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18 Will
I COULDN’T TAKE my eyes off Miranda as she mingled comfortably with my mom and sister. Nothing made me happier than to see her embraced by the two women who’d meant the most to me. They had welcomed Miranda into our lives with open arms just as I had hoped they would.
“Meet me in my office in thirty minutes.” My father’s voice faded as he passed behind me. I turned in his direction, but he acted as if it hadn’t been the strangest thing he’d ever done.
“I thought Jason was coming?” my mother asked, a smidge of irritation on her face. “We’ll be eating in an hour.”
“Maybe he got held up.” I shrugged. “It’s Jason. Are we really heartbroken he’s late?”
As my mother walked away, Miranda came into focus. She was staring up at the ornaments on the tree, looking delicious in that crimson dress. There wasn’t a single piece of her I’d change. Small ankles, gorgeous legs, fair skin, full breasts and—
“You have that look in your eyes.”
I smiled, turning toward my grandfather. “What look is that, sir?”
“The look of love. You have it in spades, a glimmer in your eyes, a small curl to your lips, a hard-on…”
“Whoa! Sir, what’s gotten into you?” I turned away from Miranda when her eyes met mine.
He chuckled, gripping my shoulder. “Do you deny it?”
“To my dying breath.”
He firmly patted my back. “Just like I taught you. Except, red cheeks will give you away every time. Work on that.”
“Yes, sir.” The old man was the most observant person I knew. But looking at my crotch? That was taking it too far. Of course, he’d deny it to his dying breath. At almost eighty, he had aged quite well. I grew up hearing Sean Connery was his doppelgänger. No chance it might be the other way around. A St. James was never beneath anyone. Not even Double O Seven himself.
“She’s exquisite… Treat her well.” He elbowed me.
Jeez, I wished everybody would stop acting like I was a loser. I had never mistreated a woman. Even though I only had one-night stands, I still respected the women I had been with. They had enjoyed themselves. That was what mattered.
“I intend to. I’m not blind, you know. Miranda is so much more than a pretty face. She has a heart of gold. She’s witty, a hard worker… and she makes me damn happy.” This fullness in my chest was a first. So was the pride I felt being with her.
Miranda smiled brightly, summoning me with alluring eyes.
“Here.” Grandfather handed me a small bunch of mistletoe with a red ribbon tied around it. “Go get your girl, and remember, kiss her often and never go to bed angry. Tomorrow isn’t promised.”
And with his heart-stopping comment, he walked away.
Gram had died unexpectedly nine years ago. Grandfather talked about her often without directly mentioning her. It gutted me. He’d told me once that saying her name, Jo, short for Josephine, was like losing her all over again. They had fiercely loved each other, freely showed affection, and were playful. To have a love like theirs never seemed possible to me. My parents’ relationship was austere comparatively.
I felt all sorts of foreign emotions burrowing inside me, yet oddly, they felt incredibly right. Something told me Gram would have adored Miranda.
I strutted over tomygirland held the mistletoe above her head.
“Will?” Her dazzling blue eyes flashed up to the sprig. Pink cheeks and a smile were all theyesI needed.
I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her to me.
“Oh, Will…”
Our lips connected, and the world disappeared as Grandfather’s words swirled in my head.Tomorrow isn’t promised.
Simone’s and Lily’s whispers didn’t distract us nor did Grandfather’s baritone voice. Claiming my girl in front of the family was a first for me. But with Miranda, it felt natural, like we had always been together.
I caressed her lips, tasting a hint of cranberry. Her warm body pressed to mine, flooding my senses. I could stay in this moment forever, never breaking for air… She was all I needed.
“Oh goody, I made it in time for the love scene.” Jason’s voice caused Miranda to suck in a breath and pull back.
