Page 95 of His Christmas Wife

He knew exactly how much she and her family counted on her income.

“Your ex walked away because of a lack of funds. Kaylee left despite her need for a paycheck. Big difference.” With that, she stood. “That girl loves you, Evan.”

“You can’t be sure.” Could she?

“I can tell you this; you come by your stubbornness honestly. My daddy had to encourage your grandfather to propose. He couldn’t believe I’d have him.”

“Another true story?”

She crossed a finger over her heart, in an age-old gesture to vow she was telling the truth. “If you want her back, you’ll have to give her everything she wants.”

“Meaning?”

“My dearest Evan, you’ll have to tell her how you feel, risk your heart.”

All that?

“And you’ll need to grovel.”

Long after she left, Frost remained where he was as if paralyzed, Gran’s words echoing in his ears.

She believed Kaylee loved him?

He wasn’t as convinced, maybe because he didn’t deserve a woman as beautiful, as caring as she was.

Was he even capable of feeling that depth of emotion anymore? He’d loved Greta, or at least he’d thought so at the time. But when she’d walked away, part of him had been relieved.

Now though, with Kaylee? Ever since Christmas Eve, the weight of his grief buckled his knees.

Gran was right; he’d hardened himself after the scandal. It had given him resolve and helped him survive and claw his way back to the top.

Going to Kaylee would be akin to ripping open his heart and throwing it on her mercy.

But in that moment, an invincible truth hit him.

He loved Kaylee. Totally and completely.

Love?

And that meant she was worth any risk. Even if he ended up destroyed.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Even though Grandma’s Kitchen was ridiculously loud with its banging silverware and plates, along with the sounds of laughter and conversation buzzing around them, and her younger siblings squabbling over the crayons they each wanted to use on the restaurant’s kids’ menus, Kaylee froze, her senses on high alert as if danger crackled nearby.

Glancing up, she scanned the restaurant.

“Everything okay?” her mother asked.

Kaylee shook her head. “It’s fine.” But that was a lie. Her heart was racing, and her awareness tingled.

“Maybe a headache?”

That could definitely be the case. They both grinned.

Even though it was only early afternoon, the day had been ridiculously long. She’d picked up her family a little after eight, and they’d headed to a fast-food restaurant for breakfast. They’d followed that with a visit to the children’s museum. Afterward they’d ended up at City Park to run around, drink too many sodas, and eat too much junk food.

Since everyone—locals and tourists alike—seemed to be off for the holidays, every place they went was crowded. And because they were probably overtired and stuffed with sugar, the kids had been snippy.

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