Sweet Talk Boxed Set (Ten NEW Contemporary Romances by Bestselling Authors to Benefit Diabetes Research plus BONUS Novel) by Linda Lael Miller, Sherryl Woods, Brenda Novak, Steena Holmes, Melody Anne, Violet Duke, Melissa Foster, Gina L Maxwell, Rosalind James, Molly O'Keefe, Nancy Naigle
Authors: Linda Lael Miller, Sherryl Woods, Brenda Novak, Steena Holmes, Melody Anne, Violet Duke, Melissa Foster, Gina L Maxwell, Rosalind James, Molly O'Keefe, Nancy Naigle
Ads: Link
and piled in behind him when he disappeared inside a door.
Whitney gasped at the sight of Santa stacking presents beneath an impressive tree. She couldn’t believe how real the fellow looked, or how Frederick had managed to arrange this visit on such short notice. She turned to look at Ally, who was beaming.
“Oh, my goodness, it looks as if you’ve caught me,” Santa said with a loud chuckle.
Ally immediately ran across the room and launched herself into his arms.
“I knew you were real, Santa,” she said as a tear fell down her face.
He returned her hug. “Of course I’m real, beautiful Ally,” he told her.
“I’m sorry, Ally. I guess I was wrong,” Brayden said to his sister.
Whitney was so happy with the way her nephew had changed and grown during the time they’d spent at the Felton mansion. The boy was going to make a fine young man.
Ally beamed at her brother, but she wouldn’t let Santa go.
“I have a special gift for you because you’ve been such a good girl,” Santa said to her. She gasped as he handed her a present wrapped in shiny paper and looked at it reverently before opening it carefully. Inside the box was a heart-shaped locket with a picture of her mom and dad inside. Santa placed it around her neck and said, “Your parents love you very much, little girl, and they’re always watching out for you.”
Whitney was overcome with emotion, and she turned toward Frederick with gratitude shining in her eyes. He’d truly given the best gift he could to her niece — the gift of love from her parents.
“Thank you so much,” she said as she threw her arms around him.
“This is all because of you, Whitney,” he replied.
She wiped a tear from her own cheek, and after giving Frederick an affection kiss, went to sit next to Ally. Santa passed out the rest of his gifts and then quickly slipped away. The room was filled with laughter as everyone took their time with the pretty paper and bows.
“How about some Christmas songs before we turn in for the night?” Frederick asked.
Liam sat at the piano and started playing, and the room erupted in a beautiful version of “Silent Night.” Whitney got up and joined Liam on the bench. It made no sense, but she had this desperate a need to be near him.
After a few rounds of Christmas carols, though, she noticed that her niece was nodding off. It was time for bed. The early morning light was starting to slip through the curtains, and they’d all be lucky to get a few hours sleep before excitement got them out of bed again for a holiday breakfast.
“I think we’ll get you tucked in now,” she told Ally. “When you wake up, it will officially be Christmas morning and we’ll have a lot more to do.”
“But I’m not tired, Auntie,” Ally said through a loud yawn.
“I know you’re not, but we’ll try to get some sleep anyway. I’ll read you another bedtime story.”
Ally rubbed her eyes and reluctantly agreed. Liam walked with them to Ally’s room and Whitney tucked her in. Before the story was even halfway finished, the girl was sound asleep.
“You’ve done an amazing job with these two children,” Liam told her as they walked toward her room.
“I love them more than anything. I wish my sister and Vincent could be here to watch them grow, but I am so grateful that I get to be here since their parents can’t be.”
“Don’t you see that they are here?” Liam told her. They’re here each time the children laugh. I know my brother would want no one to raise them but you. You’re incredible.”
“Thank you for giving us this healing Christmas,” Whitney said.
Liam reached down to brush his lips against hers.
“Please come inside with me, Liam.”
She whispered those words, but there was no doubt that he’d heard them. He opened her door without ever releasing his grip on her, and they backed toward her bed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Whitney knew they were moving too quickly, but it had felt like an
Whitney gasped at the sight of Santa stacking presents beneath an impressive tree. She couldn’t believe how real the fellow looked, or how Frederick had managed to arrange this visit on such short notice. She turned to look at Ally, who was beaming.
“Oh, my goodness, it looks as if you’ve caught me,” Santa said with a loud chuckle.
Ally immediately ran across the room and launched herself into his arms.
“I knew you were real, Santa,” she said as a tear fell down her face.
He returned her hug. “Of course I’m real, beautiful Ally,” he told her.
“I’m sorry, Ally. I guess I was wrong,” Brayden said to his sister.
Whitney was so happy with the way her nephew had changed and grown during the time they’d spent at the Felton mansion. The boy was going to make a fine young man.
Ally beamed at her brother, but she wouldn’t let Santa go.
“I have a special gift for you because you’ve been such a good girl,” Santa said to her. She gasped as he handed her a present wrapped in shiny paper and looked at it reverently before opening it carefully. Inside the box was a heart-shaped locket with a picture of her mom and dad inside. Santa placed it around her neck and said, “Your parents love you very much, little girl, and they’re always watching out for you.”
Whitney was overcome with emotion, and she turned toward Frederick with gratitude shining in her eyes. He’d truly given the best gift he could to her niece — the gift of love from her parents.
“Thank you so much,” she said as she threw her arms around him.
“This is all because of you, Whitney,” he replied.
She wiped a tear from her own cheek, and after giving Frederick an affection kiss, went to sit next to Ally. Santa passed out the rest of his gifts and then quickly slipped away. The room was filled with laughter as everyone took their time with the pretty paper and bows.
“How about some Christmas songs before we turn in for the night?” Frederick asked.
Liam sat at the piano and started playing, and the room erupted in a beautiful version of “Silent Night.” Whitney got up and joined Liam on the bench. It made no sense, but she had this desperate a need to be near him.
After a few rounds of Christmas carols, though, she noticed that her niece was nodding off. It was time for bed. The early morning light was starting to slip through the curtains, and they’d all be lucky to get a few hours sleep before excitement got them out of bed again for a holiday breakfast.
“I think we’ll get you tucked in now,” she told Ally. “When you wake up, it will officially be Christmas morning and we’ll have a lot more to do.”
“But I’m not tired, Auntie,” Ally said through a loud yawn.
“I know you’re not, but we’ll try to get some sleep anyway. I’ll read you another bedtime story.”
Ally rubbed her eyes and reluctantly agreed. Liam walked with them to Ally’s room and Whitney tucked her in. Before the story was even halfway finished, the girl was sound asleep.
“You’ve done an amazing job with these two children,” Liam told her as they walked toward her room.
“I love them more than anything. I wish my sister and Vincent could be here to watch them grow, but I am so grateful that I get to be here since their parents can’t be.”
“Don’t you see that they are here?” Liam told her. They’re here each time the children laugh. I know my brother would want no one to raise them but you. You’re incredible.”
“Thank you for giving us this healing Christmas,” Whitney said.
Liam reached down to brush his lips against hers.
“Please come inside with me, Liam.”
She whispered those words, but there was no doubt that he’d heard them. He opened her door without ever releasing his grip on her, and they backed toward her bed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Whitney knew they were moving too quickly, but it had felt like an
Similar Books
