Page 57 of The Holiday Gift

“That would be fun,” Ella said, obviously taking Faith’s suggestion as encouragement. “Maybe we could go after the holidays.”

Chase didn’t want to hurt her but he was not about to take her up on the invitation to go out dancing while he was standing in front of the woman he loved.

Even if it had been Faith’s suggestion in the first place.

“I don’t know,” he said, in what he hoped was a noncommittal but clear voice. “I have my daughter a couple weekends a month and it’s tough for me to get away.”

Understanding flashed in her eyes along with a shadow of pained rejection. He hated that he had planted it there—and hated more that Faith had put him in the position in the first place.

“No problem,” she said, some of the animation leaving her features. “Let me know if you have a free night. I’ve got to run. Good night. And Merry Christmas in advance.”

She gave a smile that was only a degree or two shy of genuine and headed out into the parking lot toward her car.

He wasn’t sure how, exactly, but Chase managed to hold on to the slippery, fraying ends of his temper as they led the reindeer the short distance across the snowy landscape to The Christmas Ranch barn.

It coiled through him as they worked together to take off Sparkle’s harness and bells, gave him a good brushing, then made sure he had food and water.

He should just let it go, he told himself after they stepped out of the stall and closed the gate.

The evening had been wonderful and he didn’t want to ruin it by fighting with her.

He almost had himself convinced of that but somehow as he looked at her, his anger slipped free and the words rolled out anyway.

“Why the hell would you do that?”

Chapter 13

Faith stared at him, stunned by the anger that seemed to seethe around them like storm-tossed sea waves.

“Do...what?”

“You know. You just tried to set me up with Ella Baker again.”

Her face flamed even as she shivered at his hard tone. Oh. That.

“All I did was mention that the Renegade has dancing on Saturday nights. I only thought it would be fun for the two of you.”

His jaw worked as he continued to stare down at her. “Is that right?”

“Ella is really great,” she said. She might as well double down on her own stupidity. “I’ve seen her with the kids this week and she’s amazing—so patient and kind and talented. You heard her sing. Any single guy would have to be crazy not to want to go out with her.”

“Really, Faith.Really?” The words came at her like a whip snapping through the cold air.

He was furious, she realized. More angry than she had ever seen him. She could see it in every rigid line of his body, from his flexed jaw to his clenched fists.

“After everything that’s happened between us these last few weeks, you seriously want to stand there and pretend you think I might have the slightest interest in someone else?”

She let out a breath, ashamed of herself for dragging an innocent—and very nice—woman into this. She didn’t even know why she had. The words had just sort of come out. She certainly didn’twantChase dating Ella Baker but maybe on some level she was still hanging on to the hope that they could somehow return to the easy friendship of a few weeks ago and forget the rest of this.

“I can’t help it if I want you to be happy,” she said, her voice low. “You’re my dearest friend.”

“I don’t want to be your friend.” He growled an oath that had her blinking. “After everything, can you really not understand that? Fine. You want me to be clear, I’ll be clear. I don’t want to be your buddy and I don’t want to date Ella Baker. She is very nice but I don’t have the slightest flicker of interest in her.”

“Okay,” she whispered. She shouldn’t be relieved about that but she couldn’t seem to help it.

He gazed down at her, features hard and implacable. “There is only one woman I want in my life and it’s you, Faith. You have to know that. I’m in love with you. It’s you. It hasalwaysbeen you.”

She caught her breath at his words as joy burst through her like someone had switched on a thousand Christmas trees. She wanted to savor it, to simply close her eyes and soak it in.

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