Page 70 of Once Upon a Christmas Beauty

A round of gasps rang out.

“He didn’t,” Del cried.

And now we know who Jennifer is.

Mia’s vision went red. “Oh, it seems he certainly did.”

*

Alex collapsed ontohis hotel bed Saturday night, opting not to make the drive back to Indy. What a whirlwind day, both physically and emotionally. But the one person he wanted to share it with wasn’t here with him. Even worse, she didn’t know about the second half of it.

I’ll fix that all tomorrow, he told himself, and sent a quick text letting her know he was thinking about her. Hell, when wasn’t he? Alex was falling hard and fast for her, just like back in college.

When fifteen minutes went by without a response, it finally dawned on him to check the time. Shoot, it was going on eleven—she’d probably crashed an hour ago. After all, she’d had a whirlwind kind of day, too.

Man, he wished she had been able to go with him to the second event. The store was bigger, his signing table had been fancier and decorated with fancy balloons, and a tripod had been set up with a large poster announcing who he was. In addition to cocoa, there was also a coffee bar and designer cupcakes, compliments of his parents. It was great having them there, his father finally looking proud rather than dismissive at his newfound “hobby,” and his mother having the most lucid day she’d had in weeks, per his aunt. And the line of people at one time had snaked nearly back to the entry door—had that extra box of books not accidentally been shipped to B-A-P, they would have run out before the event was over.

Even so, the entire time he felt something was missing. Someonewas missing.

Mia.

He couldn’t wait to tell her that, and the sense of urgency boosted his courage to face the tough conversation ahead.

When no response from Mia came, he texted Tom, checking in to see how his friend was feeling and giving a quick update on the Mia front. He also finally fessed up that he hadn’t been entirely truthful with Mia on a few things but was going to take his advice about being honest and make things right. That was a text he didn’t expect a response from this late, but he knew Tom would get it eventually. With his conscience clear for the first time in weeks, Alex drifted quickly off to sleep.

He woke to find Mia had read his text but not responded. That was odd. Though maybe she was at church and didn’t want to be texting during the sermon? He waited until eleven fifteen to try again. She should be out by then.

Good morning, beautiful! Headed your way soon. Is your afternoon still open for me to visit?

Sure, was her response.

Sure? Okay, something was wrong. Was she mad that he’d left so quickly after the event yesterday? She’d seemed okay with it at the time, so what had changed?

Maybe she knows.

He brushed that thought aside. There was no way she could have known about the second signing unless someone had driven up, seen him, and reported back. Oh no—he hadn’t even thought of that possibility. Though, what were the chances?

Rather than spend the next few hours worrying—he needed to time his arrival in Bourbon Falls as though he’d driven up from Indy—he found a cute little coffee shop near the Notre Dame campus to review and respond to the most recent round of comments from his editor. It was something he should have done days ago, but with all he had going on at home, there simply hadn’t been time. And despite her hounding him to respond, Alex was relieved to find he had very little to review. Apparently, she loved his addition of Tipsy Barrel Bourbons to the manuscript, and once he responded to her handful of remaining comments, she would send it on for the next round of edits. If all went well, its publication date was set for late June. Perfect.

Alex knocked out a few work emails, started a to-do list for the continuation of his hurried transition to CEO, and then called it a day. Work could wait. Right now, he had some confessions to make and his girl to hold.

The drive to Bourbon Falls was quick and painless, the light snow they’d received yesterday long since cleared by salt and plow. Alex spent the forty-minute drive rehearsing his confession speech, trying to mentally prepare for how Mia might react. Hopefully, her sympathetic heart would see past his mistakes and make room for some grace. Because after this, he never wanted to lie to her again. It was a promise he intended to keep.

Brooklyn’s car wasn’t in the driveway when he pulled in, and anticipation grew in his chest. If they had their talks fast enough, maybe there would be time for makeup sex. Hell, maybe Mia wouldn’t be mad at him at all and it would just be long-time-no-see sex. Or “hey, it’s Sunday” sex. So long as it had sex in it, he would be game.

Confession first. Then the fun stuff.

Alex trotted up the front steps, rapped on the door, and waited. Waited some more. Okay, maybe he should have grabbed his coat from the car. He knocked again, a little louder this time, and rubbed his hands together to keep warm. When the door finally opened, the gleeful face he was used to being greeted by was gone, replaced by a cool, distant Mia.

Dread filled his chest. What could have possibly happened?

“Hey there, beautiful.” Her right brow ticked higher. “Uh, can I come in?”

“Sure.” She waved him in but remained by the door. “Wasn’t sure if you would show or not.”

He frowned, remaining in the entryway as well. “Did you not get my message that I was heading out soon?”

“I did. I just wasn’t sure if I should believe it or not.”

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