Page 67 of Inherited Holiday

“Who’s my girl?” He kissed her again, harder that time. “You’re my good girl. Come with me.”

The truth was, I was ready to throw it all away…

For him.

The immediate relief I felt when he kissed me with such passion and devotion was like nothing I could begin to describe. It was as if my world was back in place, and everything was as it should be.

I lost myself in that kiss.

There.

With him.

In his arms.

With this body pressed against mine.

Our hearts against one another.

Nicholas’s pride was his biggest strength and his greatest weakness. His determination would get him far, that much I was positive of. I knew he’d made all his dreams come true. It was how he was made. When he set his mind to something, there was no telling him no. He’d make it happen, no matter what or who tried to block him.

A huge part of me wanted to move with him, but I had my own dreams too. I wanted to accomplish so much; I just never imagined it would be without him.

Not in this town.

The one I loved so much.

The one I wanted a future in.

Raise a family in.

The one I finally had a life in.

For a few seconds, I sincerely thought that maybe I was getting through to him. That he was going to choose me in the end, us, and this would be the beginning of our fairy tale.

Until he expressed, “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

I lost.

Maybe in another life, we could have been together.

Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for us.

Maybe we just weren’t meant to be.

Maybe…

Maybe…

Maybe…

I repeated his same words, “I’m sorry, I can’t.” In reference to leaving with him.

“Why?” he instantly argued.

I could see his anger fueling.

“How can you ask me to leave? You know how much this place means to me. Your whole family is here. Why would you want to leave?”

---