Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
However, I’d spent my thirties alone at Christmas. After Steven, I’d moved out of Glasgow and started over in Renfrewshire. I felt ashamed to tell my new work colleagues and friends that I was spending Christmas alone, so I’d lie about going home.
This would be my first Christmas with a family again. A tantalizing tease of what could be.
“Of course, they don’t,” Brodan assured me as we turned down the country lane toward the two homes that belonged to his eldest brothers. “Sloane, Callie, and Walker will be there too.”
I nodded in relief at the reminder and then studied the house as we pulled in behind a line of cars cluttering the driveway. In the covered entrance of Thane and Regan’s was a large Christmas tree, accompanied by a massive lit wreath on the door. It looked beautiful and warm and inviting.
“I’ve spent every Christmas alone since I was thirty,” I confessed suddenly.
Brodan switched off the engine, not saying a word.
Afraid of what he might think of that, I reluctantly dragged my eyes off the front entrance and looked at him. Brodan stared at me, half anguish, half guilt.
“Don’t do that,” I practically whispered. “I didn’t have to be alone, Brodan. I made choices that led me to that too.”
“If you’d had a family worthy of you, you’d have never spent a Christmas alone.” He reached over and caressed my cheek. “I want to give you this”—he gestured to the house—“for the rest of your life … but if you decide you don’t want that, promise me …” Pain flared in his eyes. “Promise me you’ll find it with someone else. Because I’d rather suffer through the agony of knowing you love someone else than ever suffer the pain of knowing you’re out in the world alone. You deserve so much more than that, Monroe.”
A sob escaped before I could stop it, and the fear I’d held deep within me burst forth. “What if I don’t deserve you?”
Brodan’s eyes widened, shock at my question evident. Confusion too. He opened his mouth to reply, but we both jumped at a rattle against the driver’s-side window. I’d been so lost in our moment, I hadn’t even noticed Regan come out of the house.
Cursing under his breath, Brodan hit a button, and the window lowered to reveal Regan and her beaming, dimpled smile. “Merry Christmas, you guys! Can you move—” She cut off at the sight of me wiping my eyes, and her smile fell. “Oh my God, I’m sorry. Did I interrupt something?”
“No.” I gave her a fake smile. “Merry Christmas, Regan. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course.” Her worried gaze moved to Brodan. “You okay?”
“Aye. Merry Christmas. What was it you needed?”
“Never mind. Arro and Mac might not even drive, so it’s a possible parking nonissue. Come on in.”
I unclipped my seat belt, refusing to meet Brodan’s probing stare. “Better not forget the presents in the back.” I jumped out of the SUV and opened the rear passenger door. Thankfully, my invitation came early enough for me to buy a little something for everyone. I especially wanted to give Arro and Mac a wee thank-you gift for letting me stay in the cottage.
Regan hurried up the front porch but waited for us to follow. Brodan grabbed his bags of gifts for everyone and rounded the car. His eyes flicked to his sister-in-law before coming back to me. “Don’t think this discussion is over,” he murmured.
Wonderful.
“Come in, come in.” Regan waved us into the house, and for the first time, I noticed she wore a reindeer headband, Christmas baubles hanging from her ears, and her dress was red and green. She made me smile.
Until we stepped inside and she said, “Ooh, stop,” as she closed the door behind us.
Brodan and I did as she asked, me assuming she wanted us to remove our shoes. The sound of laughter and chatter accompanied by low-level Christmas music and the scent of delicious cooking drifted toward us. Anticipation fluttered in my belly, and I was relieved for its distraction.
Regan ruined my moment by grinning devilishly. She pointed a finger skyward. “No couple may pass beneath the mistletoe. It’s an entry requirement.”
My pulse skittered. Brodan, to my surprise, had been a very, very good boy this year. He was sticking to the requirements of the bet. Sometimes it felt like he had more self-control than me, especially when he whispered dirty nothings in my ear. That meant our lips had not touched in weeks. And after my vulnerable moment in his car, I wasn’t sure I wanted this to be the time it happened.
“Our bet,” I murmured.
He shrugged, eyes glittering with amusement. “I want my Christmas dinner, so I reckon we call a temporary ceasefire.”
“Fine.” I drew up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his briefly before settling back down. “There.”