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His eyes flew open, his pupils dilated. “What, angel? You okay?”
She smiled at him, the joy in her heart expanding in ever-widening circles. It was magic. It was a miracle. It was love. She laughed out loud. “Let’s go home for Christmas.”
He clenched her hips and drove upward, nearly unseating her. She barely heard his hoarse shout of completion. Her own release crashed over her, leaving her spent, exhausted and at peace.
* * *
After that, it was a race to the finish. Grant showered while Maddy threw some things into an overnight bag. He retrieved a pair of nice slacks and a dress shirt from the Jeep while Maddy debated fretfully between a simple black jersey dress with pearls and a green pantsuit. Grant voted for the dress. “Wear it without panties,” he suggested, laughing at her look of horror.
He tweaked her chin. “I’m warning you, hon. Don’t expect me to keep my hands off you just because we’re at my sister’s house.”
Maddy escaped into the bathroom, locking him out. Her nerves were jangled as it was, and teasing about sex when she was about to meet his family wasn’t helping, not at all.
They fed and walked Van Gogh and less than an hour later they were on the road. They pulled up in Georgetown at seven o’clock on the dot. The attractive Federal-style brick home with black shutters sat amidst a lawn of melting snow, the façade’s many windows each filled with a single white candle. The wreath on the door was enormous.
Maddy smoothed her dress, her fingers icy. Grant gripped her hand. “Relax, sweetheart. They’re nice people, I swear.”
Grant’s sister Beth opened the door. Her eyes widened when she spotted Maddy, but before she could do more than utter a cheerful greeting, half a dozen children from toddlers to preteens clustered around Grant and Van Gogh, clamoring for attention. Grant kissed and hugged them all, and in the melee Maddy was squeezed to the sidelines.
She didn’t mind. Watching Grant with his nieces and nephews made her heart turn over in her chest. They clearly adored him and, judging by the wide smile on his face, the sentiments were mutual. His dark slacks and crisp white shirt, accented with a whimsical Santa tie, made him look stunningly attractive. The fact that he had the dress clothes with him made her wonder if he’d intended all along to give himself the option of coming to D.C. today.
Fortunately, he didn’t leave her stranded for long. Beth was making a move in her direction just about the time Grant eased away from the pack and tucked Maddy against his side.
Beth’s curious grin demanded an explanation. She held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Beth Parker, Grant’s older sister.”
Grant waited for the women to shake hands and then kissed his sister’s cheek. “Merry Christmas, Sis. This is Maddy Tierney.”
Beth wasn’t about to be denied the details. “And . . .”
He laughed. “And I invited her to spend Christmas with us.”
Maddy felt herself blushing, but Beth’s intent regard was kind. “Come on in and see the others. We’re about ready to eat.”
The house was filled with warmth and Christmas cheer. In the large living room, carpeted in a lush moss green, the remnants of wrapping paper and bows were evidence of a frenzied gift exchange. Maddy met the other sister, Laura, the two brothers-in-law Pete and Edmund and each of the kids. Everyone was starving so, after introductions, they moved en masse to the formal dining room. The children were allowed to sit at the massive table along with everyone else, and Maddy was impressed to see that the same china and silver was set for them as for the adults.
Grant squeezed her hand under the table as he passed her the sweet potatoes. “So, what do you think?”
She scooped out a generous serving. “I think I was right. You are lucky. You have a wonderful family.”
“They like you, too.”
“How can you tell?” she asked, nibbling a piece of turkey.
He chuckled. “They let you sit at the big table.”
“Very funny.”
* * *
Grant eyed the Norman Rockwell scene with a smile of satisfaction. He knew this wasn’t a fake family picture. Sure, there were fights from time to time, marital discord, children acting out . . . But through it all, there was love.
Watching Maddy in the midst of this Christmas celebration made him want to seal the deal. She was beautiful and naturally charming, and his family loved her. How could they not?
During the dessert course, he stood up and clinked his glass, snagging everyone’s attention. He rested his hand on Maddy’s shoulder. “I want you all to be the first to know . . . Maddy and I are getting married.”
Noise exploded around the table, a mix of exclamations and cheers and laughter.
Beth glanced at Maddy, sensing her stillness. “Is this true, Maddy, or is my baby brother trying to stage one of his end runs to get you to say yes?”
