Page 39 of One Night at Christmas

“Wait. What?”

“I never thought I would feel this way or make this decision. I know you said you’ll be the one to sacrifice, but it’s not going to happen.” She started to speak, but he laid a finger over her lips. “Gretchen and I are tied up in a lot of financial crap I’m not going to go into. It’s going to take time to unravel. I’ll have to liquidate quite a few of my holdings—if she cooperates. With all the hoops I’ll probably have to jump through, it could take months, maybe a year. After that, we’ll move back to North Carolina into the area of your choosing.”

“I—”

“Before you jump to conclusions, I already talked to my lawyer to file for legal separation from Gretchen.. It’s a process on the financial side, but I don’t want you to think I’m making you false promises to get you into bed.”

“I know.” She ducked her head.

He touched his forehead to hers. “She made you worry, and I took so long. I’m truly sorry, my love. I wanted to get over here sooner. Just know that I’m here now. I’ve moved out of the house I shared with her.”

“That quick?”

“Yeah. Once I make a decision… Do you feel better now? Is there anything else I can explain?”

“Not right now.”

“I’m going to go have a chat with her, and when I’m done she’s going to apologize to you.”

“God, no. I don’t want to see her again. That hurt, but I’m over it. As long as I know Naomi and I aren’t on the street, I’m good.”

“You’ll never be without as long as I’m alive. I love you, Charon. Coming back to New York, dealing with all I’ve had to do over the last couple of days, it only sol

idifies it.”

She stroked his cheek. “I love you too. And Naomi and I have some gifts for you under the tree.”

“My car is overflowing with gifts for the two of you.”

Her eyes widened. “For her too?”

“Of course. She’ll be my stepdaughter from now on.”

She stared, but he played off the comment as if it didn’t take her breath away.

“Bryson, stay the night. Deal with Gretchen after the holiday.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I don’t want you to go again. I can’t bear it. Not yet.”

“Then I’ll go out to the car and bring the presents in. I’ve got a suitcase out there too, but I checked into a hotel. I don’t want to rush you.”

She laughed. “Meanwhile, you used a key to try to get into my apartment.”

“I told you I was surprising you.”

“Uh-huh.” She smacked his arm. “Okay, hurry up.”

He kissed her lips and rushed out the door. While he was gone, she ran to her room, grabbed the special bag she’d left there, and darted into the bathroom. She had moments before he returned to get herself ready. Tonight, after four years, she was going to be intimate with the man who owned her heart. And she would show him just how desirable he was no matter what that evil witch said.

Chapter Seventeen

Charon heard his heavy footsteps on the stairs and lay down. She had spread a blanket in front of the fireplace to the left of the tree. Her legs were chilly, but she figured they would be fine in a bit. She tugged the hem of the nightie to cover her bare snatch. That meant the delicate material strained over her breasts, accentuating them. Not a bad look so she kept the pose.

Bryson opened the door, and all the packages he held went tumbling to the carpet. She bit down on a snort of laughter. “I hope nothing was breakable in there.”

“Damn,” he murmured.

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