Page 40 of Secret Santas and Holiday Dances

“See you inside?” Emma asked George, nodding toward the dining room.

“It’ll just be a few minutes,” George said.

“No worries, I’m pretty sure I can save you a seat.” Emma chuckled at her joke and sauntered off. They had assigned seats. George watched her until she was out of sight, and he wasn’t the only one—she’d caught the eye of every single man in the room, and some of the married ones too.

Liam leaned in and whispered, “You better lock that down and fast.”

The muscles in George’s jaw flexed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Mayor Helen James, her husband, Victor, and daughter, America, were up next. Whispers followed them in. America had recently moved back to Harvest Ranch, and the rumor was she was planning on announcing a run for Senate next year. If she ran, she’d be a shoo-in. She was smart as a whip, crazy efficient, tough, and a former Miss Virginia. To say she was beloved in Virginia would be an understatement.

Mayor James had always been a little intimidating, but she had nothing on her daughter. Even though America was barely five feet four in heels, a petite little thing—like Grace, she had a Texas-size personality. America took Liam’s hand and shook it, her grip so firm, Liam nearly called uncle.

George was up next. He’d gone to high school with America. “Mer,” he said, “are the rumors true. You really thinking of running for senate?”

She grinned up at him. “If I did, would I have your vote?”

George laughed. “You know it.”

The mayor, her husband, and America moved on down the line.

Liam watched her go, wondering who, if anyone, would be brave enough to oppose her.

George elbowed him in the side and nodded toward the front door. “Speaking of locking that down.”

Liam whipped his gaze to the door just as a vision in a bright Christmas red entered the door. Grace wore a gown that accentuated her every curve, and fabric that emphasized her every move. Her hair hung in large curls around her shoulders, like silver starlight, and she had on red lipstick the same shade as her gown. But even better than that was a confidence he’d never seen in her before. She stood tall, shoulders back, head held high, and moved with the poise of someone who knew she belonged.

His breath hitched, and without thought, he left the receiving line and went straight for her. She was giving her name to the event coordinator as he approached, and her gaze met his.

“You came,” Liam said, barely able to believe it.

With a nod to the event coordinator, she stepped past and stopped just out of Liam’s reach.

“I hear this is the social event of the season,” she said.

He looked her over. “You’re stunning.”

“It’s the dress,” she said, a soft blush coloring the apples of her cheeks.

“It’s not,” Liam said.

She frowned and looked at her dress.

He quickly shook his head of the forming cobwebs. “I mean to say, the dress is beautiful, but it’s not the dress. You’re always beautiful, Grace. But tonight . . . you’re so gorgeous it hurts to look at you.” He swallowed a lump in his throat. She’d come. Until this moment, he hadn’t thought she would. But here she was, those big green eyes staring up at him through thick dark lashes—accepting his olive branch, so forgiving, so humble, so sweet.

“Liam.” She sounded confused. “We need to talk.”

He nodded and held out his hand.

She stared at for just a moment, then hesitantly placed hers in his. He squeezed her delicate fingers in his, then turned and led her away from the crowd, down an adjoining hall that went to the family’s den—a room they kept closed from the public.

“Where are we going?”

He didn’t stop until they reached the room, didn’t slow, didn’t say a word. He opened the door for her, letting her go in first, then followed and shut it behind him. It was so much like the night at Emma’s party, with him leading her away to a secluded place.

The sole lights in the room came from the Christmas tree, and they glittered like stars in the sky.

Grace’s eyes lit up at the sight of it. “Wow, it’s so perfect. The tree in the foyer is amazing, but this is . . . it’s so . . .”