Christmas Knight (Heartthrob Heroes, Book 3) Read online

  Christmas Knight

  Heartthrob Heroes

  Book Three

  by

  Kimberly Llewellyn

  Bestselling Author

  CHRISTMAS KNIGHT

  Reviews & Accolades

  "...tender and heartwarming."

  ~Kathy Carmichael, Bestselling Author

  Published by ePublishing Works!

  www.epublishingworks.com

  ISBN: 978-1-61417378-6

  By payment of required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this eBook. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of copyright owner.

  Please Note

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The reverse engineering, uploading, and/or distributing of this eBook via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

  Copyright © 2012, 2013 by Kimberly Llewellyn. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

  Cover and eBook design by eBook Prep www.ebookprep.com

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Meet the Author

  Dedication

  For Megan

  A fighter.

  A survivor.

  A warrior.

  But most of all, an inspiration.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you Nina, Brian, Tina, Kathy, Tara, and Becky.

  Chapter 1

  "Hello? Any dead people in there?" Zach Endicott peered through the back window of the abandoned Ford. A large mound covered with a small quilt lay lifeless in the back seat. A mound large enough to be a body. He knocked on the glass. "I stopped by to see if you needed help... you okay in there?"

  When Zach got no response, he thought the worst. There could definitely be a body back there. Maybe someone had frozen to death. Or maybe the person had fallen asleep with the car running and died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Whatever the case, the last thing he needed was to discover any type of body right now. He couldn't afford to lose time on the open road, not with his delivery deadline looming.

  The unlocked door on the passenger's side caught his attention. After brushing the accumulating snow from the handle, he opened it. He reached over the seat and tugged at the quilt, readying himself for the worst. The covering fell away, revealing a stuffed duffel bag and a few Christmas presents. Relieved, he shut the door and thrust his gloveless hands into the warmth of his pockets.

  Curious, he looked at the Ford's propped-up hood, poked his head underneath and searched for any signs of engine damage.

  Then he heard footsteps crunching in the snow.

  "Get back or I'll mace you!" From out of the darkness, a petite female figure materialized with arms extended, clutching a miniature spray can aimed at his head.

  Zach flinched. His head came up and struck the car's hood with a neck-breaking thud. Cursing, he pulled away as the old hood sliced the air and slammed shut. The woman let out an involuntary shriek and sprang around the side of the car. Zach, too, jumped back, lost his footing, and fell hard.

  A bolt of sharp heat shot from his tailbone straight up his spine. He winced at the pain, only to look up at his attacker who still pointed the small, dangerous can at him.

  "Don't move again. Get up. No, I mean, don't get up. Just, um, sit right there." Even in the black night, he could see terror in her eyes.

  "Okay. I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm here to help." As sensation crept back into his body, Zach felt cold, wet snow seep into the seat of his pants. He considered soggy cold pants however, much more appealing than a cloud of mace burning his eyes and lungs. He remained still. Very still.

  "You appear out of nowhere and expect me to believe you're here to help? I saw you inside my car. What are you? A robber? Rapist? Carjacker?" The woman tried to sound tough and menacing, but her quivering voice revealed her fear.

  Although Zach sensed no real threat from her, he did respect the can of mace.

  "Like I told you," Zach said in a soothing tone while he rubbed the growing bump on his head, "I only came here to see if anyone needed help. I thought someone was unconscious or dead under the quilt in the back." He eyed her warily, but her stillness indicated that she didn't believe him. "I had to pull over to scrape ice off my windows. So I stopped. My truck is right around the corner. Go see for yourself."

  She pivoted on one foot in her search. The blinking hazard lights from the car cast a hypnotic reddish glow on her slender shape, allowing him to study his captor. For crying out loud, she wasn't much bigger than a schoolgirl. How could such a small woman take him by surprise like that? He rubbed his head again, harder this time to dispel the mounting throb. His sudden motion caused the woman to swing back toward him.

  "I don't see a truck," she accused. Again, she tried to sound tough. Again, it didn't work, not with her voice so shaky.

  "Trust me, it's there, past the bend. It takes a while to slow down a rig and pull over. Especially with the ice on the road." He spoke slowly so he wouldn't spook her again.

  She still kept aim on him with the mace. "I don't think I believe you. I think you were trying to get my car going so you could take it and leave me here."

  The throb in Zach's head grew into a pounding. "If you don't believe me, then explain how I got here. Now, would you mind taking that thing away from my face?" He grimaced at her. If she didn't appreciate his initial soothing tone of voice, maybe she'd appreciate one of more authority. The woman took a step back, but still kept up her guard.

  "I still don't know how you got here," she finally blurted.

