Page 9 of Secret Santas and Holiday Dances

And she’d left a gift for him. He considered opening it for a full minute, then decided he’d wait—for what, he wasn’t sure. He shoved the present in his pocket.

Turning, he rushed down the stairs and out to the road. He darted across Main Street to Life on Canvas and pushed inside. The heat from the studio wrapped around him, enveloping him like a warm hug. He tugged at his gloves and shoved them in his pocket, then shucked his coat as he searched for Grace in the crowd. It had to be the busiest he’d ever seen in the place, even for an exhibit. Did the woman do anything halfway? He doubted it.

He found her through the throng of people a moment later. She stood in front of a painting, chatting with her cousins, Caroline Winslow and Jessie Young, and Jessie’s husband Alexander Young. Liam had helped Alex and his partner, Charlie Beaumont, purchase land along the river over the summer. He liked the guy. Liam couldn’t take his eyes off Grace. She wore a cream dress, belted in the middle with a brown leather belt. Her blond locks hung in waves about her shoulders, and she wore little practical black flats.

Her gaze caught his, her cheeks rouging prettily against her pale skin, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. He quirked a grin at her. She blinked, her smile dropping, and she took a step back.

That’s right, sweetheart.

Liam advanced on her with long strides.

You’re caught.

Chapter 5

“This is amazing. You’ve outdone yourself, Grace!” Jessie beckoned her from the back of the gallery, where Grace had dropped off her jacket.

She rubbed the chill off her arms from being outside and hurried through the crowd to her cousins. Caroline, Jessie, and Alex hadn’t been here when she’d left five minutes ago—she must have just missed them.

“Too bad Charlie couldn’t come tonight,” Alex said, “huh, Caroline? He would’ve loved this.”

“Oh, he for sure would’ve,” Caroline said, pushing back a loose lock of her golden hair. “David’s never had this many people at an exhibit before. He must thank his lucky stars he found you.”

If David thought that, he hadn’t said anything. Grace spotted him in the throng talking to Davina Charles, her black hair, tanned skin, and outgoing personality like a beacon in the room. He was introducing her to customers. Davina’s paintings and prints were selling like hotcakes. They’d already sold three of her paintings and close to thirty prints.

A couple of patrons passed by Grace, talking loudly. “I can’t believe David got Davina here!” one woman said.

Grace swallowed a lump in her throat and forced herself to keep smiling. She’d gotten Davina here, but everyone thought it’d been David’s doing. Made sense. He was the manager, after all. Wasn’t her place to say anything. This wasn’t about credit, anyway. And David was happy. If he was happy, then maybe she’d have a shot at getting her work in here someday. Maybe.

Caroline grabbed her hand. “We’re so proud of you!”

“Thank you.”

“Did Allie and Jo stop in?” Jessie asked. “I saw them earlier today—said they were planning on it.”

Grace nodded. “They did, just after six. Brought me dinner from Cash’s place.” Cash’s place was the nickname the town had dubbed Jo’s husband’s restaurant instead of calling it by its actual name. It had kind of a long name. They’d brought her a pulled pork sandwich on a fresh roll with coleslaw. It’d been mouthwatering. Grace officially had the best cousins in the world. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d felt so welcome.

“Have you tried the mac and cheese yet?” Alex sounded a little too eager.

Grace smiled and shook her head.

“I think I’m addicted,” Alex said.

Jessie rolled her eyes. “No ‘think’ about it. You are. But if I ever catch you eating it in bed, you’re getting booted to the couch.”

Alex chuckled and pulled Jessie close, kissing her on the side of her head. “I would never. I’d only bring you and Big to bed.” Big was their Newfoundland dog they rescued from the pound. And “Big” was an understatement. He beat grace in height and weight—hands down.

The couple continued their flirting, and Grace couldn’t help but feel a brief pang of loneliness. She had so much in her life now, so many wonderful people, that she felt guilty wanting more, but she did. Goose bumps rose on her arms just then, and she flushed as she looked around.

Grace wasn’t sure what it was about Liam Nichols, but whenever he walked into a room, she always felt him before she saw him. Even in a crowded room, like the one she was in now, the beacon proclaiming him present never failed.

She caught his eye across the room and tried to hold back her threatening smile. It wasn’t hard when his penetrating gaze met hers, challenging her. She stopped breathing and stepped back. He knew! Wait, did he? Could he? She thought back. The alley had been empty. She’d checked before going in and out. No, he didn’t know. He couldn’t!

He grinned, mischief lighting up his eyes from the inside out, and headed her way like a man on a mission.

He did. Darn him and his facial expressions she could read like shorthand.

Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no!

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