Page 49 of Inherited Holiday

I shrugged. “You’ve just always been so supportive of Nicholas, and I didn’t think you’d want him to own something that he clearly never wanted.”

The concerned expression on her face quickly shifted to endearment. Her eyes always lit up when she talked about her grandson. She lit up when she talked about all her family, but with Nicholas it was different. He was special to her.

“Nicholas has yet to figure out he can do both.”

“What do you mean both?”

“He can relocate his company here.”

“I thought his grandfather didn’t want him to do that.”

She smirked. “His grandfather is no longer here, and it wasn’t that he didn’t want him to open his own business. It was more like he wanted him to follow in his footsteps. Forgive me for saying this, but my husband was a hard-ass when it came to not getting his way. That was why he was such a successful businessman. He never took no for an answer, and I believe Nicholas was the first to ever do so.”

“Does he know that?”

“Yes, but I know in my heart he’ll come around to the idea of him owning a piece of paradise and also his business that he’s worked so hard for. Especially after you guys get married and have kids. Who knows…” She winked at me. “You might be pregnant already.”

I gasped. “Oh…”

She smirked again. “So, you have been sleeping with my grandson?”

“I… I… I…”

“It’s okay, darling. I may be old, but I’m not old enough not to realize you two are in love, and I couldn’t approve more.”

My gaze widened. “Really?”

“Absolutely. You were made for each other. You always have been. All I’ve ever wanted is for my family to be happy, and now that the love of my life is gone, I’m making sure that my family will be okay once I’m gone too. It’s on my shoulders to make that happen.”

“I understand wanting to feel that way.”

She reached for my hands as if we were just two schoolgirls gossiping.

With the warmest smile, she announced, “You’re the key that holds Nicholas’s heart and the key to his Christmas. You’re his home, Noelle. You’ve always been his home. Wherever you are, he’ll be happy. Because at the end of the day, you hold his Grinch heart.”

Before I could reply, she pulled me into a tight hug. Like a mother-type hug. I leaned into her embrace, feeling the love she was pouring.

“I didn’t know I needed to hear this until right now. Thank you, Mrs. Saint Clair.”

She kissed my cheek and left.

Once she was gone,heapproached me from behind, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. I heard hisfootsteps follow, bringing him closer to where I stood before the fountain. My breathing hitched as soon as I felt him come up behind my shaky frame. I didn’t turn around; I didn’t move. I closed my eyes but didn’t know what I was waiting for. His warmth increased the closer he got, convincing me I would combust at any moment.

We weren’t even touching, yet his presence engulfed me.

Owned me.

He was everywhere.

His hands.

His lips.

His love.

He leaned in just inches away, letting his whiskey breath brush against my ear and assault all my senses. Shivers coursed through me and down my spine while my knees buckled.

I wrapped my arms around my stomach, trying to hold in the emotions that threatened to spill, knowing he noticed. There was no way he couldn’t have felt the effect he always had over me.

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