Page 28 of A Christmas Changes Everything

“I thought so.”

“But everything we did today just really put us in the Christmas spirit,” Emme explained.

“I know, but you also have to understand we can’t do everything all in one weekend either.”

Wren looked up through her lashes at Holly. “But maybe we can do something tomorrow?” Her expression and tone were full of hope.

“Maybe,” she conceded.

“After we check with Uncle Chace,” Emme stipulated for good measure.

“Exactly,” Holly agreed and glanced at her watch. “But right now, it’s bedtime.”

Though their little faces fell in disappointment, neither tried to wheedle any extra time out of her. For that, Holly was eternally grateful and pulled them in for goodnight hugs and kisses before they crawled into their beds.

She was about to snap off the light when Emme’s voice stopped her. “Aunt Holly?”

“Yes.”

“Will you give Uncle Chace a hug and kiss goodnight for us?”

Holly’s heart slammed to a halt. At least that’s what felt like was happening inside her chest at her goddaughter’s request. Swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat, Holly wracked her brain for a suitable response since “not a good idea” would undoubtedly lead to more questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

Realizing her silence might also prompt further inquiries, Holly said what she hoped would suffice. “If he’s awake.”

The second the words fell from her lips, Holly hastily retreated from the room and quietly pulled the door closed behind her, praying hard that Chace remained fast asleep on the sofa until she made it safely to her room. It was a great plan until she turned in the hallway and ran smack dab into a towering wall of rock-hard muscle.

Shit!

10

Chace had opened his mouth to alert Holly to his presence when she flew out of the twins’ room and barreled right into him, her momentum knocking them both slightly off balance. Instead of falling on their asses, their quick reflexes took over. Chace grabbed her biceps at the same time Holly slammed her palms against his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

Neither spoke.

Nor moved.

It was as if they were suspended in time.

Hell, Chace wasn’t even sure he was still breathing. The only thing he knew for certain was how much he wanted to close the gap between them, lower his head, and kiss the living hell right out of her. He would have too if she dared to look up at him rather than boring a hole straight through the wall of his chest with her gaze.

He still might, considering Holly had yet to move so much as a muscle. Not to release her hold on his shirt or to pull free from his grasp.

How long they stood there like statues was anyone’s guess. Probably no more than a few seconds, though for him, it felt like a freaking eternity. He was torn about what to do. Should he break the spell by saying something or remain rooted in place forever?

Chace suspected the twins were still awake, since he’d heard voices before Holly flew out of the room. Not wanting to chance them getting up to investigate only to find him standing with Holly in the hallway, he decided to go with a bit of humor. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m awake.”

With a shake of her head, Holly blinked and unfisted his shirt. She smoothed the fabric back in place with a slide of her palms over his pecs, which only magnified the already intense urge he was fighting—to sweep her up in his arms and carry her straight down the hallway to his bed.

As if she sensed the internal battle waging war within him, Holly stepped back, putting enough space between them for their arms to drop back to their sides. Too bad the distance did nothing to extinguish the burning need for this woman raging like an inferno through his entire being.

But if separating himself from Holly by half a continent for the better part of the last eight years hadn’t done a thing to diminish his feelings, twelve inches didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of succeeding.

“I’m going downstairs,” Holly stated after several long seconds, careful to keep her voice low before skirting around him to make her escape.

Chace caught up with her in the kitchen a few minutes later.

“Holly.”

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