Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set Cara Colter (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

She gave an exaggerated eye-roll. ‘A couple of librarians I became friendly with at the library…the coffee shop manager from that place on the corner.’ She rubbed her hands together. ‘I love a good party, don’t you?’

Not really. Not that he said as much. ‘Sure.’

She laughed. ‘Liar. I remember—you’re an island unto yourself.’

‘I’m not! I—’

The gates to the estate had come into view, along with a big brass plaque with the word Ellerslie burned into it, and the sight of it had his protest dying in his throat.

Callie gave a funny little hiccup and swung towards him. ‘Pull over.’

He did as she asked.

‘Remember when we were talking in the park the other day about how you shouldn’t let a broken heart turn you into a hermit?’

He remembered every pulse and nuance of their time in the park. And the seriousness of her expression now punched him in the gut.

‘Would you react that way if some careless or conniving girl broke your heart?’

It struck him then that that was exactly what he had done when he’d discovered Fiona’s duplicity. Not as completely as Frances, admittedly, but he’d definitely cut himself off and shut himself away. And forcing himself out in the service of helping Callie solve her family mystery felt good.

‘It might send me to ground for a while—give me a chance to lick my wounds in private,’ he said slowly. ‘But not for good.’

It felt freeing to know that he meant it.

Callie smiled then—a real, straight-from-the-heart smile that pierced through him, sweet and pure.

‘Good. You deserve better than that. We all do. I think we should make a pact in Frances’s memory. A pact to never let disappointment in love or a broken heart let our worlds become smaller and narrower.’

His mouth went unaccountably dry. He had to swallow before he could speak. ‘Callie, what are you afraid of? What do you think we’re going to discover?’

The hand she’d held out for him to shake lowered. She stared at the ornate gates and chafed her arms. ‘I don’t know. That’s what worries me.’

‘We don’t have to go through with this, you know… Maybe some secrets shouldn’t see the light of day.’

‘It feels too late to turn back.’

He knew what she meant, but…

She grimaced. ‘It feels as if the lid on that can of worms you mentioned has been peeled halfway back already, and I can’t pick up all the worms and put them back in.’ Her nose wrinkled. ‘That’s a seriously disgusting analogy. I just mean I’ll always have questions now.’

‘Callie—’

‘No, ignore me.’ Shaking her head, she pulled in a breath. ‘This is a bout of nerves—nothing more. I’m fine. It’s just—’ She swung towards him again. ‘Owen, whatever we find out, I should hate for it to mar your memory of Frances.’

He reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘You don’t have to worry about me, Callie. My regard for Frances is steadfast, whatever happens.’ He gestured. ‘Are you ready?’

She pushed her shoulders back and nodded. ‘I’m ready.’

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE DRIVE CURVED around a low hill and the house came into view as they rounded it, nestled neatly in the middle of the rise opposite. Even though Callie had seen photos of the house, coming face to face with it was still awe-inspiring.

Owen let loose a low whistle. ‘Now, that’s what I call an impressive piece of architecture.’

The house was a late-Georgian mansion, and its white stone gleamed in the spring sunshine, while the surrounding fields were lush with new growth, providing a perfect contrast. Further afield paddocks were neatly ploughed. It all looked fresh and clean and perfect.

He shook his head. ‘This must cost a ridiculous amount in upkeep.’

Callie’s research came to her rescue, helping to keep the panic from rising up and choking her. ‘It pays for itself. Ellerslie has a successful dairy breeding programme. The estate also makes its own cheese. They’ve not won any national awards—yet—but they’ve been runners-up. I’m guessing that’s all housed over there.’

She gestured to the cluster of large buildings some distance away to their left and then stared about. All of this now belonged to her mother. Had Donna spent a lot of time here as a girl? Did it hold fond memories for her? No memories? Bad memories?

The fact that she had no idea left her feeling bewildered. How could she not know about this part of her mother’s life? She rubbed a hand over her chest. What on earth had made Donna turn her back on it so completely?

Owen pulled the car to a halt in the parking area to one side of the house. He opened her door and stood there waiting patiently. Eventually he held out his hand. ‘Callie?’

Forcing in a breath, she placed her hand in his. Warmth flooded her where before she’d felt numb and frozen. Something else flooded her when she found herself almost chest to chest with him—a thread of excitement and a sense of possibility. She didn’t know if it was for the estate or the man, but she welcomed it regardless. It was better than being numb with fear and crippled with misgivings.

She glanced up—meant to send him a smile of reassurance—but their eyes locked and everything else receded into the background except the heat in his eyes and the firm promise of his lips… It would be so easy to—

Barney barked his impatience at being confined to the car, and she and Owen snapped away from each other. With hands that shook, she let Barney out. The little dog leapt to the ground and paused, ears alert, before giving a happy yap and running in wide circles on the lawn.

She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Looks like Ellerslie has Barney’s seal of approval.’

She turned back towards the house, careful not to look at Owen, and found a woman she guessed to be Mrs Dunsmore, the housekeeper, waiting at the top of the steps. The warmth of her smile welcomed them.

‘You must be Callie. I’d