'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books Read Online Free PDF Page B

over and give up her new place in line, but he looked like someone she could trust. Once again, she stepped from the snaking line and made her way over to him. “That’s my name, but I didn’t order a taxi to meet me.”
    “The airlines had a contest, Leilani Taylor, and you’re the winner. The hosts were supposed to tell you on the plane. They must have forgotten. You’ve won two nights at one of the most prestigious hotels on the beach in Waikiki, and better still, you have me to drive you there.”
    The irrepressible grin on the handsome face of the older Hawaiian forced an answering one from her. What a loveable character!
    In her job as a hospital nurse, Leilani met many strange characters. Inevitably, because of her personality, she tended to like her patients—unless, of course, they did something distinctly unlikable.
    This little man’s aura drove a silver stake right into her soft spot and she had the biggest urge to give him a hug. One day she had to stop taking people at face value. Everyone who knew her weakness warned her, but what’s a girl going to do when her heart overrules her head.
    “What about my reservation at the Outrigger, aye?”
    “All taken care of, young lady. You’re not to worry about a thing.” When he saw her hesitate, he pulled a slip of paper from inside his open window and handed it to her.
    The form looked official and her name added to the winner’s line calmed her lingering unease. Indeed, for the first time in her life, she’d won a contest. Considering the bad things that had happened to her recently, it looked as if her luck had changed.
    Soon, adorned with the beautiful leis she’d admired from afar, she was ensconced in the back seat of the outlandish vehicle. The moment she’d entered the taxi, she’d relaxed. Swiveling in every direction, she studied the interior and pleasant shock had her mouth hanging open.
    Displayed everywhere were the cutest trinkets. Plastic pineapples, palm trees, dolphins and so many other knick-knacks a tourist might use to fancy up a fridge back home. He’d even strung twinkle lights and Christmas ornaments around the front dash. The sight made a laugh bubble up inside until she couldn’t contain it.
    Leilani leaned forward to make sure her driver could hear her over the soft Hawaiian music flowing from the radio speakers. “I must tell you how much I love your decorating style. I’ve jazzed up my Bessy, and always thought I was the only person who liked this kind of thing.”
    “Bessy?”
    “An old jalopy I’ve had for years. The mechanics groan every time they see me coming, but she just keeps going, and I don’t have the heart to abandon her to a junkyard.”
    “I see. You’re attached to a possession made of rubber and steel?” Was that a smile she heard in his voice?
    “Heavens, no! But I am attached to the memories it holds. I remember the first time I drove alone. My foot shook with fear and nerves made me grab the wheel so hard I left nail indents in the leather. The van jerked while I raced at twenty-five miles an hour.” A giggle broke loose at the memory.
    Leilani continued. “Driving my mother to the hospital the day after I’d finally saved enough to buy the specialized wheelchair vehicle will always be a momentous occasion. No more having to rely on friends or scrambling for money to pay the hospital transfer costs. I swear Bessy seemed to know her way to the carport on the side of our house, because there were many days I drove home exhausted from the nursing academy. I… listen to me ramble on.” She removed her hands from the seat ahead, and leaned back. “Like I said before, the car seems like an old friend.”
    “A kindred spirit at last. I’ll admit to feeling the same way about Beauty.” He wiggled his eyebrows in the rear-view mirror, and Leilani fell a little more in love with this man’s gentle spirit.
    Relaxed now, Leilani cast off the awful dread of arriving in Honolulu alone. That hadn’t