  "Didn't you see my rig go by? It's bright red," he said. The woman stopped and thought about it. He wished she'd hurry up and remember so he could get up off the damn snow.

  "I did hear something go by. It could have been a truck, I guess—"

  "Where were you in this cold and snow that you didn't see me? It's three in the morning. In the Berkshire Mountains. No one's out here. How could you miss it?"

  The woman crossed her arms and forgot about her mace. "If it's any of your business, I drank a thermos full of coffee about an hour ago so I wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel. Then I got stranded out here with a full bladder. I think you can figure out where I've been."

  "I get the picture."

  "I'm gone for a few minutes and I miss an entire truck driving by. It figures."

  Since she let down her guard, Zach sensed he would be permitted to rise from the snowy, frozen ground. "Well, I'm here for you now." He cautiously attempted to stand. The fl
esh under his cold, soggy jeans screamed in rebellion as his spine realigned itself. He straightened and gave himself a good stretch.

  As he rose and towered above her, she stepped back even further. Her cautious actions told Zach she still believed he threatened her personal safety. She resumed a tight grasp on her can of mace, holding it before her.

  "Will you stop worrying? I'm not going to hurt you." He gestured toward her car. "So, what happened?" He brushed away the white fluff that clung to the back of his jeans.

  "Well, it's a long story. You see, after my final exams, I wanted to get on the road to get back home for Christmas, and—"

  "You mean high school finals? Aren't you a little young to be out this time of night?"

  "No. College exams. I'm twenty-four. I would have graduated by now, but I had to take a couple of years off. So, where was I?" She chewed her lower lip until a realization filled her eyes. "Oh, yes. So, after my finals—" She explained everything at such a dizzying rate, Zach finally broke in again.

  "But what about the car? What happened while you were driving?"

  "Oh, right, the car. I guess I'm still wired from all that coffee. Anyway, I don't know what's wrong with the car. I was driving along and the engine stopped. I've never had a problem before."

  "Are you out of gas?"

  "No, I'm sure of it," she answered, "I filled it before I left."

  Zach pointed at the car. "Would you like me to take a look at it?"

  The woman stood quiet for a long moment. Then, she nodded, but stayed back, still well out of his reach. Her reaction was justified, Zach thought to himself. Still, he didn't like being pegged a potential burglar, rapist, and car thief all rolled into one, at least not until they'd been formally introduced.

  "What's your name?" he asked.

  "Tori Adams. Short for Victoria. And yours?"

  "Zach. Zach Endicott." He held out his hand for a friendly handshake in hopes she would feel more comfortable. She kept her distance and waved him a meek, 'hi.'

  Keep remembering, she's stranded and alone on a deserted road at night, trying to survive, trying to be brave. She's scared and doesn't know me from Adam. He dropped his arm to his side and turned toward the car. He unlatched the hood and propped it back up.

  "Do you have a flashlight?" he asked.

  Tori nodded and hopped into the driver's side. When she returned, she held out a small flashlight. Her other hand was empty, which meant she left her mace behind. A good sign. At least she trusted him a little.

  "You're going to have to hold it where I tell you while I check out your distributor wires," he said.

  "I can put on my headlights for you," Tori offered.

  "No, not yet. Let's have a look." He bent over to inspect the engine parts, pointing to where he wanted Tori to shine the light. Tori obliged and she aimed the flashlight in one hand. With the other, she gripped her long hair into a hand-held ponytail to keep it from falling onto the greasy engine.

  For an instant, Zach caught the freshly shampooed aroma of her hair dampened by the light flurrying snow. He hadn't smelled hair like that in a long time... no smell of sticky hair spray or stiff gel. And it certainly had no clinging, smoky bar room smell. She smelled clean. Fresh. Pure. He held his breath momentarily to savor the rare treat

  "I don't understand why this happened." Tori bent over to peek inside, too. "Besides gas, I never have to do anything to it. It always runs. But this time, it just froze."

  He listened to her explanation until her shoulders began shaking uncontrollably. She wore no coat, mittens, or boots. But she did wear a large long-sleeved white shirt that was unbuttoned too low, dark fitted pants, and a pair of white canvas sneakers.

  He ended his observation as he regarded her last few words. It just froze.

  He touched her arm to bring her back to an upright position. With his hand, he cupped the back of her head to prevent another encounter with the temperamental hood. She didn't coil away from his touch as he expected her to do. Instead, she merely let go of her hair, allowing it to swing back onto her shoulders.

  "You're shaking. You must be freezing. Where's your coat? Your boots?"

  "In the car," she answered between chattering teeth, "I wasn't cold until now."

  "Why aren't you wearing them?"

  "I hate driving all bundled up. I did have heat in the car until it stopped running."

  He brought her over to the driver's door, opened it, and sat her inside. "Why don't you stay in here for now, but don't try to start the engine."

