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Chapter 74
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2022-06-15 14:02:46Related chapters
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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas 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
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Christmas Cove Chapter 82
Taren couldn't stop thinking of Kiki for the rest of the day as he prepared to celebrate Christmas with his family and her later that night. Even though he hadn't been away from her for long, he already felt her absence and couldn't wait to see her again.Later that afternoon, he brought in the last of the wood he'd chopped and dropped it into the wood box beside the fireplace."Careful there," his mother teased. "You don't want to break it."Taren laughed. "After all these years, I don't think anything could break that thing." Then he had an idea, something he had been thinking of while chopping wood and looked at his watch. It would be tight, but he could do it."Going somewhere?" Evelyn wiped her hands on a Christmas dish towel, threw it across her shoulder, and straightened an ornament on the tree as she spoke to him. Then she stood back to admire her handiwork. "I'll be taking down the tree before long. It's really a shame. It's my favorite time of year.""But don't take it d
Last Updated : 2022-06-15
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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
