gone.
    Andi sighed and clicked on her phone.
    “Hi, Mom.”
    “Andi.” Her mother’s voice came on the line. The connection crackled and there was an echo. She must have found a pay phone somewhere. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”
    “Thanks. Where are you?”
    “We’re in the cutest little town on the coast of Costa Rica. Just here for the day, though. The ship sails at five.”
    “It sounds lovely,” Andi said. “And hot.”
    “I just wanted to see how you’re holding up today. It’s Blaine’s party tonight, isn’t it?”
    Leave it to her mom to remember the details. Of course last year, she’d attended the party as well. After all, they’d all been practically family.
    “I guess it is today,” Andi said. She’d managed to put it out of her head.
    “It’ll be okay, sweetie. I promise. At least you’ll be with your father and his new family for Christmas.” Andi couldn’t bring herself to tell her mother the truth. There was no point in having her worry about her during the holidays. “Make sure you give those adorable boys a hug for me. Whatever I have to say about their dad, they are sweet kids.”
    “Yes they are,” Andi agreed.
    For the next few minutes, she half listened while her mom described the villages they’d visited and the snorkeling trip Val had talked her into. Andi looked around her room, at the snowy scenery outside and her thoughts drifted to Colin.
    What was the harm? she thought. Why not spend the day with him? It’s not like she had anything else to do. Besides, it would beat sitting in her room with the overwhelming sensation of loneliness pressing down on her.
    “Mom,” Andi interrupted her mother’s description of the beach. “I’m sorry but I have to run.”
    “No trouble, sweetie. You have a merry Christmas and I’ll give you a call as soon as we get home.”
    “Thanks, Mom. I love you and hugs to Val, too.”
    As soon as she hung up, Andi got up and stood, facing her large, empty bed. There really was nothing left to lose.

CHAPTER SIX

    Walking down the path, Andi tried to figure out where Colin was taking her. If she was being honest with herself, she did enjoy the mystery, even if it was centered around Christmas.
    “I hope I’m dressed okay,” she said. Not knowing what he had planned for her, Andi had dressed simply in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, and grabbed a thick wool sweater to layer with. Her hair was tucked under a cap and she wore matching gloves.
    He glanced in her direction as they walked and his eyes traveled over her. “You look fantastic,” he said.
    She smiled at the compliment. “But, am I dressed appropriately for what we’re doing?” She tried again to get him to tell her.
    “Nice try,” he said. “I told you, you’re just going to have to wait and see.”
    She sighed, trying