From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes a new story in her With Me In Seattle seriesβ¦
Reed Taylor doesnβt pay much attention to the holidaysβuntil he receives a surprise present. Four-year-old Piper is the daughter he never knew about, and with the death of her mother, is also now the roommate he never expected. Heβs determined to make their first Christmas together one sheβll never forget.
Noel Thompson has gotten her share of strange requests in her career as an interior designer. The call to design a beautiful home for Christmas is more like a dream come true. And that was before she met her new employerβsexy and mysterious, heβs everything she ever hoped Santa would bring her.
As Noel showers his home with holiday spirit, Reed showers Piper with love. And the busy life heβs created for himself no longer seems nearly as important as the one Noel is helping him build with his daughter. But if he canβt convince his decorator to stay, this could be the only year he feels the true wonder of the season.
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, itβs an introduction to an authorβs world. And for fans, itβs a bonus book in the authorβs series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes a new standalone story in her With Me In Seattle series, out tomorrow! Get a sneak peek from WONDER WITH ME below…
βMr. Taylor?β
βYes, Becca.β I sit back in my desk chair, pull my glasses from my face, and rub my tired eyes. A glance at the time tells me Iβve been staring at the computer for a few hours. The interruption is welcome.
βYou have a visitor, sir.β
I frown at my assistant, whoβs hovering in the doorway of my office. Beccaβs been with me for a couple of years. Sheβs young and driven. And unlike most of the other assistants Iβve had, sheβs focused. Sheβs never come on to me, and I swear she knows what I need before I do.
Beccaβs a gem.
And sheβs currently watching me with hesitation written all over her face.
βI never have visitors, unless theyβre scheduled appointments.β
βI know. If youβre busy, I can ask them to come back. But I donβt think youβll want me to do that.β
Now, Iβm intrigued.
βNo, itβs fine. Send them in.β
She nods and turns away, and I stand to stretch my legs as I wait for this unexpected guest to walk through the door.
I tug my suit jacket on just as a woman walks into my office, holding hands withβ¦
A little girl.
They must have the wrong office.
βReed Taylor?β the woman asks as she directs the child to sit in one of the two seats in front of my desk and hands her a stuffed bunny to cuddle.
βYes, maβam. And you are?β
βMelinda Hale. Mr. Taylor, Iβm with the Department of Child Protective Services.β She glances at the girl, whose head is bowed. βAnd this is Piper.β
I shift my gaze between Ms. Hale and Piper, my eyes narrowed.
βHello, Piper.β
βHello,β the little girl whispers as she tugs the bunny to her chest. Sheβs dressed in jeans and a hoodie from Old Navy, and her dark hair is pulled back into a long braid.
βIβm sure youβre wondering why weβre here.β
βIβm hopeful youβre about to tell me.β
Ms. Hale smiles, but it doesnβt reach her eyes. She pulls a file out of her briefcase and sets it on my desk, opens it, then passes me a letter.
βYou should read this first.β
The mystery of all of this is starting to grate on my nerves. I consider myself a patient man, but Iβm also an efficient one.
Just get down to business, for Christβs sake.
I open the letter and frown as I read the words before me.
Reed,
I know this is a shock. Everything has happened so fast, and I know I should have reached out to you, but well, it seems Iβm not strong enough to.
Piper is a sweet little girl. Youβll love her, I promise.
Please take good care of her.
Warmly,
Vanessa
I fold the letter and look up to Ms. Hale. βVanessa Downey?β
βThatβs right. Do you confirm that you had a relationship with Ms. Downey that ended roughly five years ago?β
I blow out a breath. Did I have a relationship with her? Vanessa would have liked that. I never committed to anything so permanent with her.
I did, however, date and have sex with her.
βI did.β
βMr. Taylor, Ms. Downey passed away a few days ago. Sheβd been sick.β She glances down at Piper as the little girl scowls and squeezes her bunny tighter. βWell, all of the information is in this folder.β
She closes the file and passes it to me.
My stomach is filled with lead. I know the next words about to come out of her mouth before she says them.
βPiper is your daughter, Mr. Taylor. Of course, weβll schedule a DNA testββ
βThatβs not necessary,β I say, interrupting her. My eyes are on Piper as she hugs her bunny. βShe looks just like me.β
Piper looks up at me, her big, round, brown eyes a bit scared and sad.
βActually, itβs the law,β the woman replies. βWe have to make sure weβve placed the child with a direct relative, of course. Weβll be in touch, and will check in periodically until the results of the test come in.β
βFine. What about Vanessaβs family?β I ask Ms. Hale without looking away from my daughter.
My daughter.
βVanessa didnβt have any immediate family,β she explains. βIf there are extended family members, we havenβt found them.β
My gaze whips to Ms. Haleβs. What kind of a jerk am I that I didnβt know that Vanessa didnβt have family? βWho attended the funeral?β
βThere hasnβt been one yet,β she says. βOf course, she had friends, but there hasnβt been timeββ
βIβll see to it.β
She closes her lips and sits quietly, watching as I smile at Piper.
βPiper, Iβm very sorry for your loss.β I circle my desk and squat beside her, careful not to touch her. I donβt know anything about children. Iβm way out of my element here, but this isnβt about me.
Christ, the poor child probably doesnβt understand whatβs happening around her.
βThank you,β she says in a tiny voice. βDo you know where my mommy is?β
Well, hell.
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