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Well, I couldn't stand for that. "Jensen, sweetheart, who's this asshole?"
The other man cocked his head. "Well, this one is feisty. I do like feisty. Pretty too. Sweetheart, are you sure you're supposed to be with this guy? I've got more money, and I’m better looking too. I'm Martin."
I twitched with the desire to slap him. God, if only Jensen would let me slap him. Jensen grabbed the last of the bags from the chauffeur and tipped him. Before I could open my mouth, he leaned down and whispered, "Remember, we’re here for Grandma Lucy. Ignore him. Otherwise, you're only succeeding in giving him what he wants."
The problem was that ignoring idiots was not my strong suit, except for Brian. Damn. My big mouth was why Jensen liked me. It was also why a lot of other people didn't.
Remember, you came for him.
I sighed. Ihadcome for him. So I'd have to play his way. "I'm Alex, Jensen's girlfriend."
I would just totally ignore that happy buzzing feeling those words gave me.
Martin grinned at me. It was really more leer than grin. "I'm Martin, and I'm CEO of Morrison Hotels." He said it like he was announcing at some grand ball. I didn't have the heart to tell him he should wait for someone else to announce him first.
"Well, you must be very proud of yourself." It was the nicest thing I could think of to say. Because what I really wanted to say was high on the inappropriate list.
Behind Martin, someone put a hand on his arm and tapped him out of the way. When he stumbled to the side, a diminutive woman with a shock of white hair, aviator sunglasses, and a wide grin said, "I've been waiting for you two to show up." Considering she'd been in the hospital, Grandma Lucy was spry enough to stride over to her grandson and wrap her thin arms around him, squeezing tight.
Now that was what I wanted from his family. The love and devotion was clear and glowing on Lucy's face. The old woman stepped back and took a proper look at her grandson. "You look like you haven't been sleeping. I certainly hope it's not because you're worried about me," she said to him.
Jensen shifted on his feet and avoided her gaze. "It's good to see you Grandma. This is Alex."
Grandma Lucy turned and scrutinized me. "I do like it when my grandson exceeds expectations." She reached out and gave me a tight hug.
Damn. Wasn't this woman supposed to be sick?
Grandma Lucy stepped back and nodded her approval. "Oh yes, you'll do just fine." Then she turned to her grandson. "Alex? Haven't you been telling me for years about your best friend, Alex?"
Jensen scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, Alex is my best friend. She's justalsomy girlfriend."
Grandma Lucy nodded. “I approve. Now let's get on inside. There's cooking to be done and rooms to be assigned. Martin, stop standing around and come get their bags. Take them up to their rooms."
Martin sputtered. "But we have valets for that."
Grandma Lucy leveled a look on her other grandson that made him jump. Martin hopped to and took the bags from Jensen. She gave Martin a satisfied nod as he lugged them inside. She leaned in and whispered to me, "Sometimes you just need to know how to handle men."
I fought a grin. I liked Grandma Lucy. Maybe this Christmas wasn't going to be so terrible after all.
"Now Jensen, I put you and Alex in the blue room. It’s south facing, so you'll get plenty of light. And you'll be able to see the shore from there."
I frowned. The blue room? As inoneroom? "Uhm, Miss Lucy. I know how traditional you must be, and I wouldn't dream of spending the night in the same room as Jensen." I sent Jensen a beseeching glance, silently pleading with him to do something.Jensen, come on. Come through for me.
Jensen shook his head. "Grandma Lucy. Since when have you been down for cohabitation? With Martin's girlfriend, you railed and railed about how that was so inappropriate under your roof. Now you're sticking me and Alex in the same room?"
Grandma Lucy just waved him off. "I was saying that because I didn't like the girl. She was a gold-digging wh—"
"Grandma Lucy," he said with the faintest hint of warning in his voice.
His grandmother shrugged then took my hand. "Well, I call a spade a spade. And that's what she was. And that's why I didn't want her digging her claws into my grandson. But of course Martin doesn't listen to me. And that, one day, will bite him in the ass." She led me to the doorway and then went ahead of me. When Jensen followed, his grandmother turned around and smiled at both of us. "Go on now, Jensen, kiss your girlfriend."
I froze. What the hell? There was no way I could endure another kiss from Jensen. The other day when we were shopping, it was one thing to endure it to make Brian jealous. But I couldn't possibly kiss him just because. My heart couldn't take it. Neither could my libido. Incinerating on the doorstep was not a way to impress for sure.
Jensen shifted from foot to foot. Then leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Grandma, is there mistletoe all over this house?"
Grandma Lucy giggled. "Just because your grandfather is long gone, it doesn't mean I can't feel the romantic spirit of Christmas."
"I never thought of Christmas as particularly romantic," I said.
