Her Christmas Prince (Love in the Keys) Read Online Free PDF

would have seen the break up coming. She kept telling me
that because he spent the holiday with me and the family, he was
serious. And that she was sure an engagement wouldn't be far behind.
And I went along with it, more the fool me,” Callie admitted wistfully.

    Henry
let the information she told him sink in. No one disputed
relationships didn't work out, but only a real louse of a guy made a
lady feel badly about it, like it was solely her fault. He wouldn't
say it to Callie, for fear of making her feel worse, but he suspected
there was something else afoot, and it probably involved another
woman. Something wasn't sitting right. But it was of no consequence
now, and if this Brian had any sense, he'd steer well clear of
Callie. Or Henry would have something to say about it.

    “ I
appreciate you telling me. I know it wasn't easy for you. For what
it's worth, I think he's crazy, and I hope he realizes what a big
mistake he made. You're an exceptional lady, Callie, and I can't
image what he was thinking.” Henry paused for a moment and
thought before he finished. “Something about us men, sometimes
it takes us a while, but we always realize it when we've made a
mistake. And in his case, it will be too late. That's payback
enough.”

    Callie
smiled at Henry, a bit embarrassed by his words. She couldn't
believe how sensitive and kind Henry was. She wasn't used to it and
it felt so natural to talk to him about these things. She realized
that she did actually feel better. “You're so easy to talk to,
Henry. I haven't told anyone all of this, not even my friend Erin.
And I tell her everything. It feels good to let it out.”

    Callie
looked at her watch and gasped at the time. It was after 9
p.m. Not late for a normal person, but late for someone who had to
get up at 4am to bake for the cafe's opening at 6:30 a.m.

    “ Got
a hot date?,” joked Henry.

    “ I
know it doesn't seem late, but I should actually probably get home.
I open the cafe at 6:30 and I have to be there earlier than that to
bake.”

    “ Mmmmmm.
Baking. Where is this cafe? I'll come by and sample your wares.”

    “ Well,
you could drop me there and I can pick up my car. Then you'll know.”

    “ Sounds
like a plan.”

    Henry
again walked her to the passenger side and made sure she was settled
in before moving around to the driver's side of the SUV. A girl
could get used to this! But, she'd better not. Henry certainly
wouldn't be here forever. Which was a shame, because she was
starting to like him more and more as the minutes went by.

    He
pulled up behind her car at the Beach Buzz and stopped her when she
tried to get out. Henry exited, opened her door, and walked her over
to the driver's side of her car. Once she was safely inside, he
leaned down to speak. The night breeze gave her a whiff of his scent
and she felt a little tingle in her spine. Darn it, but didn't he
smell good.

    “ Do
you want me to follow you home, to make sure you get there safely, or
are you OK from here?”

    “ No,
I'm good, thanks. My condo has security so I'll be fine once I get
there.”

    “ If
you're sure.” Henry didn't seem convinced but he also didn't want to overstep. “Well, Miss
Callie, I had a lovely evening. Unexpected but lovely none the less.
I'll come by tomorrow and we can continue our chat. Sound good?”

    Callie
nodded yes. She was about to say thanks for the twentieth time when
he leaned in and silenced her with the tiniest of kisses on her lips.
It was a whisper, but it packed a wallop. She wasn't sure what to
say.

    “ We
have to get used to being physical if we're going to pull this off,
Callie. I hope that was OK.” It was more than OK It was
exhilarating. She nodded her agreement.

    Henry
moved away from the car and waited curbside while she drove away,
waving goodbye and wishing her sweet dreams. Callie went home, and
tried to process the highly unlikely events of the day.

CHAPTER
FIVE

    December
22 nd

    Henry
was up bright and early.