Escaping Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

That seemed safe enough.
    “Sit, Zach, and have a cup,” Mrs. Baker offered.
    “We need to get going. The snow’s starting to fall. I wanted to stop over at the Kinsey’s cabin and let them know about the storm before I take Alexandra back. She’s never experienced a Colorado mountain snowstorm. I’d rather she do it from the inside looking out,” he joked.
    “I’ve watched how fast you guzzle down a cup. You’ll have plenty of time,” Mr. Baker urged.
    “Well,” he hedged, glancing toward her.
    “Sure,” Alex agreed. “One cup’s really not going to put us behind.” Zach’s grateful look wasn’t missed on her as he pulled out a chair to her right.
    “So, how long have you kids known each other?” Mr. Baker started the conversation.
    Alex swallowed a groan, immediately regretting her comment to stay.
    “She’s renting a cabin off me for a few weeks,” Zach explained. “She’s an author. And a damned good one. She has movies out based on her books.”
    Never had anyone, not even Tiffany, sounded as proud. The blood pounded in her ears. She would not cry.
    “That’s wonderful,” Mrs. Baker exclaimed. “What type of books do you write?”
    “Mrs. Baker loves to read,” her husband volunteered, patting her hand.
    Alex bit back the emotion that stirred from Zach’s words. “I write romance. My “Sanders’ Family” series has been made into TV movies. The Christmas story is set to air this week.”
    “I wish I had television.” Mrs. Baker looked to her husband with disappointment.
    Alex smiled. “I’m working on my last in the series. It’s already been contracted for a movie.”
    Zach remained quiet, his attention focused on her. She shifted in her seat.
    “I will certainly check out the bookstore when we go to town.” Mrs. Baker grabbed a pencil and paper, jotting the Sanders name down.
    “You ready to get cold again?” Zach spoke for the first time.
    “No time like the present.” Alex stood and hugged Mrs. Baker. “Thank you for the hot chocolate.”
    “Anytime, dear. And if you ever want to learn how to make it, you know where I’m at.”
    Alex didn’t miss the double meaning. “That’s kind of you.”
    Joey jumped up from his place next to Mrs. Baker, nudging Alex’s hand. “It was nice to meet you too, Joey.” Everyone laughed at the canine’s need to be included.
    She followed Zach out the front door. The wind had picked up and the snow was falling at a generous pace. “Do you think we should head back? We might get stuck.”
    “This baby’ll go through anything. Not to worry. I’ll have you safely returned in no time. Lucky for you, I don’t know the other couple well. I just want to stop by and give them a warning. Not sure if they listen to the radio.”
    Alex pulled the helmet down over her head, but let him buckle it. She couldn’t see what she was doing. The goggles went on next and she took her place behind him. They descended down the hill, still heading west. Another cabin appeared suddenly from the snow. Darkness was falling, maybe because of the increased snow fall. She wasn’t used to this kind of weather and was, admittedly, getting nervous.
    “Stay here, honey. I’ll be right back.”
    He called her “honey” again. Did he call every woman that? A sudden vision of him in her cabin popped to mind. She shook her head to rid the thought. Not happening. It was no time before he was approaching her and starting the engine.
    Alex calculated about a twenty-five minute ride back. The snow fell at a faster pace, making it difficult to see. He slowed down. She had plenty of time with her own thoughts, and they included Zach Camden and why she couldn’t have met him instead of Owen Banks. She pictured him snuggled under the quilt with her. She imagined his lips on hers… She envisioned the perfect man. He didn’t exist in reality, only in her books and she knew that.
    Silence. The sudden stop startled her back to the present. Her coat was covered in