Read Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) Online
Authors: Elena Aitken
Tags: #holiday romance, #sweet contemporary romance, #Christmas, #vacation romance, #christmas love, #series romance, #christmas romance, #Romance, #castle mountain lodge, #vacation love, #love story
He shrugged and turned around. “I wanted you to have something to remember your holiday by. You know, the Christmas you didn’t want. I know it’s not a ring or anything, but I was kind of hoping…well…”
“Thank you,” she said through a veil of tears.
She rose from the couch, put the globe down on the table and crossed the room in two steps. “Thank you,” she said again and took his face in her hands. His morning scruff scratched her skin and she leaned forward to meet his lips. He tasted deliciously like coffee. She pulled him closer. The need to feel him against every part of her body was stronger than she could bear.
“What the hell?” Colin heard Blaine’s voice from far away.
He tightened his grip on Andi, slid one hand down her back and deepened the kiss. He had her in his arms again; he wasn’t going to let go. Listening to the low moan come from her throat, it was clear that he no longer needed to worry.
“I said, what the hell?” Blaine’s voice again.
Before Colin could react, Andi was ripped out of his arms and Blaine shoved her behind him, pulling the tough guy protector act. Only Andi didn’t need to be protected.
“Blaine, what are you doing?” Andi demanded. She reached for Colin, but Blaine blocked her.
He turned his back to Andi and spoke to Colin. “What do you think you’re doing, kissing my fiancée?”
“I’m not your—“
“Blaine, I think we—“
“Keep your hands off her, asshole,” Blaine said. “Still can’t get your own women, hey? You need to steal mine.”
“Blaine, it’s not like that,” Colin said.
“Really? Because that’s exactly what it looks like. And remember how well that turned out for you.”
Colin flinched, but wouldn’t back down. “I think you need to calm—”
“History’s repeating itself, isn’t it, old friend?” Blaine glared at him. “You should go.”
“You do realize this is my place?” Colin stood tall. If Blaine wanted a fight, he’d give him one.
“Blaine,” Andi said. “That’s enough.”
He ignored her and spoke again to Colin. “If you ever touch my fiancée again, I’ll—”
“I’m not your fiancée,” Andi yelled.
Colin smirked and Blaine whirled around to stare at her. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’m not your fiancée.” Andi’s voice had calmed, but her whole body vibrated. It wasn’t hard to see that she was barely containing her rage. “I didn’t say yes and you didn’t give me a chance to say no. But it’s no, Blaine. I will not marry you.”
“Is this because of the baby?”
Baby? Colin felt the air leave his lungs all at once. “You have a baby?” he asked the question, but nobody heard.
Over Blaine’s shoulder, he saw the look of hurt flash on Andi’s face and her hand fluttered to her stomach before dropping to her side again.
“I shouldn’t have left,” Blaine said, his voice softer. “When everything happened, when we lost her—“
“Don’t,” Andi said.
“Andi, I panicked,” Blaine continued. “I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry. It was hard on me too, but we can try again.” He grabbed for her hand, but she pulled away. “Andi, we can be that family you’ve always wanted.” His voice held an edge of desperation.
Colin’s mind spun. Andi had said Blaine had left her when she needed him the most. But she hadn’t mentioned why. Not that there’d been a chance for her to tell him. But it all clicked into place. Her reluctance to celebrate Christmas. The pain in her eyes when they’d been with Sarah and Kirk and their children. No wonder the holiday was so hard for her. But he’d helped change that for her. He knew he had. He locked his gaze on her. Waiting.
“No,” Andi said to Blaine. She shook her head slowly. Colin could see the pain in her eyes when she said, “No. I don’t want that.” She looked up and met Colin’s eyes. ”
Colin smiled and hoped his smile conveyed to her everything he needed it to.
She turned back to Blaine and said again, “I don’t want that now, not with you.“
“But, Andi—“
“No, Blaine.” She went to the table and retrieved the ring box. Andi pressed it into his hand. “It’s over. We’re over.”
Colin stepped around Blaine and stood next to Andi. He didn’t take her hand, but stood close enough to feel the heat from her body. “You heard her,” he said to Blaine. “I think it’s time for you to go.”
Blaine looked between the two of them. “So this is how it is,” he said. “You think he can give you what you want? And you,” he said to Colin. “Still picking up my leftovers.”
Never in his life did Colin want to hit another man more than at that moment. But Andi put her hand on his arm, stilling him. He could feel her shaking, but she very calmly looked at Blaine and said, “Please leave.”
Blaine glared at each of them and without another word he turned and went down the hall. Moments later, he reappeared with his bag in hand. “I won’t ask again,” he said to Andi. “If I walk out that door, it’s over.”
Andi slipped her hand in Colin’s. “I’m counting on it,” she said calmly.
Colin squeezed her hand but kept his face blank.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Blaine fumed. He walked out and slammed the door behind him.
Colin didn’t say a word until the door clicked shut and they were alone. Then he turned so he was facing Andi. She was visibly shaking now, so he took her in his arms. “Hey, don’t worry,” he said. “He’s gone.”
She nodded against his chest. “I didn’t think that would ever happen.” She pulled back and looked him in the eye. “Blaine and I, we’re over,” she said. “After what he did, I could never…”
“The baby?”
