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Chapter 73
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Christmas Cove Chapter 74
Taren sipped hot chocolate as he watched Abby with Kiki, pleased that his daughter had taken up so quickly with Kiki. They spent the evening hollering at the game and drinking hot chocolate. Once, Abby had even yelled at the referee for what she had thought was a bad call. At that moment, Taren knew he had taught his daughter well.After the game ended, Kiki and Abby looked tired, and Taren knew it was time to leave. So, he said his goodbyes as he put on his own coat and helped Abby on with hers. Then he scooped his sleepy daughter up into his arms and carried her out to the car.She fell asleep on the way home from the hospital in the back of Taren's Jeep Cherokee. He had a blast watching the game with Abby and Kiki. Kiki seemed a bit distracted, probably still feeling the effects of the fire. But he was glad that she was on the mend and would be going home the next morning.Snow flurries fell through the headlights as he drove Abby home. What are you doing? He asked himself. After
Christmas Cove Chapter 75
"So, how was the game?" his mother asked, handing him a cup of coffee, fixed just the way he liked it: Black with two sugars.He let out a deep breath as a crease formed between his eyes. "Good.""So, you like Kiki?" Evelyn asked, stirring her coffee as she studied her son's face."Good. Thanks," he replied, not paying attention as he took a sip of his coffee."So, the capital of North Dakota is Bismarck?" his mother teased."Uh huh." He stared into the fire, lost in thought.A sly smile spread across her face. "So, Rudolf and Dasher came over and had coffee with me today while Santa delivered the late presents.""What?" Taren asked, finally snapping out of it.Evelyn gave him a knowing look. "Son, what's wrong?""Nothing." He stirred his coffee as he looked into it.Evelyn sighed. "Why don't you invite Kiki over tomorrow and I'll make a Christmas dinner?""What do you mean?" Taren sighed. "We already celebrated Christmas."Evelyn cocked her head to the side. "But we didn't
Christmas Cove Chapter 76
Kiki came out of the hospital bathroom early the next morning, dressed in the clothes that Jocelyn had brought over for her. The money that her mother had wired her was safely stowed in her purse. True to her word, Jocelyn had picked it up for her that morning before coming to get her. The clothes she had brought for her weren't perfect, but Kiki was grateful that she didn't have to go home dressed in scrubs."There you go!" Jocelyn said, a bit too chipper. "Now you look more like yourself."Kiki smiled, knowing she meant well. "Thanks, Joss. I appreciate you bringing me something. I couldn't imagine having to go home in a hospital gown.""Now, that might be interesting."When Kiki turned around, Taren was standing in the doorway. "You came.""I told you I would." Taren smiled. "Would you mind if I take you home?""Home?" Jocelyn asked, her eyebrows pulling together in concern. Caden stood up from his perch on the edge of the hospital bed, his eyebrows pulling together in concern
Christmas Cove Chapter 77
Kiki smiled. Although she appreciated the invitation, she had to keep reminding herself that he was just being nice, but she had to keep reminding her heart. It seemed to pound erratically whenever he came near her or said things like that. It was almost as if her heart had already claimed him as its own. "I'd love to, but only if you tell me what to bring."Taren smiled. "Don't worry about bringing anything with you other than yourself.""Here we go!" A male orderly walked in, pushing a wheelchair. "I hear that someone in here is ready to go home!"Kiki smiled, knowing he meant well, even though he sounded a bit too chipper. "Yes, please.""Well, hop right on in here and we'll get you going," he instructed, locking the wheels into place. Then he held it steady, just in case.Kiki felt like an invalid, but sat in the wheelchair, as was instructed. "Home, James!"The orderly laughed. "Well, I won't be taking you home. Just out to the parking lot." He laughed at his own joke."Tha
Christmas Cove Chapter 78
Liam gestured toward the elevator to the right. "After you."They stepped into the elevator and Liam punched a button. A moment later, it stopped on the fifth floor.Liam took a step back, allowing her to go first. Then he walked down the hallway straight ahead and stopped at a door on the left and used a key card to unlock it. But he held the door for a moment and turned to Kiki. "I hope you don't mind, but we took the liberty of getting you a few things." He opened the door before Kiki could say anything more.The room was not just a room, but a suite. They walked into a small living room with a fireplace on the right wall, with a couch, a reading table, and lamp to the left. The next room was the bedroom and a plate glass window stretched across the far wall, providing a lovely view of the ski slopes and the lightly falling snow outside. Through the doorway, to the right was a fully stocked kitchenette, with steel-faced appliances. A small round marble kitchen table with four cha
Christmas Cove Chapter 79
"Wake up."Kiki heard a strange voice in the distance, but was so snug and warm that she couldn't wake. Then she smelled the masculine scent of men's aftershave."Wake up, sleepyhead." She felt his breath brush across her face as he spoke.Then everything came rushing back to her. The fire, the hospital, Taren bringing her to The North Pole Lodge- "Taren." Her eyes opened, suddenly wide awake, and Taren was kneeling beside her bed. No, she wasn't dreaming. She placed her hand on his cheek. "You're still here."His lips curled into a smile. "Of course, I'm still here." He gave her a quick kiss on the nose. "Lunch is ready. Time to get up. But if you'd rather sleep--""No, I don't want you to go," she said before she could stop herself. She sat up in bed, feeling as if she had been run over by a truck. But waking up to the sight of Taren in her new apartment was definitely something she could get used to."Good," he replied, helping her from the bed, "because I'm hungry." He motion
Christmas Cove Chapter 80
She looked under the sink and the dishwashing liquid was there, along with dishwasher pods. "Well, it looks like Liam thought of everything.""He usually does." Taren opened kitchen drawers until he found a dish towel and held it up. "Case in point."Kiki laughed as she ran the water."But his staff helps him think of everything, too." Taren leaned against the counter, his arms flexing without trying, his years of hard work and playing football had paid off.Kiki washed a bowl, rinsed it, and then handed it to him. "You know, it feels good to be out of the hospital and doing normal things." If you could call having Taren make lunch and do dishes with you normal.He nodded, but his lips turned into a frown. "I'm so sorry, Kiki.""Don't be." She smiled as she rinsed another dish and handed it to him. "I'm just glad you and the fire department came along when you did." She would have died if he hadn't come.He nodded. "All in the line of duty."Her heart sank. Duty. He did it for
Christmas Cove Chapter 81
After she dressed, she slipped into her coat, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door. When the elevator doors opened on the first floor, an attractive older woman stood behind the front desk, her hair in a bob that stopped just above her shoulders. A broad smile spread across her face when she saw Kiki."Good afternoon, Ms. Long." The woman placed her car keys on the counter and slid them across to her. "A friend of yours asked me to give these to you when you came down."Kiki smiled as she picked them up off the counter. "You're a mind reader. Thank you miss-.""Ms. Bennet.""Like the fictitious character Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen?" The woman's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Not fictitious. I have you know that I am a direct descendant of Elizabeth Bennet herself."It was all Kiki could do to keep from smiling, but the woman's face was so serious that she dared not. "The character Elizabeth Bennet is one of the most complex fictitious characters ev
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