An Unexpected Gift (Insta-Spark Book 4) Read online

  An Unexpected Gift

  Melanie Moreland

  AN UNEXPECTED GIFT Melanie Moreland

  Copyright © 2019 Moreland Books Inc.

  Registration # 1164062

  Ebook ISBN # 978-1-988610-28-3

  Print book ISBN # 978-1-988610-27-6

  All rights reserved

  Edited by

  Lisa Hollett—Silently Correcting Your Grammar

  Cover Art Adobe stock license

  Photographer © Igor Link

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any

  means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information

  storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are

  products of the author's imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any

  similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Contents

  Insta-Spark Series

  Introduction

  1. Evan

  2. Evan

  3. Evan

  4. Evan

  5. Evan

  6. Evan

  7. Evan

  8. Evan

  9. Evan

  10. Holly

  11. Holly

  12. Evan

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Melanie Moreland

  About the Author

  Insta-Spark Series

  When you want a bit of naughty along with the nice. Insta-Spark series from Melanie Moreland are complete standalone reads with one thing in common - lots of sweetness and a guaranteed HEA. Instant attraction, little angst - love and happiness abounds in this series.

  #GetYourKissOn #ASprinkleofSugar #ASweeterRomance

  Dedication

  For Louise – my tea sister – thank you for

  your friendship, and the many laughs.

  This one is for you.

  For friends and family,

  my readers, and followers—

  May love, peace, and joy surround you.

  However you say it, however you celebrate—

  May the wonder of the season fill you up.

  And Matthew.

  Always.

  Love.

  An unplanned journey

  A change of direction

  The meeting of two lost hearts

  When Evan Brooks sets out to repair his fractured relationship with his family, a broken-down car and an unplanned detour lead him to Holly Cole.

  Her eyes captivate him.

  Her words comfort him.

  Her heart warms him.

  Is she the unexpected gift he’s longed for?

  Is this just a detour, or the road to happiness?

  Find out in this heartwarming Christmas story.

  1

  Evan

  The night was black around me. With no streetlights or other cars to be seen, the inkiness seemed deeper—the snow falling on the cold winter night bright in the headlights. It was accumulating fast, the road becoming icy and slippery. I had to concentrate on driving, and my hands were tired from gripping the wheel.

  The car lurched, made a strange noise, then sputtered and huffed, slowly rolling to a stop on the side of the road. I roared out in frustration.

  "Goddammit!"

  I leaned my head back on the headrest, trying to rein in my anger.

  I knew the unpredictability of the Canadian winter. When the weather report says “chances of snow,” it was a pretty damn certain thing.

  What the hell possessed me to leave the quiet safety of my house to drive across the country two days before Christmas, to go see my family? What stupid sense of duty prompted my action?

  I barked out a laugh, the sound loud in the car. So much for a surprise for them. The joke was really on me. They didn't know I was coming, and now, I wasn't sure I'd get there. From the strange sound my car had made just before it died, I wasn't sure I'd get home either. I was screwed either way.

  I tried the engine again, but it wouldn't turn over. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel in exasperation.

  I peered into the darkness, taking in the bleak landscape. I searched the back seat for the GPS I had flung over my shoulder in anger when the damn thing kept telling me to turn hard right and I almost ended up in a snowbank.

  It lit up and came to life, the annoying voice repeating the same word over and again.

  Recalculating.

  I tossed it aside again—what a piece of junk.

  I had no idea where I was, except I knew I was about three hours away from a major city. Ottawa was far behind me. My parents' home, some four hours or more ahead. I shook my head in frustration. I should have been patient and not taken that detour, but the accident on the highway had snarled traffic for miles. Instead of waiting for it to clear, I had followed a line of cars headed off the highway, but they had all disappeared right about the time my GPS died, followed not long after by my cell phone. I always forgot to charge the damn thing.

  A car flew by me, and I lifted my head, narrowing my eyes as I watched it travel down the road. I pursed my lips as I saw brake lights and then they disappeared around a corner farther up the road. It was a long way away, but I was sure I saw lights.

  What was up there?

  A house? A business?

  I shrugged my shoulders, knowing I had little choice in the matter.

  There was only one way to find out.

  I leaned over and grabbed my toque and gloves, silently cursing the fact that my leather coat wasn't going to offer much protection from the cold. Neither were my sneakers. But it was either go try to find a phone or sit in the car and wait for someone to stop. Given how little traffic there was right now, that didn’t seem to be a viable option. I liked to run and could cover great distances in a short period of time, so I was sure I could make it to the location where I saw the light up ahead in short order.

  Except, when I got out of the car, I realized there was a third option.

  Freeze.

  Damn, it was cold outside.

  And thanks to the fresh snow, far too slippery to run.

