Page 38 of Christmas On Anchor Island

Tears sprang to Henri’s eyes. “Mia, I don’t know what to say.”

In a quiet tone, she said, “Now I know how you felt at the coffee shop.”

The memory flashed through her mind and Henri realized that Mia might not be able to tell her how she felt, but she was showing her.

Fighting the urge to pull the woman into her arms, she said, “How did things go with Nota?”

“Better than I expected.”

Unwilling to let her guard down without all the facts, Henri shoved her hands into her pockets. “What all did you tell her?”

Mia closed the distance between them, stopping close enough for Henri to feel her breath on her cheek. “That I like women, and that there’s one in particular that I want to be with.”

The room suddenly got hotter. “Who is that?”

“Who do you think?”

“I can’t think with you standing so close.”

Sliding her arms around Henri’s torso, Mia said, “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get here. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how I feel that day at the coffee shop.”

Throat tight, she said, “How do you feel?”

“Like if you don’t kiss me soon I might combust.”

Henri slid a hand along her delicate neck and rubbed her thumb across Mia’s perfect lips. “That tells me what you want, but how do you feel, Mia? About me.”

Eyes nearly black with desire, she whispered, “I love you, Henri.”

Relief, joy, and raw lust nearly took her to her knees. “I love you, too.”

The moment their lips met, Henri could only describe the feeling as coming home. Wherever this woman was would be her home. For now and forever.

* * *

“I’m telling you,”Nick said, “you can’t get one more thing in this car.”

“Watch me,” Henri said.

Mia watched the love of her life prove her brother wrong, and the bag of art supplies slid neatly between a box of oil paints and her new rainbow suitcase. Nick did not look happy, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

A month had passed since Christmas night, and the day had finally come for Mia to make the permanent move to Charleston. She’d spent the last four weeks finding replacements for all the roles she fulfilled around the island, while Henri had handled finding them a place to live. Thankfully, Belinda Knight, one of Sam’s former business associates, had the perfect property.

A small historic home loaded with charm that included a small but adequate third floor apartment. Henri had explained her reasoning for going with an option that offered residual income, and since Mia had spent years as a starving artist, she’d wholeheartedly agreed. The first two floors were more than enough, including an office for Henri with the perfect day-dreaming bay window and a brightly lit outbuilding that would make an excellent art studio.

“Don’t forget the sandwiches,” Grandma called from her porch. She’d filled the small cooler at her feet with enough food for a cross-country trip, which would be more than enough for their nine-hour drive.

“That is definitely not going to fit,” Nick mumbled.

“There’s room on the floor behind the passenger seat,” Mia assured him.

Instead of driving, Henri had flown in four days before to help with the final packing so that Mia didn’t have to make the trip alone. She’d taken the time to visit with Nota, who’d already begun suggesting that there were lots of ways to have a baby these days.

The woman was relentless in her quest for great-grandbabies.

“Are you ready?” Henri said as Nick wedged the cooler into the car. Mia glanced back at her tiny cottage, then over to her grandmother. “There’s still time to change your mind.”

She wouldn’t be changing her mind. “I’m ready.”

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