Harlequin Holiday Collection - Four Classic Seasonal Novellas

all right.”
    “Thanks to you.”
    It looked as if he had the chance he’d wanted. “Can we talk?”
    She nodded. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
    Kristie was coming back into the living room, accompanied by a flood of kids who slowed their steps to hers.
    “Looks like privacy’s going to be in short supply in here.” David nodded toward the door. “Let’s step out onto the porch.”
    The wraparound porch was dim and cool. Out in the darkness, the Christmas lights strung on the boats reflected the stars. This was Christmas for him—not sleigh bells and snow, but lights shimmering on the water.
    He turned to Ally. “You said you wanted to tell me something.” Whatever it was, he couldn’t let it deter him from telling her how he felt.
    “I couldn’t get away from what you said yesterday.” She looked at him, her eyes troubled. “I kept thinking about it all day. That I was turning myself into someone like Richard.”
    “I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “Yes, you should.” She hesitated, and he heard the whisper of her breath. “I’d begun to see that the life I had with Richard wasn’t right, even before Kristie. But I intended to hold our marriage together. I was devastated when it broke apart.”
    The Ally he remembered didn’t give up once she’d started something. “It wasn’t your fault.”
    “No. But I didn’t realize…until you said what you did. I’ve been trying to rebuild that same world for Kristie, even though it was never what I wanted. I didn’t realize I could be free. I could create a different life for us.”
    Like the doves. Freed by breaking.
    She drew a shuddering breath. “I’m not taking the job. It wouldn’t be fair to Kristie. I need to get her through the surgery before I do anything. Then…we’ll see.”
    That was his cue, wasn’t it? He took her hands.
    “Don’t go away, Allison. You belong here. Stay.” He breathed a silent prayer. “I love you. No pressure. I know you’re not going to rush into anything. You have Kristie to consider. But I love you. Both of you. And I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
    She tilted her head back, her hair flowing over her shoulders. The starlight seemed to be reflected in her eyes.
    She looked at him for a long moment. Then she smiled. “You don’t have to wait.” She lifted her face for his kiss.
    He had his angel-girl back…to stay.

Did you enjoy the Harlequin Holiday Collection? Curl up, get cozy and load up your eReader with more holiday reads from Harlequin. Download these terrific titles, available now:
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    The number one item on Becca Timm’s Christmas wish list is getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago, Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. She heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters…
    A Lawman’s Christmas: A McKettricks of Texas Novel

    The sudden death of the town marshal leaves Blue River, Texas, without a lawman…and twenty-five-year-old Dara Rose Nolan without a husband. As her meager seamstress income dwindles, she has limited options—but she can’t fathom condemning herself to another loveless marriage. Clay McKettrick, the new marshal, isn’t interested in uprooting Dara Rose and her children, but he is interested in giving her protection, friendship—and passion. And when they say “I do” to a marriage of convenience, the temporary lawman’s Christmas wish is to make Dara Rose his permanent wife….
    Christmas in Cold Creek

    She claimed to be a waitress and a single mother, but Rebecca Parsons doesn’t look like any hash-slinger Pine Gulch police chief Trace Bowman has ever seen. Attention from local law enforcement is the last thing Becca needs. She’ll do anything to protect her little sister Gabi from their con-artist mother, even lie about their identities. When Trace shows up at their house carrying a Christmas tree and stirring desires she can’t afford to indulge, she longs to surrender to the magic of the season with him. But Becca’s past is catching up—fast. Can her sexy police chief perform a Christmas miracle?

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ISBN: 978-1-4592-2409-4
    Harlequin Holiday Collection: Four