“Katy.” I nodded my head in greeting. She had been my one dance of the night. The woman I wanted to hold was proving to be too adept at hiding.
“Jaxson,” she replied. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m leaving shortly. I admit the exhaustion is beginning to catch up with me.”
“Will you be all right to drive? You could stay with us.”
I was touched by her thoughtfulness. “I’m fine, but thank you for the offer.”
She laid her hand on my arm. “I want to ask you something, and I want you to think it over before you refuse.”
I had a feeling I would find it hard to refuse this sweet woman anything. She reminded me too much of Grace. “Of course.”
“I would like you to join us for Christmas Day.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“We celebrate it together, as you know. As a family.”
“Of which I am not a member,” I reminded her, even though, technically, I was now.
“You did us a great service getting Grace here. Making sure she was with her family for such a joyous event.” She paused. “I cannot fathom you being alone when you could join us. We’re very relaxed. We play games, have dinner, and enjoy the day. Please join us.”
Suddenly the thought of being close to Grace for another day was too much to resist. I wasn’t sure how she was going to feel about it, though.
“It would be my honor. Thank you for your gracious invitation.”
A flash of gold disappearing down the back hall caught my eye. “I’ll come get the directions in a moment. If you would excuse me?” I asked, already moving. Grace wasn’t escaping me this time.
I caught her in the hall as she came out of the ladies’ room. It was deserted, and as I suspected, she didn’t look overly happy to see me.
“Why are you still here?” she demanded. “You got what you wanted. You saw the winery and the wedding.”
“Why should I leave, Gracie? I’m enjoying myself.” I ran my fingers down her soft cheek. “You are stunning this evening.”
She slapped my hand away and ignored my words, even as color crept into her cheeks. “Stop calling me that. It’s Grace.”
“All your family calls you Gracie.”
“You aren’t my family.”
“Hmm. I beg to differ.”
She crossed her arms. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“You’re here. I belong at your side.”
“No, you don’t,” she hissed.
“I imagine the law would agree with me.”
“Fuck the law,” she snarled, her fury making me want to laugh. I leaned down, my mouth a breath away from hers.
“I would rather fuck you again, darling. Far more enjoyable.”
She gasped as I covered her mouth with mine. For one brief moment, she responded, then she pushed me away and turned, running back into the ladies’ room. I contemplated following her, then decided to leave her alone. For now.
“Run, Gracie, my darling. I’ll catch you, regardless.”
I walked back into the reception room, noticing Addi sitting alone in the corner. I had no doubt she had heard us, but I decided to play innocent. Aiden was on the dance floor, a large man out of control with his wild moves. I lifted my eyebrows with a smirk and bent close. “Your boss is funny,” I said, referring to one of his jokes during his speech.
“He’s not just my boss,” she stated knowingly.
I tilted my chin toward the direction I had been with Gracie. “I’m not just her boss either.”
Leaving her gaping, I went to get another drink. I got the information I needed from Katy, and I waited.
It didn’t take long. Grace appeared from the back hall, her gaze sweeping the room and finding me. This time, she didn’t ignore me, instead heading right in my direction. She stopped in front of me, anger emanating from her. She was even more beautiful.
“My mother invited you for Christmas?”
“She did,” I said, sipping tonic water, trying not to grin at her indignation.
“You said no, of course.”
“How could anyone say no to your mother? She is as charming as you are, darling. Of course I said yes.” I couldn’t help my smile. “She even offered me a bed tonight. Maybe I should say yes and sneak into yours? I could stay until after the holidays. Would you like that, Gracie?”
Her eyes widened to the point of hilarity. Her small hands fisted at her sides. “I just uninvited you, Mr. Richards. Do you understand? You finish your drink, and you leave. I don’t want to see you until after my holidays.” She lifted up on her toes, as if adding an inch to her height would scare me. It only made her more adorable, but I kept my expression neutral.
“And you had better have those annulment papers ready.”
“Sex. We had sex. The marriage was most definitely consummated. In fact, I remember one other—”
She cut me off. “Then file the divorce papers. It. Never. Happened.”