Page 80 of Take Me Home for Christmas

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” Elle shook her head. “It’s cute, though. I mean that she wants to be a grandmother.”

Hayden wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She stepped out of the closet, moving in the direction of the door.

“I should get dressed and get gone in case she comes back,” she said.

He reached for her elbow when she passed and guided her down to the bed. His stomach rolled at the sight of her shiny eyes.

“Belle.” He kissed her forehead.

“We’ve been dancing around the elephant in the room for weeks now. But elephants are big creatures, Hayden. They are unavoidable. Even if my job were here, your mother would never accept me as her grandchildren’s mother.” The laugh that came out of her mouth lacked any humor. “She barely tolerates me being your friend.”

Anger at his mother coursed through him. How dare she ruin this? “My mother doesn’t figure into this.”

She shook her head. “You say that now, but she’s your mother, Hayden. She’s important to you.”

“So are you!” he shouted.

Elle pressed her palm to his cheek. “I know that. And you’re very important to me. But?—”

Hayden tried to ignore the lick of panic that raced down his spine.

“No buts!” He grabbed both her elbows. “We said we were going to live in the here and now until West finishes his damn book. He hasn’t done that yet.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Let’s not spoil this special thing we have by wondering about the what-ifs.”

She dug her teeth into her bottom lip.

Hayden sighed. “I have to get to work. I’ll see you tonight?”

Elle slowly nodded.

The relief he should have felt at her agreement was nowhere to be found. After kissing him on the cheek, she padded on bare feet down the hall. The sound of the door closing was like a gut punch. He swore violently.

What a mess.

Hayden had no regrets about taking their relationship to the next level. He loved Elle. Maybe even more than he realized. And he was beginning to realize he’d sooner give up his other leg than live without her. His mother would just have to get over it. If she didn’t, so be it.

He hadn’t changed his mind about begging her to stay in Chances Inlet. It had to be her idea. Only they were running out of time. Which meant he needed to come up with a backup plan. The clock was ticking.

Shit.

There was no time to come up with one right now. Hayden was going to be late. He snatched his jacket from the chair and hurried into the hall only to stop short. Beula sat in the middle of the floor blocking his way. The look she gave him was so much like his grandmother’s “don’t screw this up” look, he was taken aback.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m working on it,” he told the cat.

The cat continued eyeing him in disbelief.

“I promise.”

With a swish of her tail, the cat wandered off—message delivered. Hayden rushed out the door praying he could find a solution that would allow him to keep that promise.

ChapterTwenty

If Hayden had comeby the inn to set Livi straight, the woman was taking it exceptionally well.

“Elle,” she gushed when Elle entered the inn’s parlor later for afternoon tea. Livi patted the seat next to her. “I’ve been looking for you.”

And I’ve been avoiding you.

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