A Holiday Proposal Read Online Free

purchased and was tempted to take one, but the last thing she wanted was banana breath. Fatigue washed over her, and her hands trembled. She checked the clock. Everyone would be here any minute—no time to eat, but she couldn’t wait much longer. She knew better than to let her blood sugar drop too low.
    Instead of a fruit platter she placed apples and bananas in a glass bowl. Mom probably would not appreciate it, but Holly felt light-headed and working with knives at the moment was not a good idea.
    The back door opened, and her mom and dad rushed in.
    “Hi, sweetie. We missed you in church.” Dad patted her shoulder as he passed through the kitchen.
    Her mom sidled up beside her. “Did you get everything I asked?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good.” She looked at Holly a moment. “Are you sure you’re not sick? You are pale.” She touched the back of her hand to her forehead. “You’re not hot.”
    “I’m fine. I just need to eat.”
    Her dad walked back into the room. “Look who’s here. Todd is a friend of Holly’s.” He spoke to his wife and emphasized the word friend .
    Holly barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Evidently the ruse had worked and her parents believed she and Todd were an item. Good. Now maybe her mom would finally stop trying to set her up. “Thanks, Dad.”
    Todd strolled over to stand beside her. “Anything I can do to help?”
    Her mother pushed them out of the kitchen. “You two go sit on the sofa and visit. Dad and I can finish up in here.”
    Feeling shaky, Holly looped a hand through Todd’s arm. “You rescued me just in time.”
    He chuckled. “You okay?”
    “No. I need to eat.” She reached for a carrot as the doorbell rang. With a sigh she moved toward the front of the house. Her head swam, but she pushed through the fog and opened the door. Matthew stood there wearing black slacks and a warm-looking jacket. “Hi, everyone. Come...” Holly felt her legs give way, then arms reached out and caught her. Heat surged to her cheeks. “Thanks, Matthew.”
    Concern covered his face. “You okay?”
    She blinked, stunned by the depth she saw in his blue eyes. “No, but I will be as soon as I eat. I let my blood sugar drop too low.”
    Matthew released his firm but gentle hold on her arms. “Can I get you something?”
    “I’ll take care of her.” Todd whisked her away from Matthew.
    She looked over her shoulder as Todd propelled her forward. Matthew still stood in the doorway wearing a perplexed look. Her heart beat a rapid staccato and for some unexplainable reason she wished Matthew was the one helping her rather than her friend. Todd guided her into the kitchen and thrust a glass of milk into her hands. “Drink.”
    She obeyed and gradually started to feel better. “Thanks. How about you go and visit with everyone while I help my parents finish up in here?”
    “Are you sure you’re okay?” Todd rested a hand on her shoulder.
    “I’m getting there. Honestly, I’m so embarrassed, I need a few minutes to myself.”
    He pulled her into a quick hug and placed a peck on her forehead. “Don’t scare me like that again.”
    “Promise.” She shooed him out to the living room.
    “Your friend seems to care a lot about you.” Her mother pulled the roast from the oven.
    “Yeah.” Holly’s conscience pricked at the deception she was perpetuating. She knew her parents would assume he was more than a friend, simply because she’d never invited a man to their home before. But maybe a guilty conscience was worth it if her mom would back off the matchmaking. They’d just keep up the ruse for a while. And then she and Todd could be “friends” again. She grabbed the salad bowl and followed her parents.
    All eyes turned to them as they walked to the dining table. Matthew’s gaze locked on hers, and she found she couldn’t look away until Todd took the platter from her hand, breaking the moment. What was that all about? She averted her gaze and fled to the kitchen