Wishful Thinking Read Online Free PDF Page A

equally aware of his reserve. Perhaps his heart wasn’t free to indulge in a little Christmas flirtation? Or maybe he belonged to that rare breed of men who respected women too much to lead them on with false promises. Much as she doubted it in the twenty first century, she wanted to believe that. She’d never encountered one of those before, except in her dreams and occasionally in the romantic fiction she sometimes edited.
     
    Ben heard her sigh as she tucked him up in the twin bed and his eyes flew open in concern.
     
    “We will be able to go to Grandpa’s house tomorrow, won’t we?” He asked.
     
    She nodded.
     
    “It depends on the snow – but I’m sure we’ll be able to set out eventually.”
     
    Anxiety seemed to deepen the blue of his eyes. “But if we don’t make it, how will Father Christmas know we aren’t there?”
     
    “Oh, don’t you worry about that. Father Christmas knows everything,” she assured him, thinking that if the worst did happen, she had enough presents hidden away in the car boot to keep him more than happy. In fact it could be very nice to spend Christmas at ‘Good Rest Ye’.
     
    Ben nodded sleepily. “I don’t want the snow to go, but…Grandpa will be sad if we don’t go.”
     
    “Don’t worry, darling. I’m sure we’ll get there.”
     
    “I like it here too, though…” Ben’s mumbling faded as he drifted off to sleep.
     
    Jess nodded again. So do I, she thought, as she kissed her son’s forehead. She gazed at him for a while before rising and crossing to the window. The night was lighter than she expected, thanks to the moonlight shining down and reflecting the whiteness all around so prettily. It appeared to have stopped snowing and that saddened her a little. It could all be gone by the morning and then she would have no reason not to continue on her journey.
     
    He’d asked her to join him for a drink after Ben had fallen asleep. She wanted to say yes quite badly, but had hesitated.
     
    “I’d better not. If Ben wakes up alone in a strange place, he’ll be terrified.”
     
    “You could leave the door wide open – there are no other guests here. It would just be like being downstairs in your own house.”
     
    Jess smiled and gave him a rueful look. “We live in a tiny flat. There is no downstairs.”
     
    He shrugged his shoulders, uncomprehendingly, gazing into her face for a while before responding. “If you’re worried about leaving him, I’m sure my mother will sit with him…”
     
    “No!” Jess was appalled. “How could you even suggest that?” She looked up into his beautiful, smiling face, her own wreathed in concern. She didn’t want him to think she was ungrateful or didn’t trust his mother, and quickly tried to explain. “How could I dream of letting your mother babysit for me after all she’s done for us tonight? It’s unthinkable. I’m grateful for your suggestion, but…” she pursed her lips together for a moment to prevent the mischievous laughter that threatened to escape. “You know, you really ought not to take your mother so much for granted, Chris. It’s not a nice trait in a son.”
     
    He shrugged his shoulders again but had the good grace to look sheepish. “She’s used to it. And she doesn’t mind – believe me. I do know her.”
     
    “I know she adores you,” Jess chided, keeping her tone gentle. “And that’s why you need to spend your time with her, not me.”
     
    He’d looked at her as if she was crazy and half of her was inclined to think she must be. But she knew she was right, despite his arguments. He had come to visit his parents and should be spending the evening with them, not her. She glanced back at her peacefully sleeping son before drawing the heavy curtains on the magical night and heading for the adjoining bathroom.
     
    *
     
    Jess drifted off to sleep with romantic thoughts of Chris flitting in and out of her dreams. She awoke early and leapt out of bed to check the