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Chapter 11
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2022-06-15 14:02:45Related chapters
Christmas Cove Chapter 12
The next day, Jocelyn was glad that she was off from work as she folded her mother's afghan and placed it across the back of the couch. She hadn't had much time off lately and was secretly glad to have some time to herself to think. She didn't want to be at work and have Caden walk in the door again, clouding her mind."You've got to be kidding me, Frank! We can't do it another day? I have plans." Mallory asked into her phone and waited, listening. "I screwed up? I don't think so!" She listened again, her ear to the phone as she shook her head. "Okay, okay! I'll be down there in a minute." She clicked off her phone, ending the call. "Jocelyn? Would you do me a favor?"Jocelyn looked up. Uh oh. When Mallory asked for a favor, Jocelyn usually got the raw end of the deal. "What?" she asked flatly."Frank screwed up the shoot and I had plans to go skiing with Caden today." She pooched out her lip into a pout. "Would you mind going with Caden for me?""What?" Jocelyn asked, her heart po
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 13
Jocelyn nodded. "I'm ready if you are.""Great!" Caden's muscles bulged under his jacket with the simple gesture of shoving his hands into his pockets.She walked beside him to his car, noticing that he was at least six inches taller than her. "So, when did you get to be so tall?" she teased.Caden smiled, opening the passenger door for her. "I guess it was the great Navy food."Jocelyn laughed. "Yeah. I'd bet." Then she slid into his Corvette.Caden chuckled as he closed her door. A moment later, he slid into the driver's seat. "Where would you like to go? Cedar Ridge or Snowflake Mountain?"Jocelyn shrugged, her heart racing along with the engine. Since she had never skied before, she had no idea which one was the best. "It doesn't matter to me. Where would you like to go?"Caden threw the car into drive. "Snowflake Mountain was always a bit too kitschy to me. How about Cedar Ridge?" He raised an eyebrow as he looked over at her, completely unaware of the effect he had on her.
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 14
He leaned in, placing a hand on the small of her back, and whispered over her head, "If Kyle's here, you want to have a little fun?"Jocelyn laughed. "It depends.""Upon?""Upon what it is.""Trust me.""Famous last words."He laughed and held the door for her as they walked in. Sure enough, Kyle was standing behind the front desk.Kyle looked at Caden, noticing his hand on Jocelyn's back, and frowned. "Caden. When did you get home?""Yesterday. It's good to see you, Kyle." A devilish smile appeared on Caden's lips.Kyle looked over at Jocelyn and nodded. "How've you been?""Good." Now that Caden was back.Kyle looked over at Caden and narrowed his eyes. "So, I thought you were dating Mallory, Jocelyn's sister?"Caden shrugged. "That was a long time ago." Then he looked down at Jocelyn. "I've moved on to better things."Jocelyn's heart pounded against her rib cage. Although she knew Caden was doing this for Kyle's benefit, her heart didn't seem to know it.Kyle's face con
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 15
No one was at the counter, so Caden walked over and Kyle smirked. "Back so soon?""Okay, Kyle. That's enough. Give Caden back his money," Jocelyn intervened. "You know I'd never skied before, but I thought I'd try.""Well, the lesson didn't last long." A knowing grin spread across his lips.Caden plopped the skis down, sending flakes of snow across the counter, melting into tiny pools of water."Hey! Watch it!" Kyle held up his hands as he backed away."Kyle, give him a refund- please." Jocelyn took a step closer to the counter, but Caden stepped in front of her, blocking her way."You heard the lady," Caden said in a low, menacing voice. "We'd like a refund."Kyle looked over Caden's arms at Jocelyn. "Okay." He walked over to the register, pulled out some money after punching some buttons, and then walked back over and laid the cash on the counter. "Here."A broad smile spread across Caden's lips. "Thank you." He scooped up the money and shoved it in his wallet. Then he looked
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 16
"What's wrong?" Caden asked, obviously noticing that she was too quiet.But Jocelyn just shook her head, unwilling to tell him. Yes; Caden Scott was definitely detrimental to her heart.Luckily, Caden let it go. "Well, let's head on over to the lake. Is it frozen?""Solid as a rock."Caden chuckled. "Good. That way I won't have to save you again.""Yeah, well, I'm not a kid anymore." She took her eyes from the scenery and looked over at him. A much better view. "I know how far to go now."Caden laughed. "Yes, I'd bet you do."She slapped him playfully on the arm. "Caden!""Well, you walked right into it." He shrugged. "I just jumped right in."Jocelyn laughed. "You're unbelievable.""So, tell me. When is this Christmas pageant?"Thoughts of Mallory rushed immediately into her mind. "A few days before Christmas. Are you going to go? Mallory's going to be on a float in the parade."Caden sighed. "I'm not sure. Are you going?"She shrugged. "Probably."Within minutes, they p
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 17
Then she turned around and he took her hands, guiding her around the ice again."You're going to do it.""What? The triple?"He nodded."Oh no I'm not!""Get ready-.""Caden-.""Set-.""You're impossible.""Go!" He spun her around and threw her into the air, sending her into a perfect spin. She twisted three times in the air and then touched down perfectly on one skate. "See? I knew you still had it!""I'm a lot taller now.""Not by much." He took her hands again and guided her around the ice.They skated most of the day away. But when the sun began to set and the bitter cold began to set in, she came to a stop and sat down on the bench. She knew she would pay for this the next day. Her muscles were already sore. But she had a wonderful time. "Well, I think it's time to call it a day."Caden spun around to look at her, skating backward. "So soon?"Jocelyn laughed as she started unlacing her skates. "We've been skating nearly all day!"He skated around to look at her agai
