Page 22 of Can't Miss Christmas

Someone wiped a circle in one of the foggy windows. “There’s a Greyhound sitting out there.”

“There’s a dog in the snow?” a dark-haired woman with Italian features said, standing up. “Let’s bring him in!”

“I think they mean a Greyhoundbus, Bella,” a darkly handsome man said next to her, tugging her down.

“Those damn tourists,” Scott said, coming around the bar. “I’ll tell them to head to one of the bars on Main Street.”

Before Grace could take a gulp of her drink or Scott could reach the door, it opened. And in the doorway, taking up a good portion of it with his wide shoulders, was Graham.

* * *

Graham.At the sight of his face, so familiar, so dear, Grace’s breath caught. Her heart felt as full and heavy as a basketball trapped in her chest. Graham slid into the now-empty chair next to her. “Did the bus break down?” she asked, mentally smacking herself for not saying something, anything, better than small talk. Fear seemed to freeze her tongue. Actually, she was terrified. Not to mention shaking all over.

He reached over and took a sip of her drink. “Nope. I’m back because I paid the driver a hundred bucks.” He smiled. “And promised everyone a free drink.” Sure enough, a gaggle of people were piling from the bus into the bar.

A middle-aged man passed by, playfully slapping Graham on the back on his way to the counter. “Thanks a lot, buddy.”

“No problem, Ed,” Graham said. He turned to Grace. “I’m here because of you.”

She looked up at him. “Because of me?” she whispered. Oh, one look in his warm brown eyes and she lost it. Relief and panic coursed through her. He’d come back for her? Despite the fact that she’d rejected him and hadn’t even had the courage to tell him how she really felt?

How could someone love her like that?

He placed his big hand over hers where she’d rested it on top of the mahogany bar. “Yeah,” he said. “Because I can’t live without you. Because I regret what happened to us every second of my life. Because I love you, and I believe wecanbegin again.”

“I ran after you, but by the time I got to the lobby, you were gone.” She stood up and ran her hand down his cheek, feeling the soft and scratchy textures of his skin. Like life, maybe. The better and the worse. Now it was time for the truth. He’d done everything for her, even stopped the bus and come back. She owed it to him to be honest.

“You’re the love of my life, Graham. I’ve never stopped needing you. I did a terrible job telling you that. I tried to steel myself against feeling things, like I was protecting myself from more hurt. And I never told you how much I loved you, but Graham, I never stopped.”

Their lips met, soft and warm and wonderful, under the festive lights. Grace slid her hands around his neck and kissed him like she’d never kissed him before. Kisses of passion and, more importantly, of promise, that they would stick together no matter what life threw at them next. He tasted like apple cider ale and forever, a pretty amazing combination.

“Last call for Philly,” the bus driver yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Hey, buddy, you on the bus or no?”

“You can’t miss Christmas,” Grace whispered. “Your brother.”

“Christmas is wherever you are, Grace,” Graham said. “And I wouldn’t miss that for the world.” He gathered her hands in his. She felt his warmth spread all through her. “We can both get on the early bus tomorrow. Come home with me. We’ll spend Christmas together. And every day after that.”

“I’d love to go home with you,” she said. “I’ve missed your family.”

“They’ve missed you too. My mother will be thrilled. She hasn’t been the same since we split up.”

She stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. “Then let’s never split up again.”

“I don’t ever want to spend another night apart from you. Even if it involves neuro checks every two hours with blinding lights.” And he kissed her, long and sweet and slow.

* * *

They spent the next few hours caroling and eating and drinking. Everyone was so well-intentioned and friendly that it was difficult to extricate themselves from the great company. It was near midnight when Graham gathered their coats and they finally made their way to the door.

“Are you sorry we stayed so late?” Grace asked Graham.

If it had been up to him, he would’ve left hours ago. “Well, I’ve wanted to be alone with you since the second I walked in, but it’s been great to get to know everyone.”

“I think we’ve made friends for life,” she said.

“Maybe we should come back when the car’s done and check this place out some more.”

“You can’t leave yet,” Scott said.

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