A Husband for the Holidays (Made For Matrimony 1) by Ami Weaver

know.”
    “Do you?” She sipped the hot liquid, welcomed the burn. “I’ve been gone a long time.”
    “I know that, too.” Now his gaze was steady on hers. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
    She shook her head. “No, not really. Nothing will change what happened and how it was handled. I will say I’m sorry.” Damn it, now there were tears burning in her eyes. “I’m so sorry for how it all went down. But it’s not all my fault.”
    He leaned forward. “You left, Darce. Just left.”
    “No, Mack. You let me go.”

Chapter Five
    H e stared at her. “It was what you wanted.”
    No, it hadn’t been. What she’d wanted was for him to want her—to want their marriage—enough to fight for her. Make her stay. Want her for more than just her role as mother of their child.
    He hadn’t. He’d just granted the divorce, no questions asked.
    He’d never actually asked her why she’d left.
    She pushed her cup aside. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?”
    Mack examined her, this woman who’d once been his wife. He’d so wanted to do right by her, but when it had come down to it, he’d failed her. Failed their baby. It wasn’t any less bitter a revelation now than it had been then. He thought of when she’d bolted at the sight of the happy young couple. Clearly, it all mattered to her, too, even if he couldn’t get her to admit it.
    “It does matter.” When she stared at him he cleared his throat. “It matters to me.”
    He saw regret and pain in her brown eyes. She dropped her gaze. “It was what I wanted.”
    Even as her words pierced him, he wondered if they were true. But this wasn’t the place to push it. He reached over and took her hand, feeling its coldness in his own, but it did nothing to diminish the heat he felt when he touched her. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, too.” For all of it, even the way he’d sprung his plans for the farm on her.
    She looked at their linked hands, then gave a nod. “Well, then. Friends?”
    He squeezed her fingers before releasing her. “Friends.” He didn’t think this was settled, not by a long shot. But he’d take these first steps for what they were—a start. At least she wasn’t running away in tears.
    “So. Tell me about your practice,” she invited, and he ran with the topic change, grateful for the chance to just be with her.
    Nearly an hour later, he looked at his watch. Time to go back to the clinic. “I’ve got to go,” he said, truly regretful. “I’ve got a patient to check on.”
    She looked at her phone, and seemed surprised at the time. “Wow. I didn’t realize it was this late. Okay.”
    They paid the bill and walked out into the cold night. A light snow had moved in and it sparkled in the parking lot lights. Not wanting the evening to end, he turned to her. “Come with me?”
    She blinked up at him, snow caught on her lashes. “Excuse me?”
    “Do you want to see the clinic?”
    He held his breath, not wanting to admit how important this was to him, as she clearly wrestled with the question. “Okay.”
    Relief flooded him, along with something else he couldn’t name. “It’s not far. Follow me.”
    She got in her SUV and followed him to the clinic. He had managed to get the Christmas lights up as well as the garland, and they were lit now—on a timer to go off at eleven, along with all the other businesses along Main Street. Darcy parked across the street and stood there, looking.
    He came up next to her, closer than he knew he should. “What do you see?”
    She gestured at the street. “It’s so cheery. Especially in the snow. When I think of Christmas, this is the scene I picture. I’ve missed it.”
    He nearly pointed out she could have come back at any time—in fact, she’d never had to leave—but he didn’t want to ruin their new truce. “It is charming.” He swept his hand out. “Shall we?”
    She gave a little giggle and stepped off the curb. God, how he’d missed her laugh. There hadn’t