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 18
The next morning, thoughts of Jocelyn filled his mind. When Caden walked out into the living room, his parents had already left for the tree lot. He hurried to eat, telling himself that he was eager to see Mallory. But in reality, he couldn't wait to see Jocelyn again. What are you doing? You're an idiot. He enjoyed spending time with Jocelyn, but he had given Mallory his heart long ago. Over the years, Mallory had occupied his mind and had helped him get through some sticky situations. When the going got tough and he didn't know if he was going to make it through the mission, he had thought of Mallory and promised himself that he'd see her again. Then he'd live.But now that he was here, everything had turned upside down. Mallory wasn't the person he had remembered her to be, and neither was Jocelyn. When he had left, Jocelyn was just a little girl that he thought of as his little sister. Now, she was anything but. Jocelyn had become quite a beautiful woman. But what he liked about h
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 19
"Oh no! I did enough of that when I was growing up," Caden objected. He looked up and his mother had already seen him. "Why'd you come here?"Jocelyn shrugged. "I just thought I'd volunteer. It's my day off and I like to feel useful." Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "Besides, it looks as if your parents could use the help."Caden sighed, giving her a smile. "Come on. I'll get you some gloves.""Now, that's the spirit!" she approved, climbing out of the car.As they walked over to the tree lot, Caden's father walked toward them. "Hello, son. It's good to see you here. Who's your friend?"Caden smiled. "This is Jocelyn, Mallory's sister."His father's smile faded, but he quickly recovered himself. For some reason, his parents had never liked Mallory. Although Caden knew they hated for his heart to be broken, he suspected they were secretly relieved when they broke up."What brings you two by on such a wonderful day?" Noah asked, motioning around him. "Well, we'd thought we'
Last Updated : 2022-06-15
Latest chapter
Christmas Cove Chapter 111
The fresh aroma of flowers wafted toward her as Kiki walked into the doorway of the ballroom in The North Pole Lodge. She wrung her silk-gloved hands as she looked around the room. All eyes were on her, but there was only one person she wanted to see. Then she looked over at a group of people and her heart stopped. For standing beside his coworker was Taren, looking dashing in a black tuxedo, white shirt, and black bowtie, his dark blond-streaked hair combed to perfection, looking as if he had stepped out of a fashion magazine or a fireman's calendar.Kiki's heart leapt when their eyes met, but his expression was unreadable as he crossed the room to her. Taren stopped in front of her, and she could smell the fresh scent of his cologne, his muscles bulging beneath his tux."Why are you here?" he asked, his eyes soft and kind.Of all the things she expected him to say, that wasn't it. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come." She turned to leave, but he caught her hand."No- please stay."
Christmas Cove Chapter 110
Taren stepped out of her reach and adjusted his tux. "What are you doing here?"Through the doors to the ballroom, Dylan, Patrick, Erica, and other firefighters watched, ready if he needed them. Although he appreciated their concern, he just wished they would stay out of it."You invited me." Scarlett pushed out her lower lip. But he was no longer a child, and her silly games no longer worked on him."No, I didn't." Taren shrugged out of her grasp and tried to walk past her, headed toward the ballroom, but she grabbed his arm and swung him around. "Scarlett, just leave. No one wants you here." He turned to walk away."I'll go to court for Abby!" she shouted behind him.Taren stopped and slowly turned around. He walked toward her and stopped just inches from her. "Never threaten me with my daughter again."Scarlett smirked as she folded her arms across her chest. "Besides, my lawyer says we have a good chance of winning the case.""Oh yeah, Scarlett? What lawyer?" He waited for a
Christmas Cove Chapter 109
Later that night, Taren looked into the full-length mirror in his room, adjusting his bowtie once again. Then he smoothed a hand over his tux and pulled the vest down into place. Although he had given her a ticket, his heart sank, knowing that Kiki probably wouldn't be there. After brushing his hair into place, he laid the brush down onto the counter."Well, I guess this is as good as it's going to get."If it wasn't for the fact that he was obligated to go because it was his turn to host, he wouldn't be going. He just hoped that Scarlett wouldn't make too big of a scene. Although his friends and coworkers knew what kind of person she was, he still didn't want her to embarrass him in front of them. He sighed, knowing it was inevitable. But this time, he wasn't going to let her hold his daughter over his head to get what she wanted."Daddy!" Abby ran to him when he walked into the living room and he scooped her into his arms. "You look nice! Are you going to see Kiki?"Pain gripped
Christmas Cove Chapter 108
