Free A Kilted Christmas Wish by Eliza Knight Page A

Oblivious to the group of carolers singing Silent Night .
    She’d walked away.
    She’d said no.
    The cracking of his wounded heart took his breath away. He’d not realized how much she’d healed him, showed him that there was a future that could be filled with happiness until he’d not seen her, talked to her for over a week. He’d not known how much he loved her until he tried to let her go. When he just couldn’t take it any longer, he’d decided to go after her.
    And she’d said no.
    He couldn’t make his feet move. Couldn’t stop staring into Darla’s restaurant. But he had to. Even if bearing the brunt of her refusal hurt worse than he could have imagined. Hurt worse than feeling guilty for betraying her trust.
    He’d loved Megan. Planned on spending his life with her. But she’d died. And he’d had to learn that she wasn’t coming back and he needed to move on. When Darla had entered his life, there’d been a light. A hope. She wasn’t an ordinary woman to him. Darla Strider was freaking amazing. Extraordinary and perfect.
    But she’d said no.
    Aaron closed his eyes a moment and turned on his heel. He swallowed hard, his throat constricted.
    He wasn’t going to let her go that easily. Not when he ’d realized that he loved her desperately and wanted to spend every day, for the rest of his life, loving her.

Chapter Nine
     
    S now fell in clustered clumps, like mini, fluffy snowballs, outside Darla’s window. Christmas music played softly on her radio. While carolers decked the halls with boughs of holly, she sat curled up in her favorite cushy chair, the latest Highland romance novel spread over the armrest to save her spot, and a cup of hot cocoa warming her hands. Every sip, every page read, every song reminded her of Aaron.
    Damn him for making her believe that life could be sweet, that romance and love were attainable, and for forever ruining her experience with a decadent cup of mocha deliciousness.
    She’d taken the rest of the day off after his flower stunt, feeling terrible for leaving her employees hanging once again, but they’d both insisted. Packed up a bag of comfort food and shoved her back out the door. Was her devastation that obvious?
    Darla set down her cocoa on the side table, leaned her head back against the cushion and closed her eyes, willing the tears burning her eyes to disappear.
    Only three weeks had gone by since she’d met Aaron. Three weeks of emotional highs and lows. Three weeks she’d never forget in her life. Days filled with bliss and adventure. Days of laughter. A night of pleasure. Followed by days and days of second guessing herself and feeling lower than dirt.
    And then today. He’d just had to show up and apologize. Make her feel like there was a future between them. Aaron had been sincere, of that she was sure. She could see it in his eyes. He was sorry. He did care about her. The only thing standing in the way of them moving forward was her.
    She loved him.
    Had known that the moment the pain of loss had struck so hard it physically hurt. Had known it the moment she saw him and was willing to forgive him her pain in order to spend a few moments in his presence. Had known it when she’d wanted to comfort him for the loss of his love.
    She loved him desperately. Achingly so.
    And she’d shoved him away. He wasn’t coming back. She’d have to go after him—and risk him rejecting her in the process. Darla leaned forward in the chair, resting her hands on her elbows.
    Probably best to see him tonight, or at least try. She’d need to apologize, too. Tell him she’d been too scared to accept his heartfelt apology that morning. That she’d been too stubborn.
    The buzzer on her door rang. Darla stared at the panel on the wall, unwilling to get up and see who it was. Probably Amanda bringing her dinner and offering advice. And she wasn’t interested. She loved her friend dearly, had been through so much with her. But she preferred to mourn the loss of