Free Escaping Christmas by Lisa DeVore Page A

flashlight in his hand, looking in her direction. “Yeah, Lexie, I meant it. There’s something happening between us and I’d like to know what it is. I understand you were hurt and weren’t planning on me. Hell, this was not in my five year plan either. She’s your mom. I’m sure she’s worried about you.”
    “She only wanted a name to run a background check,” she replied honestly. “My parents are snobs.”
    “She’s looking out for you.”
    “That would be the day. They’ve always tried to control everything I do. Owen has convinced her he made a mistake and she’s not going to let this drop. My mother’s all about appearances. Or to put it simply, she likes to brag. Owen was someone she could brag about. The fact he’s married is only a minor complication to her. She was never impressed with my choice of careers. You see, I’m living in a fantasy world according to her. It doesn’t matter Owen lives in the same world. Everyone knows who he is and that’s what matters. I wouldn’t doubt if she was planning the wedding of the century.” The disgusted sound in her voice didn’t matter to her. He should know what her mother was like.
    “Who you love is not her decision to make…and it’s not mine.”
    The light reflected off the floor casting a shadow across his face. She had no idea what he was thinking. “You’re right. It is my decision. I’m not ready to love anyone, Zach, but if I was...” How was she going to choke this out? “If I was…I’d want him to be like you.”
    “Fair enough. Not only am I patient, I’m persistent. If we’re meant to be I’m willing to hang in there. Now, move out of my way. I’m freezing.”
    Alex smiled as he climbed down the ladder. The encounter wasn’t as awkward as she’d thought it would be. She pushed the first box down. In no time they had four boxes stacked on the floor.
    “That’s a lot of decorations for this little cabin,” Alex observed, not sure she was up to this.
    “We don’t have to use them all. We still need to get a tree. I think the base is in one of these boxes.” He flipped open one box, and another… “Here it is.” Zach held it up triumphantly.
    “How are we going to get a tree in this weather?”
    “We have plenty of time before Christmas. It has to quit snowing sometime.”
    Her mouth pulled down into a frown.
    “Hey.” He lifted her chin. “Did I say something wrong?”
    “When it quits snowing you have no reason to stay.” Her mood took a nosedive.
    “I’d stay like this with you forever if we could.”
    Alex wished they could. And she wished she had it in her to trust someone that much again. The one thing she did know was that she liked being marooned here with him. But what would happen when they had lives to live outside of this cabin? Would he lose interest like Owen had? No…she didn’t want to risk it. The pain was unbearable.
    “I see the wheels turning.” He interrupted the internal battle. “What are you thinking?”
    “I was wondering if things would change once the snow stops falling?”
    “The snow has nothing to do with what’s going on between us.”
    “You say that now, but life gets in the way…some snow bunny shows up, or I bore you to tears.” Alex couldn’t stop the tears from pooling.
    “I’m not him. I have to wait for you to see it too.” He paused, stepped forward, and swiped a curl away from her face. “I want to show you. You don’t know how much I want to, but I can’t. I need you to want the same things I want, Lexie.”
    He was dangerously close and her blood raced with anticipation. Alex stared at his perfect lips, not able to breathe. She raised her eyes to his before saying, “I’m sure I want what you want.” Her hands rested on the warmth of his hips.
    “Marriage? A family? Grandchildren? I never thought I would say those words. Work has always been enough, but you have me thinking about those things.”
    She wasn’t sure how to respond. She wanted to