"Okay. What's wrong?" Jocelyn asked, her arms folded across her chest."Nothing." Kiki went back to rearranging the case. But she knew that Jocelyn wouldn't let up until she told her. She was a bulldog when she suspected that something was wrong.Jocelyn's hand appeared in front of her and slid the door of the case shut, the engagement ring prominent on her hand. "Come on. Spill."Kiki leaned against the glass case, her back toward the door. "Jocelyn, I'm fine.""No, you're not."Kiki let out a deep breath, letting her hands fall to her sides. "What do you want from me, Joce? I screwed up and I don't know what to do about it! I jumped to conclusions when I saw Taren with Scarlett, and I hurt him. You should have seen the look on his face." Kiki's eyes filled with tears, threatening to spill over. "He even said 'as for how I feel about you, I guess you'll never know'.""I can tell you right now that he cares deeply for you," a voice came from behind them.Jocelyn turned around an
Christmas Cove Chapter 107
At work the next day, Kiki held a set of rings that a young couple had been looking at."Are you sure this is the one you want?" the young man asked his future bride.She nodded, but bit her lip and released it. "Yes, but it's too much.""Would you like to see another set?" Kiki asked the young woman.The woman nodded, smiling. "Yes, please.""No, this is the one," the young man interrupted. "Could you hold them for me? Then I'll come by and make payments on them until they're paid off."Kiki looked between them and smiled. "Yes, of course." Kiki let out a deep breath. "I'll tell you what. Ten dollars should hold it for now. That is, unless you'd like another amount?"The young man returned her smile. "No, that will be fine. Thank you." He opened his wallet and handed her a ten dollar bill. "Thank you.""What's your name?" Kiki asked."Jared. Jared Thomas." Then he looked over at his fiancée. "And this is Rochelle Hall."Kiki smiled as she wrote down their names. "So, when's
Christmas Cove Chapter 106
"Daddy! You're here!" Abby yelled as he walked into the house the next morning, New Year's Eve. She ran toward him and he scooped her up into his arms. "Want to go sled riding?"He gave her a smile. Abby was the one thing that he and Scarlett had done right, and he was grateful for every second he had with her."We will in a little while. It's a little too early yet. Let Daddy rest for a bit." He carried her into the living room and sat with her on his lap as the bright morning sunshine streamed in through the windows. It was rare that the sun was so bright this time of year.She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. "I love you, Daddy."His mother walked in, carrying a cup of coffee and sat on the chair kitty-corner from them.Taren pulled his daughter close and gave her a hug. "I love you, too, pumpkin." Then he set her on her feet. "Now, go play and I'll take you sled riding in a little while.""Yeah!" she shouted, running off to her room to play.His mot
Christmas Cove Chapter 105
After Scarlett left, he had to grow up fast. Forced to become both father and mother overnight made him grow up quickly of necessity. He was just lucky that his mother had helped him. He'd have no idea what he would have done if it hadn't been for her. He pulled down the drive leading to The North Pole Lodge and evergreens dotted with snow lined both sides of the road. But as much as he tried, he couldn't push Kiki from his mind.Taren pulled his Jeep Cherokee to a stop in the parking lot and cut the engine. Even though he knew she wasn't there, he couldn't help but scan the parking lot looking for her familiar blue Mustang. Seeing that her car wasn't there, he forced her from his mind, knowing it was over between them even before it had really begun. Now, he had business to take care of.He locked up the car and shoved his hands into his pockets as he hurried toward the glass, double front doors. Even though it was still cold out, at least it wasn't snowing. He just hoped the weat
Christmas Cove Chapter 104
As she was combing through the rubble, a car pulled up in front of what was left of the house. She had just found her mother's jewelry box and her father's rifles in the glass case that was still locked up, so she didn't pay attention to who it was."You know you really shouldn't be here alone."Kiki's heart sank. She would know that voice anywhere. She flipped around and she was right. Taren was standing just behind her in all his golden good looks, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her. "Well, I just got off work and I thought I'd come over and see what I could salvage."Taren nodded and then pointed to the gun case with the rifles, now laying on its side. "Do you have a key for that?""Yes, of course." She fumbled with her keychain until she found the right one. But her hands were shaking so badly that it was hard for her to manage. Finally, she gave up and stared at him. "What are you doing here, Taren?"He stepped toward her, but she backed away. He let his arms fall to his
Christmas Cove Chapter 103
On the way back to the station, Taren had texted Kiki over and again, but she hadn't returned his texts. It was just as well. Taren shrugged, knowing it was better if she left now instead of waiting until he--and Abby--were in too deep."What's wrong?" Dylan asked, taking his time driving back to the fire station after the call."Oh, it's Kiki," Taren replied. "She won't return any of my texts."He shrugged. "Maybe she's just busy."Taren raised an eyebrow. "All day?""Hey! Carrie gets busy with the kids sometimes and doesn't even hear the phone ring, let alone text me back. Stop being such a girl and call her." Over the years, Dylan had become Taren's best friend on the fire department.Taren clicked his phone off. "Not right now." He looked out the window, watching as the scenery passed by in the dark. "I don't know, Dylan. After what happened with Scarlett, I can't help but think that maybe Abby and I would be better off without anyone in our lives."Dylan smirked. "You can't
