Page 63 of A Newport Christmess

“A gingerbread house. I thought we could decorate it with ... Grandma.” She gave a shy smile, obviously not knowing what else to call Grams.

“Isn’t that the sweetest thing?” Sandra gave my dad a meaningful look. “Can I take it from you and set it on the table?”

Quinn allowed Sandra to take it, then crossed her arms in front of her chest. Wishing I knew how to put Quinn at ease, I dropped the bag of candies and frosting next to it. “Speaking of Grandma ...” I started toward one of my favorite faces ever. “Hey, Grams.”

She reached out for me as I approached, a welcoming smile on her face. “Aren’t you handsome?”

I took hold of her hands and knelt down in front of her. “I’m Landon.”

“Landon,” she said, like she was trying to place the name. She pressed her hand against my cheek and studied my face. “You look like my husband when he was a little younger. Dear, come look at this young man ...” Her searching gaze moved around the room, making my chest constrict.

Dad stepped forward, catching her attention. “Dad’s not here, Mom.”

Grandma blinked, and her brow crinkled. Then she looked back at me.

“I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine.” I scooted back to make room for Quinn, and she squatted down beside me, one hand resting on the armrest of Grandma’s chair and the other on my knee. It felt natural and real, but none of this was real. That was what she’d said. I swallowed and looked back to Grams. “This is Quinn.”

Again, Grams’s eyes widened. “She’s beautiful.” She reached out and set a hand on Quinn’s face, rubbing her cheek with her thumb. “Are you two married?”

Quinn sent me an amused look. “No.”

“Oh.” Grandma’s smile lessened. “Why not? You would have beautiful children.”

I dipped my chin, fighting a laugh. “Well, if you think so, perhaps we should consider it,” I said, unable to stop myself. “For the sake of the children, of course.” I sent a sideways glance at Quinn to find her smile as bright as ever.

“Look who’s here!” Nikki strolled into the room with Julie’s kids bunched around her.

“Uncle Landon!” Chloe came running, and I shifted just in time to catch my squealing nine-year-old niece in an embrace. Carson and Gavin followed close behind their big sister and immediately began climbing on me until I was nearly bowled over.

“Boys, what did I say?” Julie gave them her potent mom look, and they instantly dropped their arms, their expressions as forlorn as two scolded puppies.

“Later, boys.” I winked at them.

“Hey, you. Where’s my hug?” Julie reached over the top of her kids, and I stood to meet her.

My gaze fell on the empty doorway behind us. “Where’s Josh and the baby?”

“Reid fell asleep on the drive over, so Josh is sitting in the car with him until he wakes up.”

My gaze eagerly moved to Quinn. “Julie, I’d like you to meet Quinn.”

Quinn stood, her hands clasped in front of her. She glanced behind her and took a small step to the side to make sure Grams could see. “Hello.”

“It’s good to meet you.” Julie smiled before her gaze returned to me, and a familiar glint of mischief touched her eyes. “And how do the two of you know each other?”

The room went quiet.

I pointed toward Nikki. “Nikki actually introduced us. You know how she has a knack for matchmaking.”

“Really?” Julie sent Nikki a knowing look, and I was pretty sure, with the varying degrees of smiles around the room, Nikki had informed them all about Quinn and possibly even the reason we were together. I thought of grabbing Quinn’s hand as an act of defiance but couldn’t get myself to do it.

It’s all pretend anyway. Why had those words hit me so hard?

“Quinn is amazing.” Nikki directed a sincere smile at her. “I wouldn’t blame Landon for figuring it out.”

Carson, the oldest of Julie’s boys, tugged on my hand. “Mom said you have a new girlfriend. Is that her?”

Julie tussled Carson’s sandy-blond hair. “I didn’t say that.”