Page 8 of Snowbound with the Santas

I don’t care about anything else. I need to find her, tell her he’s here, and let her take care of it.

I’ll be a model daughter for the rest of the trip. I’ll do what she asks, behave how she needs me to, and do anything I can to make her proud.

I just need her.

The ride up to her floor is rapid, and tears have built in my eyes by the time the doors open. I’m fighting with myself, wrestling with the urge to tear my dress off while I hurry down the corridor toward her room. The closer I get, the more I lose control of my emotions.

I tried to come clean to my mother in the past about what Ashton put me through and the terrible things I did as a result, but she was a closed book. Her own prejudices made her look down on him, and right now, I need her to react the same way.

“Mom?”

I don’t stop to knock. As soon as I press on the door handle, it gives way under my grip and I shove the door open. Tears of relief flood my eyes and spill over as a sob tears out of my chest.

I can’t hold it together any longer.

“Mom, I need you. I need you to?—”

I stumble to a stop, my heels catching on the soft fluff of the plush cream carpet. The words die in my throat as my mother tears herself away from the man who just had his tongue down her throat.

A pulse of heat blooms across my already burning skin, and my next breath wobbles with a muted sob.

My mom is kissing…

“Uncle Cecil?” Through flowing tears, I take them both in while rooted to the spot in shock. “What the hell is going on?”

4

RAYNE

“Mom? Uncle Cecil?”

There’s something so disjointed about catching them kissing, and the room freezes for a few long seconds. It’s like walking in and seeing your best friend kissing your man, only so much worse because my mom isn’t supposed to be in a relationship. She’s always been single. Always independent.

My mom… and Uncle Cecil.

My Uncle Cecil has been around for as long as I can remember, but as Mom’s friend and nothing more. In fact, the number of times she complained about him, I’d been sure that she didn’t even like him that much. All she cared about was how high her status was by being so close to a government official. He was a status symbol and nothing more.

Now they’re kissing?

My thoughts become stuck on that one single detail and I forget all other reasons for coming in here.

“Rayne!” My mother wipes her thumb along her lower lip and then shakes her head. “You really should knock before barging in here!”

“I… I needed to talk to you. I looked everywhere for you and instead, you’re up here kissinghim?”

I glance at Cecil, who can’t meet my eye. He’s looking anywhere but at me, and the top of his cheekbones are dusted pink. He’s the closest thing to a father I’ve ever had—but saying that, work has always been his number-one priority, which is partly why it’s so strange seeing him engaging in something so human.

“Well, what for?” Mom barks at me, adjusting the glistening jewels of her necklace.

“Huh?”

“Don’thuh,Rayne. It’s incredibly unbecoming for a lady. You saypardon.”

I stare at her blankly, unable to process what she’s saying. I’m still stuck on their hiding here and kissing. Mom tsks sharply behind her teeth and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“Why were you looking for me?” Mom repeats.

“No—no, you have to tell me what’s going on here? Why were you two—I mean, I didn’t even know youlikedeach other like that!”

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