Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) by Elena Aitken Page B

and every day of their life together, they didn’t hesitate to show it. But when his mom died unexpectedly in a car accident, sixteen-year-old Colin watched while his father deteriorated and threw himself into work until he was a different person altogether. He might as well have been an orphan. It wasn’t until two years later, when Colin moved out, that he lost his father officially. His dad had never been able to heal after losing the love of his life and finally he just gave up. How could someone love another person so much that they simply chose not to live without them? Colin couldn’t understand it. Nor did he ever want to experience it.
    But he couldn’t deny that seeing Kirk and his family together sparked something in him. Maybe at thirty-five, things were finally changing?
    “Hey,” Andi said as she skated towards him. Colin looked up just in time to catch her as she crashed into him, toppling Colin and the bench. Andi landed on top of him, knocking the air out of him. He expected her to be apologetic and tripping over herself with embarrassment. Instead she broke into laughter.
    “Good catch,” she managed to get out. “I have a little problem with stopping.”
    It took Colin a moment to get his breath back with her weight on top of him. When he was able to, he said, “Having fun?” He grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her to the side and off him.
    “I am. This is great. We’ll have to do this again.”
    Colin stood and pulled Andi to her unsteady feet. “Absolutely. We can come back and skate again.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he swallowed hard. He shouldn’t have assumed she’d want to spend more time with him. After all, she was here on her own holiday too. “If you want to, that is,” he added quickly.
    “Are you kidding? Of course I want to.” She sat down on the bench that Colin had righted, and started unlacing her skates. “I’ll kick your butt next time.” She laughed.
    “You have an amazing laugh,” he said, and before she could respond, he added, “Here, let me help you.” Colin dropped to his knees and expertly unlaced Andi’s skates.
    “So, what’s next?” Andi said.
    “Oh, so now you’re into this mission I have to make you enjoy Christmas?”
    She shook her head. “I wouldn’t say that,” she said. “In fact, I still don’t think that ice skating qualifies as a festive activity. But it was fun. So if you have anything else equally fun planned, then I’m game.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

    Andi looked up at Colin as they walked into the clearing. “Okay, this is over the top Christmasy.”
    The fire was roaring and situated among the pine trees. Picnic tables had been cleared of snow and were clustered at one end of the fire. They held thermos of hot chocolate, apple cider, and an array of snacks and toppings for the drinks. Log benches encircled the fire, occupied by adults and children alike. A man playing the guitar sat on a log, strumming carols that the group was singing along to as they sipped their drinks.
    “You’ll enjoy it, I promise,” Colin said and squeezed her hand again.
    Every time he did that, it sent a thrill through her. She loved the feel of his hand in hers. It felt like it belonged there. She would happily hold his hand all day. And if that meant going along with his crazy plan to convert her into a fan of the holidays, she’d go with it. The time she’d spent with Colin had been the most enjoyable she’d had in a while and she wasn’t in a hurry to stop it.
    “We’ll see,” she said.
    “Hey, Colin,” a man said, noticing them as they made their way to the tables.
    “Kirk.” Colin let go of her hand and reached out to shake the man’s hand. He was wearing a baby strapped to his chest in a Snuggly. A baby in a pink snowsuit. Andi’s stomach flipped.
    “You two know each other?” she asked.
    “Well, not really,” Colin said. “We met back at the pond.” He turned to Kirk again and said, “Kirk, this is