Page 102 of Unwrapping Romance

I stood up, gripped her hips, and pressed my lips against hers.

“We need to talk about some things.”

“Damn right, we do, Jack. What is going on? You told your father he’d never be a part of Ellie’s life, and now you’re sending her to dinner with him?” She pushed my hands off her hips. “You’ve been acting like a lunatic all day.”

“And I have reasons for that. I’m going to explain the reasons to you once Ellie leaves. Now, calm down.” I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. “Everything is going to be okay.”

My father and Gabriela arrived and took Ellie.

“You be good for Grandpa and Gabriela.”

“She can call me Gigi.” Gabriela smiled.

“I will, Daddy. Bye. Bye, Sierra.”

“Bye, Ellie.” She waved.

The second I shut the door, I turned, and Sierra stood there with her arms folded and a scowl on her face. “Spill it now, Jack!”

“First, I’m going to pour you a nice glass of wine, a bourbon for me, and we’ll sit and talk.”

“I can pour my own damn wine.” She went into the kitchen.

Sighing, I poured myself a bourbon. Sierra walked into the living room and sat on the couch. I told her what happened to me yesterday on the bench. Then I told her about my conversation with Everly.

“That is really bizarre, Jack.”

“I know. I thought I was having a mental breakdown. I met with my father this morning after I dropped you at the office. We talked over breakfast. It’s time to put the past to rest and all the hatred. It’s consumed my life for far too long. My grandfather was right about the holidays, and I let it sink in.”

“Well, I’m happy you’ve resolved your issues. But you went and turned the tables on me. Just because you’ve had this epiphany doesn’t mean I have. I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Sierra, do you love me?”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“Answer my question. Do you love me?”

“Jack—I—I”

“It’s that hard for you to answer me? Well, guess what?” I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I love you. I’m so in love with you that I can’t see straight.”

“You are?”

“Yes.” I let go of her hand, brought mine to her face, and cradled it. “I love you, Sierra Knight, and I would like you to do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend.”

A smile crossed her face as tears filled her eyes. “I love you too, Jack. I was just too afraid to say it in case you didn’t feel the same about me.”

I leaned in and kissed her soft lips before wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into me. “Thank you, sweetheart. You have no idea how much that means to me. See, there’smagic in the holidays, after all.” I broke our embrace and smiled. “We’ve been too blinded to see the beauty of it all.” My thumb swept across her cheek.

“Well, I’m happy you’ve reconciled and set aside your differences with your father. But, the holidays still represent many bad memories for me.”

“This year, we’re starting over as if we’re experiencing Christmas for the first time—just you, Ellie, and I. I never want my daughter to view the holidays as holiday hell. I want every year to be as special as the last.”

“How did we get here?” she asked.

“The magic of the holidays, I guess.” A smile crossed my lips. “Did you call the caterer?”

“Yes. He’s available on Friday the 20th. He was booked on the 21stwith another party.”

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