The Bachelor’s Christmas Bride Read Online Free PDF

wondering suddenly if she should invite Dag in. She couldn’t think of any reason why she should. And yet she felt some inclination to do it anyway.
    â€œWant to hide out here until the dishes are done?” she asked with a nod in the direction of the main house where Chase and Logan were visible through the window over the sink.
    Dag glanced in that direction, too, but then brought his gaze back to her, accompanied by a grin that was disarmingly handsome. And made her think that he was tempted to accept her invitation to stay.
    But after a moment he seemed to fight the urge and said, “I might not have been able to hold my own with those two when I was eight and they were making me pick up their smelly socks, but now? They don’t get anything over on me.”
    Still, he didn’t seem in any hurry to go and Shannon wasn’t sure what to do about that. Standing there facing him, staring up into features any movie star could have used to advantage, wasn’t giving her answers.
    Then Dag said, “Those movers you hired to pack everything and clear out your grandmother’s house missed a few things. Nothing big—just some odds and ends I’ve come across working on the place—”
    â€œLike?”
    â€œLike some clothes and a blanket that were stuffed up high in a closet. Some kitchen things. A couple pictures that had fallen behind a drawer. An old jewelry box—I can’t even remember what all. I’ve been putting them in boxes when I come across them because I didn’t know if there was anything you might want—”
    â€œMost of what the movers brought to Billings I sold in a yard sale at a friend’s house. There was so much of it that I can’t imagine that they missed anything.”
    â€œLike I said, I don’t think there’s anything important. It’s stuff that was probably jammed somewhere because not even your grandmother needed or wanted it. But still,I don’t want to be the one to throw out anything that isn’t mine. There’s only two boxes and I can bring them home, but I thought you might want to see what I’m doing to the place. Maybe have one more walk through it for old time’s sake…”
    Was that what was appealing to her about his suggestion?
    Or was it the thought of going out to the ranch and seeing him?
    It had to be the nostalgia—the house had been her grandmother’s after all. And she had spent some time there with her grandmother when she was a child. Plus there was some curiosity to see what Dag was doing to the place, she told herself. That had to be what was behind her wanting to take him up on his offer.
    â€œI think I might like to walk through the place one more time,” she said. “Just tell me when it’s convenient for you.”
    His grin returned even bigger than it had been before, but Shannon refused to allow herself to read anything into it—like the fact that maybe he wanted the visit from her just to see her, too….
    â€œTomorrow? I’ll be working out there all day. You can swing by anytime.”
    â€œShall I take your cell phone number and call first?”
    â€œNah. Anytime. Sleep in in the morning, unpack, do whatever you had planned and when it works out for you, just drive over.”
    â€œOkay.”
    And why did they go on standing there, looking at each other as if there should be more to say?
    Shannon didn’t know but that’s what they were doing—she was just looking up into those black, black eyes of his, lost a little in them….
    Then he finally broke their stare. “Great. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
    â€œSometime tomorrow,” she reiterated, thinking that the minute it came out of her mouth it sounded stupid.
    But it didn’t seem to affect Dag because he just tossed her another thousand-watt smile and turned on his heels on the landing. Then he called a good-night over one of those