Free Winter's Embrace by Kathleen Ball

kept to myself while you carved out a wonderful life for yourself.”
    There was a pause as she got off the bed, walked to
the window, and leaned her forehead against the frosty pane. “I don’t love you,
Stone. I love the memory of you, the memory of us.” She turned and gave him a
ghost of a smile. “It’s my own fault—it has nothing to do with you. I do want
to make a new life. The one you offered me on Halloween. I want a job and my
own house and I have the feeling that if you wanted, you could have that house
ready right after Christmas. I love Rachael and I couldn’t leave her.”
    Stone swallowed hard. “And me?”
    “I already told you. I don’t love you, mainly because
I don’t even know you. I’m attracted to you and whenever I look at you I want
you to kiss me senseless, but I need to get to know you as the man you are, not
the boy you were.”
    Stone stood and walked to her until they stood toe to
toe. Reaching out, he tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I
will get the house ready for you. I won’t pressure you anymore but there is one
thing…” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I want to kiss you,
too.”
    Leaning down, he caught her soft lips with his. He
slanted his lips over hers until she opened for him. Wrapping his arms around
her waist, he hauled her closer and deepened the kiss. Little moans of
excitement rewarded him and when she wrapped her arms around his neck, his
heart sang. Not all was lost.
     
    * * * *
     
    If Winter had just one wish,
it would be that their kiss would never end. Stone’s masculine lips captured
hers, branding her. Her heart fluttered and all thought fled. His lips on her
neck seared her soul and she couldn’t deny the chemistry between them. That had
never been the problem.
    Clinging to his neck, she broke off the kiss and hid
her face against his shoulder. Her legs didn’t want to cooperate with her so
she clung tighter. His heart pounded fast and hard, matching hers. As soon as
the strength rushed back into her legs, she pulled away.
    His hooded gaze sent delightful shivers through her
body. It was more than just chemistry, it had to be. The chemistry between them
scared her and the stars disappeared from her eyes.
    “So you’ll get the house ready?”
    Stunned, he stared at her. Breaking the stare, he
turned from her. “I promised didn’t I?”
    Before she could answer, he walked right out of her
room and closed the door behind him. Frowning, a chill settled over her and her
stomach churned. Why couldn’t she completely trust him? Life would be so easy
if she could only believe him. But remembering the phone call he had made to
her ten years ago, she didn’t know if she ever could again.
    The ache in her heart was unbearable. She meant what
she’d said about not leaving Rachael and she did want to get to know Stone all
over again. Some part of her kept holding back and it didn’t seem to be
anything she could control.
    Maybe with time, or maybe not, but torturing herself
was self-defeating. She needed to grab the bull by the horns. Sighing, she
realized that she didn’t know where to begin.
    “Mama! Mama!”
    Winter opened the door. One look at a tearful Rachael
was all she needed. Scooping up the little girl, Winter sat back on her bed with Rachael on her lap.
    Winter kissed her head and rocked her. “What is it, my
sweet?”
    “My baby. Something is wrong with my baby, Faith.”
    Puzzled, she looked at the doll. She looked fine.
“What’s wrong does she have a fever?”
    Rachael looked up at her and rolled her eyes. “She’s
not real, you know.”
    Biting back a smile, Winter nodded.
    “Her hair, it’s her hair!”
    Winter took Faith, examined her, and quickly glanced
at Rachael’s hair. Rachael had cut Faith’s hair, but hadn’t gotten to her own.
Relieved, she gave the girl a gentle smile. “We could make her a hat.”
    Rachael looked up at her, her eyes full of worry. “Do
you think she will like