Drake Sisters 02 - The Twilight Before Christmas

many people drains me. Their emotions bombard me until I can’t think or breathe. You al protect me, you always have. I wish we’d done the same for you.”
    Kate smiled and leaned over to kiss Hannah’s cheek. “I accepted my limitations a long time ago, Hannah, and I’ve never regretted my choice of lifestyles. I control my environment, and it works for me. I didn’t have the need to do al the things you wanted to do with your life. My world is careful y built and has large wal s to protect me. You’re far more open to the assault. I’l be careful, Hannah. I’m not a risk taker. You don’t have to worry that I’l try to find the answers without the rest of you.”
    “Katie!” Abbey cal ed out. “Sarah has a few things she wants to talk to you about.” She held out the phone.
    Kate hugged Hannah again. “It wil be al right, I promise you, honey. It’s Christmas. Most everyone is coming home, and we’l have the best time ever, just like we always do when we’re together.”

Chapter
3
    A chill, colder still than the air they will feel
    As I rejoice in release, as I slip past the seal
    MATT STOOD BESIDE THE ENORMOUS DOUGLAS fir tree decorated with hundreds of ornaments and colorful lights. The tal tree grew in the yard up near the cliffs in front of the house. It was one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen, but it paled in comparison to Kate. She stood on her porch, a snowglobe in her hands, smiling at him. Her eyes were as green as the sea, and her long, thick hair was twisted into some kind of intricate knot that made him want to pul out every pin so he could watch it tumble free.
    He walked up the porch steps and held out his hand. “Where in the world did you get that snowglobe? The scene inside looks exactly like your house and this Christmas tree.”
    She put the globe in his hands. Two of her sisters were standing on the porch with her, watching him with serious expressions on their faces. He had been so busy staring at Kate he hadn’t even noticed them. His hands closed over the heavy globe, his fingers brushing Kate’s. A tingle of electricity sparked its way up his arm. Almost at once the snowglobe grew warm in his hands. “Afternoon, ladies.”
    “Hi, Matt,” Hannah greeted. Abbey nodded to him.
    Although he’d made every effort to clean up after work, scrubbing his hands for a good half hour to get the dirt out from under his fingernails, he noticed with dismay that he hadn’t been successful. His nails seemed to be spotlighted from the strange glow coming from inside the glass of the globe.
    The lights of the tree blazed unexpectedly inside the glass, while an eerie white fog began to swirl. Fascinated, he held the globe at every angle, trying to see how he had turned it on, but he couldn’t find a battery or a switch anywhere. Peering closer he noticed a strange dark shadow taking shape at the base of the tree and creeping up the path toward the steps of the house. His body reacted, going on alert as he watched the shadow move stealthily.
    “This thing is spooky.” He handed the snowglobe to Hannah and took Kate’s elbow in a deliberate, proprietary action. Staking his claim. Declaring his intentions. His fingers settled around her slender arm, and his heart actual y jumped in his chest. She was wearing some lacy white shirt that clung to the shape of her rounded breasts and left her lower arms bare. The pad of his thumb slid over her petal-soft skin just to feel the texture. She shivered, and he moved his body closer to block the breeze coming in off the ocean. They said good-bye to her sisters and headed for his car.
    Kate cleared her throat. “I appreciate your coming to pick me up, Matthew. I could have met you there.”
    “That’s sil y, Kate, since we’re both going to the same place, and you’re on my way. I thought we might discuss the plans for the renovation over dinner when we’re finished inspecting the mil .” He pul ed open the door to his Mustang convertible. The top was securely up. “What were you doing with the globe?”
    She smiled up at him and just that easily took his breath away. “We’re stil putting out our decorations. Hannah just brought the globe down from the attic and was cleaning the glass. It’s a Christmas tradition in our family to wish on it.”
    “What was that strange dark shadow moving in the globe?”
    Kate abruptly turned back toward the house. Matt was standing close to her, holding the door open to the Mustang,