“I grew up in it. Parts were off-limits for play for years. When I outgrew that restriction, I went everywhere. This was my home and I got used to it just like you do your home.”
He directed her through an open door and switched on a light. She stood in an elegant suite with decor in shades of brown and tan.
“Here’s where I am, should you want to come talk,” Nick said. Grace gave him a sharp look to see amusement in his eyes.
“And my room?”
They returned to the hall and entered another suite. The pink and white looked done by a decorator, just as his had, with elegant white furniture and bright pink accessories. Pink and green Christmas decorations adorned the sitting room, which had a decorated white tree standing in a corner. Beyond the sitting room she could see a bedroom. When she stepped to the door, she saw a baby crib on one side of the room. Vanessa came forward with a book in her hand.
“Michael is sleeping. He hasn’t stirred since I put him in his bed.”
“Thank you so much,” Grace said.
“He’s a sweet, happy baby. I’ll go to bed now,” Vanessa said as she headed for the door.
“Thanks, Vanessa,” Nick said. “We’ll see you in the morning.” Nick and Grace strolled to the sitting room where Nick stepped ahead to hold the door for Vanessa. When they were alone, he walked back to Grace.
“I can watch him tomorrow morning.”
“Dad will want him with us for the opening of the presents. He’s been talking about this for a week and you know he has toys for Michael.”
“I can imagine,” she said.
Nick reached beyond her and pulled a sprig of mistletoe off the Christmas tree to dangle the sprig above her head. “One kiss beneath the mistletoe,” he said. Without waiting for her answer, he kissed her, holding her close.
She remained immobile for a moment, but then wrapped her arms around him, her exasperation vanishing instantly as desire fanned to life again.
She moaned and poured herself into their kiss, returning his passion, her senses coming to life as longing assailed her stronger than ever.
She had no idea how long they kissed, but she finally ended it. “Nick, nothing has changed since we kissed earlier.”
“I’ll leave now, but sometime you’ll want me to stay. You’ll let me make love to you because you want me just as much as I want you. We don’t have a battle between us. Because of my dad, you’re conjuring up demons. But you and I don’t have a real struggle going. Far from it,” Nick said, stroking a strand of hair away from her face.
“Nick, you should go,” she whispered, his words as seductive as his caresses and his kisses.
He brushed another kiss lightly on her lips, tossed the sprig of mistletoe onto a table and turned, walking to the door where he paused. “If you want to talk, I’m right there. Knock on the wall and I’ll come so you don’t have to leave Michael.”
“Forget any knocking on the wall,” she said in amusement. He grinned and left, closing the door behind him.
Looking around the suite, she noticed the mistletoe and picked up the sprig. With a glance at the white tree and its pink decorations, she noticed there weren’t any other sprigs of mistletoe. Had Nick put that sprig on the tree?
She peeked at Michael, who was sleeping on his knees facedown on the Co-Sleeper attached to the bed. He wore footed pajamas and had his stuffed bunny clutched in his hand. Filled with love, Grace touched his head. She couldn’t keep his grandfather from seeing him or being with him. She wished she could just trust that Eli didn’t intend to try to take Michael from her.
When she slid into bed, she guessed Nick would fill her dreams as he had every night for a week.
Christmas morning she showered and was dressed in a green sweater and slacks before Michael stirred. “Merry Christmas, love,” she said as she picked him up and nuzzled him. He smelled of baby powder and he clutched her shoulder while she carried him.
When she had Michael dressed in his red Santa suit, she left her suite. Nick’s door stood open and he appeared. “Merry Christmas,” he said, smiling at her.
Casually dressed in a navy sweater and chinos, he looked dangerous, sexy, appealing.
“Merry Christmas, Nick,” she said as he walked up to her to kiss her lightly.
“Merry Christmas to you,” she said.
“Good morning, Michael,” Nick said, and the baby smiled at him.
“Look at you, getting a smile first thing. He barely knows you.”
