Touch of Trouble (Touch Series) Read Online Free PDF

there. "Then when we got back to the hotel, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him."
    "Good. Very good." She's satisfied, I can tell. The man taking a knee is important to her, for some reason. "And you recently moved into a new house together?" Now her full focus is on me, and she palms my cheeks. "Do you get enough food down there in California?"
    I giggle and roll my eyes. "I e at plenty. Don’t worry—and I love Cali."
    A particularly loud round of laughter shifts my attention to the table next to us, and when I automatically look over my shoulder, I catch Amanda staring at me.
    I'd love to say she looks like crap, but that would be a lie. She's still the statuesque blonde I'm used to, and she's seated between a man I've never met—her date?—and her sister.
    "Hello, Drifter." Amanda's smile is brilliant, but her gaze is cold as ice. "I heard you got engaged. I'm sure it will last forever . Because men marry young playthings for love, yes?"
    I swallow and fidget with the hem of my dress, wishing I could tear my eyes away, but I'm trapped. In an at tempt to make myself smaller, my ankles brush together, making the bangles clink. Nicholas is right next to me . And in my periphery, I realize he's watching me. Having faith in me. Ready to help, but believing I'm not defenseless.
    Emboldened, I straighten my weakened posture and shrug. "Oh, I hope our engagement won't last forever. Our marriage, on the other hand…"
    "Atta girl." So, Gramma Ida is paying attention, too.
    Amanda lets out a tinkling laugh, not having heard our grandmother's comment. "Well, I, for one, find your confidence adorable . Nick, you sure are good at making women believe in every promise you make. Perhaps you should take pity on my poor little cousin's heart."
    Twisting his body so our knees are touching, Nicholas turns to Amanda's table with an expression of mild interest. "I don’t recall gi ving you any promises, Amanda. I saved those for my fiancée." I bet no one else can see the anger simmering under his surface, but I do. However, he's still too much of a gentleman to be outright rude—at least in public. "I trust Kayla's Christmas won't be ruined by my past mistakes?" He cocks a brow.
    " Mistakes ?" Amanda loses her composure for a second, completely insulted. Her date looks confused, if not frustrated by being out of the loop. "You're calling me a—How can you—"
    "I can." Nicholas c uts her off. "And that’s enough." With that, he faces our table again and holds up a mini crab cake to me. "Let's focus on something better." There's joy in his eyes now.
    Beaming b ack at him, I part my lips and let him slip the small treat into my mouth.
    I hum at the deliciousness of the hors d'oeuvre, but more so at the incredible man beside me.
    *
    The day before Christmas, I'm thankful I don’t see Amanda at all. While doing some extra shopping to pass time, Nicholas and I do run into Amber and her husband Brian, but she's harmless without her sister. Haughty looks are nothing compared to the vileness Amanda spews.
    The rest of my day is spent lounging around our Christmassy hotel suite with Nicholas, catching up with a few cousins, avoiding looks from those who're on Amanda's side, and having dinner with Gramma Ida, who my fiancé is sure would get along great with Sydney.
    He's probably right .
    After making love on the soft rug in front of the open fire, we go to bed, and I'm in an awesome mood because this trip hasn't sucked at all. There's still tomorrow and the 26 th , but maybe I can afford to be a little optimistic.
    Waking up on Christmas morning, however…no. Just no. Doesn't matter what day it is; I'm so cranky.
    "No…" I pout into my pillow and blindly bat away Daddy's hands. "Stop it. I'm sleepy !" I whine and try to pull the covers over my head. Emphasis on try .
    He ignores my protests, his large hands roaming my naked body. He's naked, too, and he's currently pressing his impressive morning erection against my butt.