Page 77 of Not Home Alone

I can’t let Voss weasel his way into this town through The Moody Group. I just can’t. My pulse hasn’t settled since I stopped shoveling snow, and now I feel my blood pressure skyrocketing. I feel the weight of carrying on my father’s legacy, but carrying the burden of knowing I could have prevented the company from being sold to an unethical businessman with ice in his veins is more than I’m willing to bear. No matter what. I’m doing this. I have to take over the company.

* * *

Luminaria Night on Main Street. This is exactly why I want to keep Holly Grove central to The Moody Group’s strategy, not just another line item in the portfolio. This is our foundation. This is what fueled my dad to start his company to begin with; he just doesn’t remember. It’s a tradition in this town—not as old as The Notcracker—but I haven’t been here since my mom brought me when I was a kid.

There are over 5,000 flame-resistant luminaria bags set up along the sidewalks of Main Street all the way down to the park. They’re filled with sand on the bottom and tea lights. All of this is on top of the strings of white lights that cover the downtown district already, and it’s like all of Holly Grove is glowing. And all the storefronts have living window displays tonight. Some stores have local bands playing, some have people in costumes waving at passersby, some have a Christmas-themed tableau. The Christmas Barn window features Joe Tucker in a Santa costume, his new wife as Mrs. Claus, and a few little kids dressed as elves. I would never tell any of the Tuckers this, but my favorite is the one with the puppies.

The whole town, it seems, is strolling around, taking pictures, singing along with the bands. The whole town, except for my family, that is. I’m not the kind of guy who throws around the word “magical,” unless I’m thinking about Merrily’s mouth, but what I’m seeing here on Main Street tonight—this is magical. It’s festive and warm and inviting. Just like Merrily.

“Hey, look! It’s you!” Merrily says, pointing to the guy in the Grinch costume in a store window.

“I think you mean that’s former me,” I tell her, squeezing her hand.

“Are you saying you like Christmas now?” she asks.

“I would never say that, but I don’t mind it so much when I’m with you.”

She stops in her tracks and maneuvers me to face her, so she can examine my expression. “There wasn’t even a hint of sarcasm in that statement,” she says, with awe.

“Yeah, that didn’t feel right. But it’s true. I like it. Here. With you.”

She continues to stare at me, blowing out a breath, shaking her head.

“What?”

Her big, brown eyes are shining, and her face is all pink from the cold and golden from all the candlelight. She shrugs too. Smiling, but she wipes away a tear. “I like it here with you too.”

“Hey. C’mere.” I take her beautiful face in my hands and kiss her. Not for show. Not because of mistletoe. Because I need to kiss her. Tenderly. Possessively. In front of everyone.

I don’t know for certain how things will play out over the next few days, but I know what I want. I know who I want. I want this woman. And I want everyone to know it.

“Oh, hey, Grant! Thought that was you.”

I begrudgingly pull my lips away from Merrily’s to acknowledge… “Quinn. Nice to see you.” I stand behind Merrily, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting the side of my face against hers as I plant a kiss on her temple. Like we’re posing for a prom photo. I can’t think of a more couple-y thing to do right now aside from what she just interrupted, but nothing seems to stop Quinn from trying to get what she wants. Including reality. Which is admirable in some situations, but not this one.

“I was just out for a walk with my girlfriends.” She gestures toward a group of women who are all taking selfies, seemingly amazed by how amazing they look in this amazing lighting. “Hi, Merrily,” she says, finally acknowledging the woman my arms are encircling. “I heard you’re in The Notcracker again this year. That’s very brave of you.” Merrily opens her mouth to say something, but Quinn immediately turns her attention back to me. “Are you going to be there, Grant?”

“Merrily is also directing the production, so of course I’m going to be there.”

“Great, well, I’ll be there too. Save me a seat!” she says with a wave as she turns on her heel to join her friends in taking more amazing selfies.

“I’m not going to do that,” I say under my breath to Merrily.

“It’s fine if you do,” she says, casually.

“I’m not going to. Listen…” I pull her to a somewhat quiet corner, turning her to face me so I can hold both of her hands.

“What?”

“I want to tell you this first. I’ve decided to take over my dad’s company, and⁠—”

Her face lights up, and it makes me feel so good to see her this happy. “Really?”

“Yeah. It’s not official until I tell my dad and he tells the board and I sign the contracts. There are some details I need to iron out. But I care about this town. I think there’s a lot I can do for the company and for the town if I⁠—”

I can’t finish the sentence because Merrily is kissing me. It’s the best reason to not finish a sentence. It’s the best reason to not do anything else. Ever.

People passing by call out to us by name, saying, “Hi, happy holidays.” We both wave without looking or stopping the kiss. It feels like people around town, aside from Quinn, accept us as a couple now. The only person I feel the need to keep proving it to—aside from Quinn—is Merrily.