White Hot Christmas: A Heart of Fame Christmas Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

not convinced he actually has a license to fly, let alone in a chopper.”
    Lauren chuckled. It was singularly the most exquisite, wonderful sound Nick had heard since touching down in Sydney. “Yeah, well, we’ve been worried.”
    A smile curled Nick’s lips. “Christ, I’ve missed you, woman,” he murmured.
    “Ditto,” she answered. “Where are you? Are you going to be able to drive home, or do you need me to come collect you from somewhere?”
    “Let’s see what Magic Mike can do first.” He didn’t like the thought of Lauren driving all those hours to get him on crazy Christmas Eve roads. Not that he doubted her driving ability, rather that of the other people recklessly racing the clock and the laws of physics to get where they wanted to be.
    “Magic Mike?” Lauren chuckled. “Is a stripper fixing your car, husband?”
    Nick laughed back. He thought about opening his eyes but the thought floated away on a heavy wave of nope . “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m not his type.” Man, his tongue felt lazy in his mouth, like it didn’t want to form the words in his brain. “He already told me.”
    “Oh well, in that case, I’ll definitely stop worrying.”
    He chuckled, although that too felt fuzzy. A gentle breeze wafted against his face. “Do you remember our first Christmas together as husband and wife, babe?” he asked on a murmur. The need to hug her, hold her and kiss her rolled through him, so profound his heart panged.
    “We had a picnic breakfast by the Murriundah river and spent the morning swimming,” she answered. “You and Josh had a water fight so epic I’m still surprised neither one of you drowned.”
    Memories of that morning danced through Nick’s head at Lauren’s words. He could see his son—only sixteen at the time—dripping wet, wielding a Nerf water gun, and laughing so much he ended up with the hiccups. Lauren grinned at them both from the riverbank, gorgeous as ever in a simple black swimsuit that showed off just how beautiful and natural her body was, how lush her curves…
    “Christ, I miss you,” he said again.
    “I miss you too. More than you could ever hope to comprehend.”
    “Show me when I get home?” he asked, smiling even as he wriggled deeper into the passenger seat. His eyes stayed closed. Better to see her in his mind that way.
    “I’ve got an early Christmas present waiting for you when you get here,” she answered, and despite the heavy fog falling over him—how could he be tired? He’d slept on the plane—Nick didn’t miss the seductive suggestion and innuendo in her declaration.
    “Love you,” he said. Or maybe he mumbled it? Or murmured it?
    “Love you too. Give me a call when you know what’s going on, okay?”
    He thought he said okay in return.  He wasn’t sure. What he was sure of was just how comfortable he was, just how calm. Just how…
    A deep thrumming sensation vibrating through his body was the first thing he became aware of. That and the sound of Bill Hailey singing about rocking around the clock. After that came the aroma of coffee, followed by a dappling light and shadow show on his closed eyelids.
    Nick opened his eyes and righted himself in the seat, squinting at the world beyond the windscreen before him.
    Murriundah. The main street of Murriundah.
    He was in Murriundah.
    “Your singin’ is better than your snorin’, mate,” a familiar voice chuckled beside him.
    Twisting on the seat, Nick blinked at Mike—behind the wheel and grinning at him. “You… When did I… What…”
    He stopped, looked back out at Murriundah, back at Mike, and then over his shoulder towards the back of the tow truck.
    “It’s back there,” Mike said with a laugh. “I promised your missus I’d get you and it home safe ‘n’ sound.”
    Nick swung his stare back to the mechanic.
    “Although I’m only dropping you off. The fancy go-mobile I’m taking back to me garage and fixing after Christmas. Your missus said you’ve gotta