Page 19 of A Cursed Noel
A satisfied smirksplays across my lips.
Celia gapes at me.“That was awful.”
“Yeah,” I agree.“What an asshole.”
“I meant yourbehavior,” she replies.
“What do mean?” Ifrown. “I didn’t hit him or anything.”
She throws out herhands. “Aric, you scared him to death.”
I cross my arms,watching him disappear into the building. “You’re welcome, baby.”
She blinks back at meand then laughs, covering her face as she cracks up.
I’ve gone too longwithout seeing that lovely face. I pull her hands away carefully andkiss each one. She’s warm, despite the cold.
The heat from her skindeepens the longer I hold her.
She smiles softly.“What are you doing here, Aric?”
I lose my grin. “I’vecome to save you. Celia. You’re in danger…”
Chapter Six
“You’re here tosave me?” she repeats, evidently unimpressed.
I nod. “That’sright.”
She raises hereyebrows. “From Dr. Bantam?”
I scoff. “If so,you’re welcome.” I hook a thumb in the direction that moron tookoff. “He’s probably busy changing his pants.”
She laughs again,reaching for me. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
I jog back to retrieveher small backpack. It’s already coated with snow. “Home? To yourplace?”
“Of course,” shesays. “My sisters are going to lose their minds.”
Her voice falls silentand her eyes glaze over.
My fingers link throughhers, my touch stirring her awake. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing,” shesays. She glances around as if forgetting where she is. “This is mylast of seven shifts in a row.”
“Seven?” I allowher to lead me forward and away from the section of homes. “Youwork twelve-hour shifts, don’t you?” I smile and nudge herplayfully. “You did it, right? You accomplished your goals andbecame a nurse.”
My praise is enough toflush Celia’s frost-nipped cheeks. “I did. It was so much harderthan I expected.”
As quick as her smileappears, it vanishes, that deadened expression threatening to return.“What is, sweetness?” I ask.
“I…” she waits,struggling to gather her thoughts. “I only usually work threeshifts a week, but this is probably Ana Lisa’s last Christmas withus. I need the money and the time off.” She shrugs, but the lift inher shoulders is very slight. “Another nurse planned a skiing trip.I covered her shifts so she could go. In exchange, she’s coveringthe holidays so I can be home with my family.”
She looks ahead.“Come,” she says. “I need to get home and we need to be fast.”
She starts to take offin a sprint. I hold her in place. It’s cold, she’s tired, and sheneeds to be home with her sick foster mother, and her sisters. Iunderstand, but there’s more going on. Celia isn’t justdistracted. There’s something wrong with her.
“Is someone hurtingyou?” I ask. “Another doctor or coworker?”