Midnight Sons Volume 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

mother.
    As a boy, he’d spent eighteen months with her in England. The years before the separation had been difficult for his parents. Christian, only ten at the time, hadn’t understood what was happening to his family.
    All he knew was that his mother was desperately unhappy. More than once he’d found her weeping, and in his own way had attempted to comfort her. When she told him she was leaving Alaska, Christian had known immediately that he should go with her. His mother would need him, he thought—and she had.
    Saying goodbye to his father and brothers was hard, and he’d missed them far more than he’d dreamed possible. In the beginning, he’d enjoyed living in England, but that hadn’t lasted long. He missed Alaska. He missed his home, his brothers and the life he’d always known, and he suspected his mother did, as well.
    After a year and a half, they’d flown back to Hard Luck, and for a time, a very brief time, they’d been a family again, and happy.
    Christian had never fully understood what had shattered that fragile joy, but he realized Catherine Fletcher was somehow responsible. She was gone now and his father was, too. A few years ago Ellen had remarried; her second husband was a wonderful man who shared her passion for literature. She’d moved to his home in British Columbia.
    Ellen had come to Hard Luck twice in the past year. Nevertheless, Christian intended to visit her and her husband,Robert, in Vancouver. He knew she was delighted with her new grandchildren, and if he could coordinate the flights, he might be able to bring Scott and Susan with him. A nice way to end their summer vacation. And Abbey and Sawyer could have a second honeymoon.
    While he was in Seattle, Christian decided, he’d look up Allison Reynolds. The thought cheered him. Yes, that was what he’d do. He’d give Allison a call and they’d go out on the town.
    Content, Christian picked up the novel and started reading again. Then it struck him. It seemed unfair—and a bit unrealistic—to arrive in Seattle unannounced and expect Allison to be free.
    Maybe he should call her now. Besides, talking to a woman who was as close to perfect as any human had a right to be would lift his spirits.
    In another moment, he’d dug out her phone number.
    The phone rang three times. “Hello.”
    It was Allison. She sounded…silky. Yes, that was the word for her voice—silky. Soft and a little breathless. A man could get light-headed just listening to her.
    “Allison, this is Christian O’Halloran.”
    “Christian!” Her elevated voice said she was pleased to hear from him. “Don’t tell me you’re in Seattle? Why, I was thinking about you the other day.”
    Forget light-headed, he was almost ecstatic. “You were?” Life was good. Very good.
    “Are you in town?” Her voice was definitely silky.
    “No, but I will be.”
    “When?”
    He couldn’t believe how eager she sounded. “I’m not sureyet. I, uh, thought I’d arrange my schedule around yours. Are you going to be available this month?”
    “I’m available any time you want.” Her voice dipped in a playful whisper. Christian’s chest tightened. This was one way to get Mariah out of his mind.
     
    E ARLY S ATURDAY EVENING , Christian flew into Fairbanks to meet Mariah. He’d dreaded this moment all week, but now that it was upon him, he discovered that his earlier anxiety had vanished. He credited Allison with this. Knowing that a week from now he’d be spending time with the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen left him with a euphoric sense of well-being.
    As he waited at the gate for Mariah’s flight, he realized, somewhat to his surprise, that he was looking forward to seeing her again.
    Sawyer was right; the office had been hectic without her to run interference, take calls, organize schedules and perform the dozens of other tasks she’d taken on. He suspected he’d become accustomed to having her around—and truth be told, he’d actually found