A Lass for Christmas (Tenacious Trents Novella) (14 page)

Maddie rushed into the room, and Lachlan’s
heart stopped. Her blond hair was piled high upon her head, and
ringlets bounced about her shoulders. Her cheeks were pink from the
cold, or perhaps it was the excitement of seeing her brother. Her
green eyes danced with merriment, and her smile warmed his blood in
a way whisky never could. She was happy. She had been able to go on
without him. What if she didn’t want him?

Maddie threw her arms around John and hugged
him tightly and then did the same to Elizabeth. She didn’t seem to
know he was there, but the rest of her family saw him before the
fire, nervously awaiting her reaction.

Maddie must have sensed, or noticed the
silence because she turned, and her eyes landed on him.

Lachlan held his breath.

The smile dimmed from her lips, and a moment
of pain flashed in her eyes. “Happy Christmas, Lachlan.”

“Happy Christmas.”

Silenced stretched between them and their
eyes never broke contact. Lachlan knew what he wanted to say, but
what if he was rejected again.

“You came all this way to wish her a Happy
Christmas?” Jordan asked.

Lachlan didn’t even bother to look in his
friend’s direction.

“Why are you here, Lachlan? I thought you
would be married to a Scottish lady by now.”

A grin pulled at his lips. She was hurt by
his leaving, and jealous of whom he may have married. Or at least
he hoped that was the reason for her cool reception of him.
However, she was the one who refused to be wed, not him.

“The one I want isna in Scotland.”

Her eyes widened and she bit her bottom
lip.

“I had to come back to get my Christmas lass,
if she will have me.”

A smile broke on her lips and tears sparkled
in her eyes.

“Say the words,” Jordan hissed.

Though Lachlan wished not to declare himself
in front of her entire family, he knew he must. “I am in love with
you, Maddie lass, and would be honored if you would become my
wife.”

She didn’t answer but the bright smile and
pure joy on her face was all Lachlan needed and he barely had time
to open his arms before she flung herself at him and wrapped her
arms around his neck. Lachlan didn’t waste a moment before he
kissed her.

Someone cleared their throat and Lachlan
lifted his head to find her family watching them. He didn’t care
what they thought. What was important was that Maddie would be his.
He looked down in her green eyes, sparkling with tears. “I did get
a lass for Christmas after all.”

More titles from Jane
Charles

A Gentleman’s Guide to
Once Upon a Time Series

His Impetuous Debutante

His Contrary Bride

His (Not so) Sensible Miss

The Wiggons’ School for
Elegant Young Ladies Series

To Walk in the Sun

To Love a Governess
Series

Sacked – Regency Short

Handfasted – Regency
Novella

Ruined – Regency Short

Anthologies

A Summons from His Grace
–
Compromised for Christmas

The Betting Season
– Landing a Laird

A Season to Remember
– Devil in Her Dreams

*All three of the Novellas from the
Anthologies above appear in one Compilation

Scots, Spies &
Salacious Lies

The Tenacious
Trents

Compromised for Christmas (A Summons
from His Grace)

A Misguided Lord

A Perfect Gentleman

A Lass for Christmas
(Novella)

About Jane

Jane Charles has lived in the Midwest
her entire life. As a child she would more likely be found outside
with a baseball than a book in her hand. In fact, Jane hated
reading until she was sixteen. Out of boredom on a long road trip
she borrowed her older sister’s historical romance and fell in
love. She long ago lost count of how many fiction novels she has
read over the years and her love for them never died. Along with
romance she has a passion for history and the two soon combined
when she penned her first historical romance. What turned into a
hobby became a passion, which has been fully supported by her
husband, three children and three cats.

Jane can be contacted
at:
[email protected]

http://www. JaneACharles. blogspot. com

or on Facebook and Twitter:
JaneACharles