“She wants to stay in the rehab facility. She has a few friends coming.”
Tomorrow was Christmas Day. It was the first holiday I would celebrate without my father. We used to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve and then have dinner on Christmas Day. It would be impossible to really cherish the holiday without him. “So, it’s just the two of us?”
He nodded. “Just the two of us.”
“That sounds nice…” It was my first Christmas as a married woman. There wouldn’t be a big feast with family members gathered around, but at least we weren’t alone. We always had each other…until we started a family. “My father and I used to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve while we ate pie.”
“My family used to do the same too. Want to exchange gifts tonight?” Now that the conversation about his father had been shut down, his mood picked up slightly.
The offer surprised me. “You got me something?” I picked out a nice collared shirt that would look perfect against his olive complexion and dark hair. It wasn’t of designer quality, but since he was so fit, it would probably look great on him anyway. But I hadn’t expected him to do the same for me.
He turned his head in my direction, locking his gaze on mine for the first time. “Of course I did.”
Maverick showered then went across the hall to his office to finish up a couple of things before we would share a bottle of wine and exchange gifts under the Christmas tree. We’d spent the afternoon in bed, making love, talking, and eating. That was already magical. And now it was about to get better.
But Caspian kept crossing my mind.
Caspian said one thing but did the exact opposite. He threatened to kill me, but he let me go without a scratch, and he showed up to the Christmas party without causing a scene. He seemed to be in such a deep pit that he couldn’t get out of it…couldn’t apologize and make things right with this son.
That’s what I believed, at least.
While Maverick was distracted, I wanted to take my car and drive to Caspian’s place to make things right.
But my husband would never forgive me. I promised I wouldn’t sneak off like that ever again, and I had to keep that promise. How could I expect him to keep his word if I never kept mine?
That meant I could only make a phone call.
That wasn’t breaking the rules.
Getting Caspian’s number was easy because Maverick left his phone in the bedroom. I managed to pull up old conversations and write down the phone number. Then I went to my old room and locked the door behind me. My clothes still hung in the closet, and my accessories were on the counter. I’d never officially moved in with him, but I suspected that would happen soon.
I sat on the edge of the bed and made the call.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
It was Christmas Eve, so maybe he wouldn’t pick up. I doubted he had plans for the evening. He didn’t seem like a man with many friends—only enemies.
He finally answered. “This better be important.” His voice came out as an annoyed growl. He didn’t even know who I was or what I wanted, and his immediate impulse was to be an asshole.
“It is.” I let the sound of my voice do all the talking. He didn’t know me very well, but he would guess my identity quickly.
When he was quiet for a couple of seconds, it was obvious he’d figured it out. “Nice party last night. I had a great time.”
“It didn’t seem like it.”
“Anytime there’s a drink in my hand, I’m in a decent mood.”
“Then I wish you were drunk all the time,” I countered. “Perhaps you would be a good father…and a decent father-in-law.”
He chuckled even though there was nothing funny about this. “I doubt it. And I underestimated you. When I married you off to my son, I assumed you were a dumb pretty girl. I guess I was wrong.”
“Very wrong.” Caspian had treated me like a shadow since the day he met me. He never introduced himself and barely said a few words…even though I would be the mother of his grandchildren.
“I’m not much of a chatter, so if there’s something you want to say, get on with it.”
“An asshole…as always.”
“Now you know where Maverick gets it from.”
“Your son is not an asshole,” I said firmly. “He’s one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. And he gets that from his mother—not you.”
When Caspian didn’t laugh off my comment, I knew it had pierced his invincible armor. “What do you want?”
“I want you to bury the hatchet and make things right with Maverick. It’s what I’ve always wanted—and I know you want the same thing. You came to that Christmas party without any agenda. If you weren’t there to cause trouble, then what were you doing?”