Fresh tears sprang from her eyes. “I couldn’t tell you. It was too hard.” She swiped at her face with the back of her hand. “Besides, it’s not like we’re dating or anything.” She tried to smile, but Colin could see the strain. “You don’t need to be bothered with these things, I mean—“
“Andi,” Colin cut her off. He cupped her face with his hands and stroked her cheek softly. “It’s alright. We have time to learn about each other.” He touched his lips to hers in a soft, sweet kiss. “And I want to know everything,” he said when he pulled away.
“Everything?” Tears glistened in her eyes and on her cheeks.
“Absolutely everything,” he said.
Her mouth turned up into a smile. “That might take a little while.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I plan on being around for a while.” Colin leaned forward and kissed her again.
It was Andi who pulled away first. “Just to be fair,” she said. “I have to tell you one more thing.”
He nodded, waiting.
“I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Colin cleared his throat and laughed. “Well, thank goodness,” he said. “Because I know that I’m absolutely, crazy in love with you.”
Colin kissed her again, this time leaving no room for questions. When the kiss ended, too soon for his liking, Andi was smiling. “So,” she said. “How about that second date?”
If you enjoyed Unexpected Gifts, you’ll probably like the next in the series, Hidden Gifts. You can download it
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Thank you so much for taking a chance on Unexpected Gifts. I absolutely believe the mountains are a magical place and they hold a very special place in my heart. The love continues at Castle Mountain Lodge with Hidden Gifts, the next in the series. Enjoy an excerpt after this note.
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Castle Mountain Lodge Series (Steamy Versions)
Please enjoy an excerpt from the next in the Castle Mountain Lodge Series-
Hidden Gifts
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Castle Mountain Lodge was just gearing up for the busy summer season with only a few people milling around the lobby. As far as Bo Clancy was concerned, it was perfect. The last thing he needed to worry about was an audience on top of everything else. He paced in front of fireplace and glanced around again for the staff manager. He’d been told that Carmen would be in the lobby, but so far he hadn’t seen her. It figured that just when he needed to talk to her, she would be busy. It was a good thing they still had a few weeks before the summer season was in full swing which bought him a little more time to figure out what he was going to do.
Bo had been set up to have another successful summer as the lead outdoor guide at Castle Mountain. He’d been running the summer program at the Lodge for the past three years and it was the perfect job for someone like him. Someone who’d rather be outside than in and most importantly, didn’t have any family ties that would keep him from leading the overnight excursions. They were the most lucrative trips because of the tips involved, usually from the women. He’d gained a bit of a reputation as a flatterer and as a result was often specially requested to lead ladies’ groups. He never acted on his flirtations, at least not with the guests, but it didn’t hurt as far as the income was concerned.
That was all going to change this year, unless he could figure things out. Bo looked at the couch, where Ella was sound asleep. Curled up with his big cable knit sweater as a blanket, she looked impossibly small. Her blond hair was fanned out over her tiny arm that was tucked under her head. Her blond eyelashes fluttered against her porcelain cheeks. Bo stopped pacing and stood transfixed by her every breath. It didn’t matter how many times he looked at the birth certificate and read the letter, he still couldn’t believe she was his. He bent to touch her, to push the stray hair off her cheek, but he pulled away at the last minute, a familiar voice intruding on the moment.
Bo straightened up to see Carmen, accompanied by two other women, walking across the room. They stopped by the grand piano and he watched for a minute as Carmen gestured around the grand foyer. She seemed familiar with the petite dark haired woman, maybe they were frequent guests? But no, the other woman, the taller one, clutched a red binder in her hands. The Castle Mountain Lodge Employee Manual. He had one just like it somewhere in his bags. Not that he’d ever looked at it.
Carmen had never been his biggest fan. Not since the first year they’d worked together and he’d slept with her roommate. It was years ago and he was fairly certain the roommate didn’t remember it, but Carmen had been frosty to him ever since. When he’d discovered that she was now in charge of staff, he’d been dreading the conversation he needed to have because based on past history, she wasn’t likely to help him out.
Bo took another look at Ella who was still sleeping on the couch. “No time like the present,” he said aloud. He turned and crossed the room in three long strides. “Excuse me,” he said, interrupting the women. “Carmen, I need to speak with you.”
Carmen turned, a fake smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, pasted on her face. “Nice to see you, Bo. I’m just in the middle of something right now, maybe we can catch up later.”
“It can’t wait,” he said. He flicked his glance to the other women and his gaze naturally landed on the taller of the two. She looked to be in her late twenties, which instantly intrigued him. Older than most of the women working at the Lodge and she was attractive, very attractive. But she definitely had the look of a city girl who wouldn’t know the first thing about stepping out of the mall and onto the trail. Despite her slender waist and curves that begged to have his hands on them, city girls weren’t his thing. Even if he was looking for a diversion, which he wasn’t. “I am sorry to interrupt, darling,” he spoke to the her and turned on the charm. “You probably have a lot of questions about the Lodge and the mountains, after all, they can be intimidating. And I’m sure we can do our best to answer those for you later.” Without waiting for a response, he turned back to Carmen. “I do need to speak to you right now.”
Carmen cleared her throat and stood tall. “Bo, this is Andi Williams and Morgan Pierce.” She waved at the two women in turn. “Andi is a good friend of the Lodge and Morgan will be working with us this summer.”
He spared a quick nod but kept his eyes on Carmen. “Hi,” he said in the women’s direction. “Carmen-”
“Oh, I’m sure a big important guy like yourself can answer all the questions for little ol’ me,” the voice interrupted him, and Bo turned back to the attractive woman who was batting her eyelashes in jest. “And maybe when you’re finished,” she drawled, “you could protect me from all the big bad bears in the scary dark woods?”