The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan

when you kiss me,” she admitted, deliberately tempting him. She needed the comfort of his arms more than she needed anything else.
    Matt didn’t need a second invitation. He pulled Kate’s slender body into the shelter of his and lowered his mouth to hers. He brushed her lips gently, back and forth, giving her teasing little kisses meant to prolong the moment. Then his mouth settled over hers, and he kissed her hungrily, like a man starving for more.
    Kate’s slender arms circled his neck, and her body pressed tightly against his. He knew she couldn’t help but feel his body’s stark reaction to her, but she didn’t seem to mind, burrowing even closer to him so that he felt the warmth of her breasts and the cradle of her hips beckoning with heat.
    Tendrils of fog floated in from the sea, ghostly gray strands drifting past them as they stood together on the steps of the restaurant. Kate stiffened, her fingers gripping Matt’s shoulders. “Did you hear the weather report? Did they say there would be fog?”
    Matt scowled at the mist floating lazily into the parking lot. “We get fog all the time here in Sea Haven, Kate.” But it didn’t make the hair on his arms rise or his reflexes leap into survivor mode as it had the night before. “I don’t smell that noxious odor, do you?”
    She shook her head. “But the sun should have burned this fog off. The sky isn’t that overcast, Matthew.”
    “Let’s go inside.” He held the door open for her to precede him. At once they could hear the wailing of a child in terror. The tension in the restaurant was tangible.
    “Oh, Kate! I’m so glad you’re here.” Trudy Garret beckoned to them from behind the counter, her expression anxious. She was tall and pretty even with the apron she was wearing. Her youthful face was lined with worry.
    Danny Granite stood behind her, his arm wrapped around her. He looked relieved to see them. There were a few people in the Salt Bar and Grill, but they were obviously tense and upset over the continual unrestrained sobs coming from somewhere in the back.
    “Danny, why aren’t you at work?” Matt asked. “Is everything all right at home?”
    “Trudy’s son had a bad nightmare last night. She can’t seem to calm him down, so I offered to come over and see what I could do for him. He’s only four years old, a cute little tyke, and I could hear him crying when I called her. I couldn’t stand it.”
    “We haven’t been able to calm him down,” Trudy said. She was wringing her hands and looking imploringly at Kate. “I’m so glad you came in. Would you talk to him, Kate? Please?”
    The cook stuck his head out of the kitchen. “Kate, thank heaven you’re here!”
    A few of the local patrons broke into applause.
    Matt looked at Kate. Her face was pale, her eyes too big for her face, and there were shadows under her eyes. He stirred protectively but didn’t speak when Kate put a light, restraining hand on his forearm. She smiled at Trudy. “Of course, I’ll be happy to talk to him, Trudy. He isn’t alone, many of the children at the preschool had nightmares last night.”
    Matt slid his hand down her arm, circling her wrist with his fingers. Her pulse was very fast, her skin cool. “While Kate talks to your son, Trudy, maybe you can heat a bowl of soup for her.”
    “Of course, be happy to,” Trudy said. “Right this way, Kate, he’s in the back.”
    Matt followed Kate behind the counter to the back room. The wails grew louder as they approached the small room. Kate opened the door. Matt winced at the high-pitched shrieks, but he stepped inside with her. It was the same scenario as at the preschool. Little Davy Garret sat in Kate’s lap, telling her the details of a skeleton in a long coat and old hat in between gulping and tears, finally listening to the sound of her magical voice. Kate replaced the boy’s memory of the terrifying nightmare with several funny Christmas stories. She rocked him while she talked, using