Quinn's Christmas Wish (13 page)

He was thoughtful that way. Always thinking about how he could help others. It was one of the qualities she most lov--

No. She did not love Gray. She was just awfully fond of him. They made good partners in so many ways. Like during that early blizzard in November. She’d helped him with the chores at the ranch, then they’d driven into town in his truck and gone sledding down Toboggan Hill, then ended up under the quilt in her four poster bed...

Oh, there were many things she was going to miss about Gray Cassidy once he was out of her life. But she had to make him leave. It was only fair. Why should he miss out on a family just because she had to?

Anyone walking into her kitchen right now would think she had a houseful of children. They’d see the fridge covered with children’s art projects; jars of homemade modeling clay lined up on her counter; photographs of five and six-year-olds on her walls, that she’d taken in class, capturing special moments in her pupils’ days.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Her work days were full with children. But her nights...

Amy blinked, took another sip of mulled wine. At least she was alive. She pressed a hand to the scar that ran across her belly. She was one of the lucky ones.

The timer buzzed, and she checked inside the oven to make sure the pumpkin pie had set. Mmm--Gray was going to love this. She placed it on the counter to cool, then checked the clock on the stove. Almost eight now. She had to change. She wanted to wear something pretty and a little bit sexy. Maybe the red--

The doorbell chimed, catching Amy by surprise. It was too early for Gray, who never used the bell anyway, just called out a greeting as he entered the unlocked door. Who would be visiting on Christmas Eve? She’d had lunch with her girlfriends earlier in the day and they’d exchanged gifts then. And she had no family in town...

She waited to see if her doorbell would ring again. It didn’t. But then she heard a muffled thud. Maybe someone was dropping off a package on her front porch? She hurried to the door, and opened it cautiously.

A little bundle was on her porch all right. But it was no package. It was a little girl.