“What if it turns out different?”
“What do you mean?”
Monica shrugged and took up a black see-through lace night gown. “You are carrying his children, so things are certainly different. You never know.”
“I cannot think like that and I am not going to sit around and hope. That will only lead to a broken heart.”
“I am just saying.”
*****
“I see you settled in,” Gray hovered at the doorway of the bedroom, not sure he should go in. She was seated in the middle of the large bed with her feet folded Indian style and her laptop opened in front of her. He had to go away for a few days but left the instructions for his housekeeper to make sure that she had everything she needed and to make sure the place was clean. He bought the place with the furniture and told her that if she needed to change anything, she should feel free to do so. It was three days before Christmas, and he had been doing a tour of the stores in Europe and only just returned.
“You are here!” she seemed genuinely pleased to see him. “When did you get back?”
“Just now,” he shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the door. “Are you comfortable enough?”
“I am. I sent Clarissa home if that is okay with you. The poor woman was working herself into a frenzy trying to get rid of all the dust and was driving me crazy.” She tilted her head to look at him. “Are you such a hard taskmaster?”
His lips tilted into a smile. “A regular slave master.” He came further into the room and glanced at the open closet. “You did all that?”
“Clarissa did it for me, after telling me to go and sit with my feet up. She fed me too. I had no idea you were coming back tonight.”
“I wrapped up early and decided to come back.” He sat on the side of the bed. “How are you?”
“I am fine and well fed. This place is amazing! I braved the freezing cold and ventured outside to explore. There are acres upon acres of land and enough trees to make me think I am in a forest.”
“So, you like it?”
“I love it.” She told him enthused. “Would you like me to fix you something?”
“I ate on the plane. I have to go back to my apartment and pick up a few things. The place is fortified with the latest technological alarm system, but I do not like the idea of you being here by yourself.”
“I will be fine.” She waved a hand at him. “Go and do what you need to do.”
“Will you be going to bed soon?”
She looked up at him. “Not right now. I have some designs I am playing around with and I was thinking picking a Christmas tree.”
He frowned at her.
“Getting a tree for Christmas. It is going to be a tradition that we start before the twins get here. I happen to love Christmas.”
“How are we going to get a tree at this time?”
“There is a lot a few miles from my apartment. The guy, Trevor is kind of sweet on me and always saves the biggest tree for me. We could go there tomorrow, if you are not too busy.”
“The offices are closed for the holidays, so I am open. I guess we are going to have to buy decorations as well?” he queried.
“I have that covered.” She told him with that impish smile of hers, the dimple peeking out. “I buy different ones every year and I brought them with me.”
“Of course, you did,” he got to his feet, his eyes lingering on her face. She looked like a teenager with her face scrubbed free of makeup and her round face softened by the light of the lamp. He noticed that she had surprisingly long lashes that made shadows against her cheeks. Clearing his throat, he stepped back from the bed. “I will be back shortly.”
“See you when you get back. Gray?”
“Yes?”
“It’s good that you are here.”
He nodded and strode out of the room swiftly. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his heart thudding inside his chest. He wanted her! Dragging his fingers through his golden blonde hair he closed his eyes briefly. He was going to have to stay away from her or do as his uncle suggested and make the first move, bedamned the consequences! He was hard! It took him a hell of a lot of control not to push her back against the pillows and sink himself inside her. Taking a deep fortified breath, he leaned off the door and headed out.
*****
“Shelby, my girl!” The tall and bulky black man came rushing forward as soon as they came into the lot and lifted her clear off the floor, planting a loud kiss on her mouth. Gray felt himself bristling, his hands clenching into fists as the man put Shelby back down but kept his hand around her waist. What the hell was going on? And was he invisible? “How are you baby girl?”
“I am fine.” She turned to Gray who was doing his best not to show how furious he was that another man had touched her. “Gray, this is Trevor Blake, the owner of this lot. Trevor this is – “
“Gray Cox!” he extended a hand that Gray took reluctantly. “I would recognize you anywhere! What are you doing in my humble place of business?”
“We are kind of together and I am looking for my favorite tree.”
“You are seeing my favorite girl?” Trevor asked, staring at him intently.
“Like she said.” Gray looked at his arm that was still around Shelby’s waist pointedly before looking back at him.
“Cool,” Trevor removed his arm quickly and stepped away. “I saved the best one for you. This way.” He led them through a forest of pine trees the scent wafting heavily on the air. Children were running through the lot with last minute shoppers scurrying to find something that would do. He took them deeper into the lot and stopped before a towering tree that was waving in the breeze. “How about this one?”
“This is amazing and the exact one I was looking for!” her eyes sparkled in delight and when she turned to look at him, Gray would have bought her the whole damned lot if she wanted it! “What do you think Gray?”
“We are going to need some help,” he said with a slight smile.
“We deliver.” Trevor said with a beaming look on his face. “And for Shelby, we will deliver tonight.”
“Thanks, Trevor,” Shelby gave him a big hug. “Tell Janet that I will be sending her that dress she fell in love with when I saw her last.”
“She will be thrilled.” He glanced at the man standing slightly behind Shelby. “Janet is my wife.”
Gray nodded, his face expressionless.
“Any decorations sugar?”
“I have tons.”
“Of course, you do.”
*****
“I don’t know how to decorate a tree.” Gray told her as she dragged him back into the living room where the men who had delivered it half hour ago had placed it near the window.
“You are going to learn now.” She told him firmly. “I am too short to hang most of them and I am sure you would not want me getting up on a step ladder.”
“Absolutely not.” He told her as he took a colored bulb for her and hung it where she pointed. “I could have hired someone to do this.”
“It is not the same when you decorate it yourself,” She rubbed her back automatically and his sharp eyes noticed the movement.