  Still chattering, she nodded.

  "We have one last option. Let's hope it's not what I think it is. Do you have an old towel or something?" he asked. Tori searched the floor the car.

  While Zach waited, he pointed the flashlight up to the dark sky. Big, soft flakes flurried down around him without a promise of letting up any time soon. Snow-covered roads would make for a long and potentially dangerous trip. But he couldn't let a little bad weather hold up the most important delivery of the year, could he?

  Never.

  He leaned his head to one side to shake off the accumulation of snow on his hair. Tori reappeared from the vehicle and pushed a small box into his hand.

  "Coffee filters?" he asked.

  "I ran out of toilet paper before I left. You never know when you need to make a pit stop."

  Zach smiled at her resourcefulness. He pushed the issue no further and instructed her to now turn on the headlights. Under the hood, he checked the oil.

  Tori, wearing a light jacket with the small quilt draped over her shoulders, joined him to see what he had discovered. They both huddled together to look at the dipstick. Zach laughed.

  "What is it? What's so funny?"

  "Have you ever heard of something called motor oil?" Zach let out another laugh and put the stick back in the car's engine. "It's something your car needs in order for it to run. Like gas, if you have no oil, it won't go."

  "Sure, I know what oil is. I've had it changed before."

  "Then you either haven't changed it in a very long time or you lost the plug to the drain pan."

  "How am I supposed to know if I lost a plug?"

  Zach leaned one hand against the car. "Let's see... did a little red light come on in your dashboard by any chance?"

  "Well, yeah, but I didn't exactly see a gas station around. I'd hoped I had more time to get closer to where I was going before I needed to do anything about it."

  "That depends. Where are you going?"

  "St. Louis."

  Zach brought his hand to his temple. "St. Louis? On no oil?" He let out a sigh and dreaded to ask his next question. "Why did you think you had time before adding oil?"

  "I always have time when any red light goes on. And I would have stopped and had it checked the next time I got gas." Tori looked back at her broken-down vehicle. "My car has never stalled like that."

  "It didn't stall. It died."

  "Okay, I'll get some oil and we'll get it going again."

  "I don't think you understand. You seized your engine. You should never, ever, take a trip without checking the fluids. Got that?" His voice rose unintentionally as he stressed the importance of car maintenance.

  "Yeah! I got it! Why are you yelling?"

  "Because I can't believe you thought you'd make it to St. Louis on no oil, that's why. This old heap isn't going anywhere. It's dead. You can kiss it goodbye. Forever."

  "Forever? That's impossible!" Tori threw her hands up and frantically paced back and forth. "Are you sure? What am I supposed to do now?"

  "First of all, you should lay off the coffee and try to calm down." Zach leaned over to grab her by the shoulders and halt her nervous pacing. Just watching her restlessness made his head hurt.

  Tori quieted and looked forlornly at her car. "You don't know what this means. Christmas is a couple of days away and I have to be home by then. I just have to." She turned her doe-eyed expression up to Zach. "It's important."

  "I'm sure it'
s important to you, but don't count on getting there in time."

  "But," she said, choking back a sob, "I have to make it home. You don't understand."

  "Maybe not, but your relatives are the ones who will have to understand, that's all." He tried to sound encouraging, despite his own opinions about the whole holiday thing. To him, her predicament was the perfect reason not to fall into the hype of the season. It was nothing but a big build-up that would lead to a bigger letdown.

  "We don't have cell phone service here with all these mountains, but you'll just have to call them when you do."

  "Oh, that won't be happening," she announced and eeked out another tiny sob.

  "Why? Did that die, too?"

  "I had it with me for safety. Before I went into the woods, I stood alongside the road holding it up to see if I could get service. That is, until I slipped and heard a plunk. Right in an icy puddle. Oh, this has not been a good night." She took a shuddering breath.

  "I suppose not."

  "How am I going to get home?" she suddenly cried out. "I'm down to my last couple of dollars…"

  "No credit card?"

  "Hey, I'm a college student, remember? So, no. I have no credit card and have no car. If I don't get home, I don't know what I'm going to do." Her light sobbing gave way to full blown waterworks.

  Oh no, not the tears. Please not the tears. Zach feared it would come to this. He was a sucker for a crying female. He tensed, refusing to fall for her big, wet, pleading, beautiful eyes and quivering, pouting mouth.

  No, no, no. I'm not going to be a taxi service for anyone tonight. And I'm not going to have some emotionally overwrought woman riding in my eighteen-wheeler. It's out of the question. No way. Not tonight. Not now. Not ever.

  "I could give you some money for a bus if we hit a station, maybe radio a message to the authorities to tell your family, but I don't know what else to say," he offered.