Free A Christmas for Hope by Kassanna Page B

growing baby within her. He left after punching a hole in the wall. Resolute in her decision, she’d come home to collect a few things when she knew he wouldn’t be there and had walked into an empty apartment.
     
    Her baby swiveled in her belly, shifting into another position. She caressed her stomach. “It’s alright, Kira. I will never let that man touch you.”
     
    Hope ran her hands over her hair in frustration. Somehow she had to keep them both safe. She had a week and she would spend it with Lucas. Have the Christmas she so desperately wanted with a man that she knew she had fallen in love with. Pressing a fist to her chest, she swallowed the wail that threatened to overtake her and felt the hot tears that continued to roll down her face.
     
    Hope got to her hands and knees and moved to the ladder back kitchen chair using it to get up from the floor. Charlie wouldn’t take this last bit of happiness away from her. She would live and love like there was no tomorrow then she would go with her original plan and get the fuck out of Dodge. Inhaling deeply, she took another look at the tree and nodded. No matter the way it felt like her heart was shredding in her chest, Lucas would be safe, they would all be okay. With nothing left to do, Hope shuffled to the bathroom to wash her face. It was time to make their memories count. They would have to last a lifetime.
     
    § § §
     
    Lucas loosely held Hope’s hand, careful of the green and black bruises that covered two fingers. He lifted her palm to inspect them. She tugged the digits from his grasp and grabbed a belt loop to yank him in the direction she wanted to go. Her enthusiasm was contagious. She wanted to do anything and everything at once. He scratched his head and followed her to the next house on the Christmas Lights Home Tour. Something was off. He embraced this new Hope with both hands but it wasn’t her at the same time. His Hope had a bit of a dark streak and a lot of sarcastic wit, lately she was simply too agreeable. He dug his feet into the grass and wrapped his fingers around her wrist.
     
    “What’s wrong?” She glanced over her shoulder at his hand.
     
    “Nothing’s wrong. But it’s Christmas Eve, babe. I thought we would spend a quiet night at home, maybe open a present or two. Rest…you have been going non-stop for a week; aren’t you tired?” He’d had the night all planned out. The ring was sitting under the pine with a big red bow waiting for her to discover it. Instead, she’d dragged him out into the night for a festive Christmas parade and tour.
     
    “No.” She turned and moved toward him and placed a palm on his abdomen. “I don’t want to see the holidays end.” Her voice held a note of defeat.
     
    The way she touched him had him thinking of other things but that tone of despair made him narrow his eyes. “What’s going on, babe? This doesn’t have to end. We’ll have other holidays.”
     
    Her lips lifted in a hint of a smile. “I know we will.” She went on her toes to press a kiss to his lips.
     
    “As much as I’m enjoying our non-stop Christmas revelry I would really like to get you home.” He snaked an arm around her waist to keep her close.
     
    “I bet you would.” Her hand slid down between them to cup his cock. “So, what’s taking you so long to get me there?” she whispered into his shirt.
     
    He had nothing to add to the conversation, instead turning them in the opposite direction of the crowd. He weaved his fingers with hers and led her to the car. Careful of his pace, he took his time, tapping back the urge to gather her up and carry her. Why in the hell did he have to park so far?
     
    The ride home was quiet and the closer they got to the complex the more Hope seemed to tense up. They swerved into the parking space in front of her building and he did his best not to smile when she arched a brow at him.
     
    “In a hurry?” She trailed her digits over his.
     
    “Yes, ma’am, I