A Winter Sabbatical (Books We Love holiday romance) Read Online Free Page A

A Winter Sabbatical (Books We Love holiday romance)
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wanting to lap up this
feeling, even if it was only temporary. She’d be gone again too soon.
    But then again, what right did she have to
be happy? How could she be happy? This wasn’t right, couldn’t be right.
    The memories of happy days with Jeremy
invaded her thoughts. She tightly squeezed her eyes closed, tried to block out
the memories, but they wouldn’t leave her alone. Would never leave her alone!
    She
felt his hands skimming along her arms, caressing her lovingly. She rubbed her
face against his, enjoying the moment. She kissed him, and he kissed her back,
and they began to cross the road.
    She
heard the scream of the brakes, felt herself hit something, or something hit
her. But more than anything, she heard Jeremy’s voice. The
voice of terror.
    Her heartbeat quickened.

 
    ***

 
    Travis lay next to the roaring fire with
Marissa in his arms.
    He hadn’t been this happy in ages. Marissa
was special, really special. She was so soft and gentle, her hair spread over
her shoulder, her perfume wafting into his nostrils.
    Travis sipped his wine. It was sweet and
mellow, just like Marissa.
    He’d have to remember to thank Daniel when
he came back home.  
    He gently nuzzled her neck, and at first
she responded, but suddenly Marissa tensed beneath his hands. He heard her
indrawn breath.
    “Marissa?” He rolled her toward him, and as
he did so, Travis noticed her eyes were tightly closed. Her face was tensed,
and her forehead furrowed with worry.
    “Marissa?” As he looked down upon her face,
his heart was breaking. This woman, this virtual stranger who he’d become so
fond of in such a short space of time, was breaking his heart, making it ache. He
felt helpless and forlorn. She’d been hurt, that was obvious, but helping her
heal was something she wouldn’t let him do.
    She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
Pain was etched all over her face. And she was blinking now. Hard. Trying desperately to fight back tears.
    Travis watched helplessly as tears rolled
down Marissa’s face.
    “Don’t cry,” he said, gently wiping the
tears away.
    He pulled her against his chest. She was
tense, so tense. He stroked her hair in an effort to comfort her, to calm and
soothe her. To try and ease her pain.
    But all he managed to do was alert his
hormones to her nearness.
    “Talk to me, Marissa. Please?” He spoke
quietly, gently, surprising even himself.
    “I’m not crying.” Marissa dried her wet
cheeks with her fingers. “I’m not crying! Leave me alone, please? I have no right to be here, or to be happy.”
    Travis rubbed small circles across her
back. He was trying to comfort her, but for what reason he had no idea. Why
wouldn’t she let him in? “Sshhh,” he said against her sobs. “Let me help you
through this.”
    She looked up at him, her tear-drenched
face red and puffy. Her eyes red and swollen.
    “No one can help me,” she said between
sobs, as she pulled away from him.
    Her words tore at his heart, broke it into
pieces. If only she would let him inside her mind, tell him what was eating her
up. Maybe then he could fix whatever was doing this to her.
    He felt an emptiness like he’d never experienced before. Deep down in his belly. In his whole being. Like he was
being ripped apart, bit by bit. Moment by moment. Heartbeat by heartbeat.
    “What the—?” He watched dumbfounded as Marissa suddenly pulled herself away from
him, and into a sitting position. Then she was standing. Damn she was quick!
    He shook himself, trying to make sense of
the situation. Was it something he did, or was there more to it?
    Okay,
that was stupid. Of course there was more to it. There was so much more to
Marissa Temple than it appeared.
    He pulled himself up to her level.
    She stood in front of him, acting as though
nothing had happened. With a smile on her face!
    “I have to go home now. Please. I have to
set up my office tomorrow, so I can start working. No work, no money.” She
shrugged her shoulders, as
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