I took the goblet from her. My mother always switched out the china and crystal for the holidays. My wineglass was covered in painted candy canes.
“When you called me this morning, Grey, I just couldn’t believe it. It was the hardest secret I had to keep all day.”
“Yeah, you were acting weird, Mom. I knew something was up, but not this. I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” I turned toward him. “How did you manage to plan the trip on such short notice anyway?”
Grey chugged the bourbon. “I had been thinking about it before you left. I wanted to make sure I could wrap some things up for Mason before I left town.”
I stared at him. “You’ve been planning this all along?”
Grey might have blushed. “I didn’t want to spend Christmas away from you either.”
My mother smiled. She was obviously enjoying getting to see Grey in person. He was no longer the mysterious Texas boy who swept me off my feet and out of the state.
“What about Taylor and your uncle, Grey? Have you spoken to him about the trip?” My mother was full of questions.
“Mom, we don’t really refer to Mason as an uncle.” I had filled her in on the family backstory, but that didn’t mean she really grasped how sensitive Grey was about the topic. They acted like business partners, not family members.
“Oh, sorry.” She focused on her wine.
“That’s ok.” Grey shifted on his feet. “I told Mason I would be up here. He mentioned he was spending Christmas Eve with Taylor. It’s not like we match up our schedules or anything.”
Later, when we were alone, I would ask Grey about seeing him. Taylor only lived an hour away, so it wasn’t out of the question. She and I wanted to get together one night for dinner.
My wineglass was empty. I had fulfilled my one-drink obligation. I followed my mother into the kitchen. There was something I had to talk to her about.
“Mom, I-I don’t want to make things uncomfortable…” I wasn’t sure how to approach the topic of shacking up with my boyfriend. It was one thing for me to be out of sight doing it, but in their backyard was a different story.
“Ahh, you want to know about staying in the guesthouse.”
I nodded. “Is it going to freak Dad out?” I helped her rinse out the candy cane wineglasses.
She laughed. “Of course it’s going to freak him out, but we talked about it. We’d rather have you in the guesthouse for Christmas, happy with Grey, than in here with us and miserable. Besides, we already had to cross that mental hurdle when you moved in together.” She patted my back. “I think he’s great, Eden. I really do.”
“You do?” I didn’t realize I had been waiting for some kind of affirmation from her. I guess that was the bonus part of not knowing Grey was on his way. Otherwise, I would have been a nervous wreck all day.
“Yes. And I can tell Dad thinks so too. Now, go grab your bag and we’ll see you for breakfast.”
I looked at the clock. “It is late, and I’m tired after the caroling.”
“I’m sure.” She gave me one of those maternal looks that said she read right through my words.
“Goodnight, Mom.” I gave her a quick hug and raced to my room. My clothes were scattered. I could gather everything tomorrow. All I needed tonight was my toothbrush and a change of clothes for the morning. I wasn’t planning on sleeping in anything.
The guesthouse smelled like cinnamon and looked like something out of a movie scene. I couldn’t have set a more romantic setting. Grey closed the door behind us, shaking the snow from his coat, and then turned to secure the deadbolt.
“I like your parents. They’re nice, but I knew they would be.” He carried my bag to the bedroom. I was right behind him, not wanting to create a foot of space between us.
I threw my coat on the floor and pulled the sweater over my head.
“Well, hey.” He turned to see me shedding my clothes. He closed the distance as his lips crashed into mine.
“Hey.” My hands traced the zipper on his coat and tugged until it was off his arms.
I quickly worked the buttons on his shirt until I could feel the hard planes of his chest. He shivered as I worked my hands over his shoulders.
“It’s cold up here,” he whispered in my ear.
“Let me help with that.” I reached for the zipper on his jeans and wrestled with the snap. Grey stepped out of the jeans and kicked them to the side.
I felt the warmth spread through my body as his lips moved from my ear down my neck and along my throat. His breath was hot as he traced the line between my breasts. He slipped my bra off and tossed it on the floor.
I couldn’t believe this morning I woke up alone, and now here we were, together like this.
His mouth descended over my breast, and he began to suck and nip lightly until I was moaning his name. “Grey, take me over there.” I pointed to the bed. It was steps away but it seemed like a mile with the heat burning in my core.