  With a low groan, I trudged down the road, my head bent against the wind and hands buried in my pockets, concentrating on staying upright. By the time I got to the spot I thought the other car had turned, my teeth were chattering, and my body shook with cold chills. Luckily the snow had let up, so I didn’t have that to contend with as well. I rounded the corner and heaved a sigh of relief. Up ahead was a small building, its lights a dim glow. My pace quickened, and I pushed forward, groaning with relief when I realized it was a quaint little diner and it was open. The parking lot had about a half-dozen cars in it, and I gratefully pushed open the thick, wooden door and stepped through it.

  The warmth inside the diner hit me, and I stumbled to the closest table, sitting down heavily with a low gasp. The air around me felt almost too hot compared to my icy skin. I pulled the toque from my head and yanked off my gloves, bending and stretching my cold hands, trying to get the feeling back in them. My glasses were so cold there was ice on the lenses, so I tugged them off and tossed them onto the table. I should have left them in the car. Since my laser surgery, I only needed them for reading, but I had left them on out of habit. I shut my eyes and breathed in the warm air in long gulps.

  "Here." A low voice startled me.

  I opened my eyes, meeting a pair of the lightest soft-blue eyes I had ever seen. They were f
illed with worry as they met mine, the emotion in them so clear. I couldn't remember the last time I had known anyone to look at me with such concern. It was an unusual feeling.

  Unable to break our gaze, I blinked, and a deep V appeared between the lovely eyes.

  "Can you talk?"

  I cleared my throat and sat straighter. "S-sorry. Yes." My voice sounded rough, as if I hadn't spoken for days rather than only hours. "C-cold, I'm so cold."

  A cup appeared in front of me on the table, and gratefully I grabbed for it, only to have it slip from my frozen hands and rattle back into place on the saucer.

  I cursed and looked back up into the warm gaze. The woman attached to the lovely eyes smiled in understanding and lifted the cup to my mouth, helping me drink the warm liquid. She sat down, cupping the back of my head, the heat of her touch hot against my icy skin as I gulped down the coffee greedily. She set down the cup, a satisfied expression on her face when she saw it was empty.

  "Better?"

  I nodded, feeling the warmth seep through my body. "Much. Thank you."

  "Where did you come from?"

  "My car—" I paused and swallowed. "My car broke down."

  Her voice was horrified. "You walked here from the highway?"

  "No. The highway was closed. I followed some cars trying to get around an accident, and I got lost. My car started making some weird noises, and then it simply died. I walked for about twenty minutes."

  "That's still a long way in this cold north wind. No wonder you're freezing. You don't even have boots on!" She tsked loudly as she stood. "Take off your coat. It's holding in the cold. Stay here."

  She walked away, and I grinned at her retreating figure, finding her authoritative tone amusing for some reason. She was awfully little to be so bossy. I glanced out the window with a grimace, thinking about her command.

  “Stay here.”

  Where did she think I was gonna go? Back out in that cold? That wasn’t happening anytime soon.

  She reappeared with a steaming bowl of soup and set it in front of me. Then she draped a blanket around my shoulders.

  "Eat that. I'll be back."

  Her tone brooked no argument. I picked up the spoon and took a mouthful. It was delicious, thick with vegetables, the steam welcome on my face. I ate it slowly, grateful for its warmth.

  As I ate, I watched her move around the diner, talking to the customers sitting at tables, obviously at home here. She was short, five foot nothing, I guessed. Her strawberry-blond hair was chin length, curly and wild around her face. She was cute. Impish. Adorable, actually. She had a Christmas ornament tucked behind one ear, the sparkle on it catching the light, and it jingled as she moved her head. She was curvy and lush, her uniform snug over her full breasts, and she moved with an easy grace as she flitted from one task to the next. I had the feeling she was the sort of person who liked to stay active.

  She smiled and laughed, filled coffee cups, sliced pie, and wiped off the tables as she teased customers. Her laugh brought a smile to my face. It was high and feminine—an odd sound to my ears that were used to the quiet and solitude. More than once, her gaze met mine, our eyes locking for a brief moment, before she returned to her task. It was as if she were checking up on me. I liked the odd feeling of her concern.

  Feeling warmer, I glanced around, taking in my surroundings. It was an old-fashioned kind of diner, with Formica countertops and mismatched tables and chairs scattered around. A pass-through showed one cook, busy preparing food. The place smelled of burgers and grease, and there was a lingering sweetness in the air, no doubt from the pies and cakes displayed in a case on the counter. The sign taped to the glass boasted all desserts were made in-house.

  Christmas lights were strung around the windows, and beside me, a rather dilapidated tree was festooned with popcorn strings and ornaments fashioned from straws and bent utensils, giving it a whimsical air that made me smile. The entire atmosphere was one of a well-worn, long-standing local place to gather and meet. At this time of night, the diner wasn't full, but the sign outside said it was open twenty-four hours. I wondered idly what time my bossy waitress worked until.

