Page 52 of Wicked Love

And for the next few hours, life outside the gingerbread house didn’t exist.

13

JOE

DH rubbed against my leg. “Just a sec, little one. I wanna finish prepping dinner before your mama comes down. She’s been working all day on her college application project.” Yes, Grace didn’t care it was Christmas Eve tonight. We even refused to partake in the town PJ and Movie Marathon earlier because she wanted to finish the dress before the New Year. Our kitten purred, and I bent down to pat his head. “She’s determined. I love that about her. I’m glad she’s finding her voice. Are you excited for our first Christmas together? I hope the turkey tastes good. I have never baked one before, but your mama once said she likes it, and since it’s her birthday in a few hours, I want to make her happy.”

I lit a dozen candles around the main floor, giving the place a romantic atmosphere.

Tonight, I would be honest with Grace. Jitters filled my stomach at the mere thought of opening up to her about my feelings. I had no idea if she would accept to give us a chance. I could count myriad more reasons why we shouldn’t be together than why we should give our relationship a try.

Either way, I couldn’t hide how I felt any longer. I just hoped Grace would reciprocate my feelings.

We’d been stuck in this tug-of-war for weeks now. Since our fight last weekend when she left and ended up wasted, I did a lot of thinking. And I was done with the invisible barriers I’d erected in my head and around my heart. Grace was right when she accused me of leading her on and being all hot and cold. I wanted all in, and this time I wouldn’t let fears seep through me and influence my actions. No more leading her on.

I added logs into the fireplace when two arms wrapped around me from behind, stopping me before I could put the screen back. “You know who’s gonna be eighteen in less than three hours? And free from their mother?”

I spun around and planted a kiss on Grace’s forehead. “You ready to claim your independence? I’ve been thinking about it. When we go back, we should talk about you mov—”

A knock on the door cut our discussion short. I shut my eyes and breathed in. Whoever stood on the other side of the door had a wicked sense of timing.

“You’re expecting someone?” Grace asked.

“Nope. I’ll go and see who it is. This conversation isn’t over. Can you feed DH?”

“Sure.”

I watched her fetch kibbles from a bag and serve it to our fur baby.

“You hungry, you?” She always used a baby voice to address him. “Come on, let’s get some yummy food into your tiny belly.”

I shook my head, unable to stop laughing when I unlocked the door and yanked it open. My humor died instantly. Tension washed through my entire being, and I clamped the edge of the door with my fingers. The last person I thought I’d ever see stood there, dressed to impress as if she had just walked the runway, her signature plastic smile anchored to her face. “Clarissa, what are you doing here?” My tone was clipped, uninviting, and filled with disdain.

“Hi, Joe. You’re not happy to see me?”

“I asked what are you doing here. Answer the question.”

“I’m here to pick up my daughter.”

“Huh, I don’t think so. Grace isn’t ready to talk to you yet.”

“Thank you for the information, Joe, but it’s not for you to decide. Her little runaway number has lasted long enough. It’s Christmas, and I want her home. With me. We’re gonna celebrate like a family. You’re welcome to join us. After all, our home is your home too.”

“It’s my father’s home. I don’t need an official invitation. I can show up whenever it pleases me.”

She stretched her neck, trying to look past me into the cabin. “Where’s Grace? I’ve missed her so much.”

“When she is ready to see you, she’ll let you know. Until then, go back home. I’m sure my father is worried about your whereabouts.”

“Joe. Move. Grace is my daughter, and I’m not leaving here without her.”

“How did you find us? You couldn’t have known.”

“You two think you’re smart and everything, but you forgot to cover your tracks.”

“Our phones?”

“No. Car GPS. Philip installed one on every car. All I had to do was to figure out his password—which, by the way, should be changed because anyone could guess it, really—and voilà. I had access to your itinerary and exact location. I hope your father protects his assets better than his computer.” She let out a high-pitched laugh that froze the blood in my veins. “Now, move. I’m her mother; she owes me obedience. Always.”