Free Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman

Walker in front of the dog. “Hold out your hand and say hello,” she instructed as the boy’s mother rushed toward them. “Don’t worry,” she assured the obviously concerned woman. “I know he looks big and scary, but he’s a cupcake around children.”
    “Hello, Toby,” Walker said, holding out his hand.
    Toby dutifully lifted a paw and set it in his tiny hand, and Walker giggled when the dog licked his fingers.
    Merissa handed Jessie her cane, her eyes focused intently on her. “You’re in pain,” she whispered tightly.
    Using the cane for support, Jessie unclipped Toby’s leash and signaled that he was free. “Why don’t you show Toby around your beautiful yard,” she told Walker.
    “We can look at the house tomorrow or the day after,” Merissa said, still eyeing Jessie as Toby and Walker headed for the nearest pile of snow-covered leaves.
    Jessie held out her hand to the homeowner. “Jessie Pringle. And don’t worry, I’m not leaving here without a signed purchase agreement.”
    The woman gave a warm laugh. “Megan Stone. And I have to say, you just one-upped me. At least I got inside before I offered to buy it from the previous owners.”
    “Jessie,” Merissa growled softly, looking directly into her eyes again. “Are you high on pain pills or something? You can’t just buy the first house you see.”
    Jessie barely caught herself from reminding Merissa that they had both kissed the first men they saw last night. “No, I haven’t taken any meds yet. But I think I better take something now. Could you bring in my purse?”
    “If you’re not feeling well,” Megan said, falling in step beside Jessie when she started up the brick walkway, “there’s no reason we can’t reschedule.” She smiled over at her. “I promise not to sell the house out from under you.”
    Jessie took hold of the railing and slowly made her way onto the porch, having absolutely no intention of leaving until she owned this house. “I’m just a bit stiff,” she assured Megan. “I fell chasing after Toby this morning, and according to Ian, I now have to live with the consequences of going outside in my slippers.”
    Megan stopped in the act of opening the door. “He called and said that if I didn’t sell you this house, he was going to tell my husband how I shamelessly used to bribe the boys to go out with me in high school.”
    Jessie blinked at her and then at Katy coming up the steps. “Ian’s been threatening both of you into selling me this house? But why?”
    “Because he’s Ian,” Megan said. “And when a MacKeage male decides he wants something, he’s not above using any means at his disposal to make it happen.” She chuckled. “And apparently Ian wants you living here.”
    “But why ?” Jessie repeated.
    “Because he knows it’s a good house.”
    “And also because he lives just down the cove,” Katy added, pointing past the end of the porch. “Well, his stuff lives there,” she said with a snort. “I think Ian sleeps on the mountain more than he does in his bed.”
    Megan walked inside. “In fact, you can see his house from here, now that the leaves have fallen off.” She turned once everyone got inside and held open the door. “Walker, bring Toby inside and show him your old bedroom.”
    Walker scrambled up the steps and bolted past them without even looking up. “Come on, Toby. I’ll show you where you’re going to sleep.”
    Only instead of following, Toby stopped beside Jessie and pushed his nose into her free hand. She gave him a pat. “It’s okay, Tobes. Go play with Walker.”
    Megan walked toward the wall of windows facing the lake. “Come sit down, Jessie. You can see most of the downstairs and the yard from here.”
    “Could I get a glass of water?” Merissa asked, heading to the kitchen that was separated from the living area by a counter peninsula.
    “Oh, sure,” Megan said, changing directions as she waved Jessie toward the large leather chair—which was the