Mistletoe Mine Read Online Free PDF Page A

what happened, and he’d never once tried to deny that. He’d spent the past few years trying to atone, trying to live with it. Trying to live with himself— with the ugly words that Emma had shouted at him that terrible night playing through his mind in an unending loop.
    It’s your fault, Jared. None of this would have happened if you hadn’t introduced Frank to horse racing or if you’d paid attention to the books. You and those stupid breeders, those stupid horses .
    Grimly, Jared gave his tie one last straightening nudge, then turned away from the mirror and checked the mantel clock. Five till seven. It was time.
    He exited his room and made his way downstairs. The parlor door was closed, with a sign that read Private Party hanging from a clip on the doorframe. He drew a deep breath, knocked, then opened the door.
    Molly stood beside the fireplace, where a real fire burned, and upon seeing her, his breath caught. She’s all grown up, the image of her mother at that age .
    Molly wore a classic black sheath dress and the pearls he’d given her for college graduation. The natural red highlights in her dark auburn hair glistened in the firelight, and when she saw him, her expression beamed with pleasure. “Daddy!”
    She was across the room and into his arms in a heartbeat. Jared closed his eyes and enjoyed the experience, missing those years when this was a daily occurrence. “Hello, beautiful.”
    “I’m so glad you’re here. I had nightmares that there would be a blizzard of epic proportions and they’d close the mountain pass and you wouldn’t be able to get to Eternity Springs.”
    “I wouldn’t have let a blizzard stop me.” As she stepped back, he stared down into her face and shook his head. “Charlie better know just what a treasure he’s getting.”
    “He does, Dad.”
    From the corner of his eye, Jared saw movement in the doorway. He turned his head and absorbed the blow. Emma.
    She looked gorgeous. Sophisticated. Unreachable. She, too, wore a black dress and pearls, and he couldn’t help but wonder if they were the pearls he’d given her or a new string. Had she replaced his pearls like she’d replaced him?
    “Mom!” Repeating her earlier welcome gesture, Molly took three steps toward her mother, then abruptly stopped. “Oh, look. I don’t believe this. We’re wearing the same dress.”
    Emma’s gaze breezed over their daughter, then she smiled. “So am I dressing too young for my age or are you dressing too old?”
    Jared gave no conscious thought to the words that emerged from his mouth. “It’s perfect for you both.”
    Emma’s gaze met his. Her smile went brittle. “Hello, Jared.”
    His reply was just as stiff. “Hello, Emma.”
    Molly made a little snort of disgust, then hugged her mother. “I was just telling Dad that I’ve been having nightmares about a blizzard that kept everyone from reaching Eternity Springs.”
    Jared could understand why blizzards had been on his daughter’s mind. After all, it felt as if the snowstorm of the century had just swept into the room with his wife.
    Molly continued, “But you’re here, and Dad’s here, and Charlie arrived with his parents earlier today, so I have the people I need the most. I’m going to quit worrying about blizzards.”
    Molly could quit worrying about blizzards, but Jared was afraid he might lose a toe or two to frostbite.
    Emma looked around the room, then her gaze settled on the table set for three. “Charlie isn’t joining us?”
    “No. I wanted tonight to be just the three of us.” She took a bracing breath, then said, “I think it’s time for some candid conversation, don’t you?”
    Again, Jared’s and Emma’s gazes met. She looked just about as happy at the idea as he did. Jared spied the bar in the corner of the room and decided that a scotch was definitely in order. “Can I get either of you something to drink?”
    “No, thanks,” Molly said. “I’ll have wine with dinner.”
    “I’ll