  She reappeared, smiling in satisfaction at the empty bowl in front of me. "Warmer now?"

  "Yes. Thank you again." I glanced at my watch, seeing it was after ten. "I don't suppose there’s a twenty-four-hour service station around here?"

  She shook her head. “No, sorry.”

  "A hotel close by?"

  She frowned. "There is in town. A motel anyway."

  I grimaced. "How far away is that?"

  "About a twenty-minute drive."

  "Ah."

  "More coffee?"

  "Will you help me drink it?" I teased, surprised at my words. I felt very at ease with this woman, which wasn't a normal reaction for me.

  Her wide smile was beautiful. It transformed her soft, adorable features into a stunning vision of loveliness. A dimple appeared in one of her cheeks. Her eyes danced with mischief. She was heart-stopping. My breath caught in my throat looking at her.

  "The first one is on the house. I charge after that." She tilted her head and winked. Her hair ornament tinkled with the movement.

  "Noted." My voice dropped. "Thank you for your help. That was beyond kind."

  Her cheeks flooded with color, enhancing her subtle beauty, and her gaze dropped. "I'll get your coffee."

  On impulse, I held out my hand. "I'm Evan. Evan Brooks."

  Her hand was warm, clasped in mine. "Holly Cole."

  I looked down at our hands and then back up at her.

  "Hello, Holly. It's a real pleasure to meet you."

  A fresh cup of coffee appeared in front of me. I took a sip of it and gasped. "Wow. That's hot."

  She smiled as she nodded. "I added cold water to the first cup so you could drink it fast and start warming up. Speaking of which, you're still shivering. Here." In her outstretched hand was a bundled towel. Confused, I took it from her grip only to realize it was warm.

  "Your hands are still cold, so your feet must be freezing. They're soaking wet," she explained calmly. "Take off your shoes and you can wrap your feet in the towel."

  "Oh, um…here?"

  She nodded. "Yes."

  I hesitated.

  "Your feet," she said pointedly. "Take off your shoes and socks. The wet socks aren't helping."

  I looked around the diner. I didn't want to get her into trouble. She smiled at me. "It's fine, Evan."

  I toed out of my wet sneakers and socks and wrapped the towel around my feet. She was right—they were freezing. "Thank you," I said again. A shudder ran through me as the heat hit my skin.

  "I called a friend in town who owns a garage. He's coming out with one of his tow trucks to get your car. They’ll look at it in the morning. He can drive you to the motel as well. It's going to take him a while to get here, though, so I'll throw your socks and sneakers into the dryer in the back."

  Again, I was surprised by her kindness. "Holly—thank you."

  "It isn't a problem."

  I reached for her, wrapping my hand around hers once more. There was a strange warmth when our skin connected. "You are truly—” I hesitated "—an angel. Thank you."

  "Drink your coffee, Evan," she admonished.

  But she was smiling as she walked away.

  "You're sure?" Tom asked me as he pulled back into the diner parking lot, my car on the winch behind his truck. He'd picked me up and drove us to my car, but instead of riding back into town with him as planned, I felt the intense need to go back to the diner.

  Back to Holly.

  She had looked as sad as I felt when Tom arrived to take me to my car, even though she smiled as she handed me my now dry sneakers and socks. She wished me well and a safe journey before she turned away, leaving me feeling strangely empty. From the moment I left, I wanted to go back.

  She had chatted with me while I waited for Tom, and I enjoyed her low voice and sweet laughter. My usual shyness seemed
to disappear around her. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, following her movements as she busied herself with a seemingly endless list of tasks. I drank an inordinate amount of coffee and ate two slices of pie, just to get her over to my table. She had a way of drawing me into her warmth, making me want more.

  More of her time and beautiful smiles. More of her.

  I realized Tom was staring at me, waiting for my answer. "Yes. I left my glasses."

  "I can wait."

  "I'm, ah, hungry. I'll eat and then grab a cab."

  Tom chuckled. "This isn’t the big city, Evan. A cab will be hard to come by out here.”

  "I'll grab a ride with someone."

  He glanced toward the diner. "The food is good." Then he smirked. "So is the service—or should I say, the staff—one in particular."

  I narrowed my eyes at him. He returned my gaze steadily. "Holly is a good friend of my wife, Leslie, and me. We’re both fond of her. Tread carefully."

  "I just want a cheeseburger, Tom."

  He laughed. "We have a Wendy's if that's all you're after."

  "Um…”

  "Carefully, Evan. Just saying." He paused. "I'll call your cell when I know what the problem is with your car."

  Clutching my duffle bag and cell phone, I nodded as I got out of the cab of his truck.

  “Thanks. Goodnight.”

  I watched him drive away, wondering what the hell I was doing. Then I headed back into the diner.