Belle blinked. “Me?”
He mouthed, “Don’t panic.”
And she mouthed back, “I’m absolutely panicking.”
His mother kept going. “She obviously has good taste if she’s with you, and the invitation is extended. We’ve got room. Does she eat pork?”
“Ma—” Beast knew that his mother could be a handful when she wanted her way, but this was even over the top for her.
“Christmas Eve, Declan. Don’t make me send your sisters after you,” his mother threatened. The line went dead before he could get another word in. Beast stared at his phone as though it betrayed him. Slowly, he turned to Belle.
“Your mom sounds very determined,” Belle offered gently.
Beast let out a long breath. “That’s one word for her.” He stepped closer, his voice gentling even though the situation was anything but simple. It felt as though things between them had been moving at warp speed since he drove into town and stopped at Savage Hell. He didn’t want to scare Belle away, but he worried that his mother just had.
“Look, she didn’t mean to put you on the spot. You don’t have to come home with me. I know things are—complicated for you right now.”
Belle worried her bottom lip. “Beast, I can’t stay here alone. Shane knows this address. And you can’t miss Christmas with your family.”
“I know.” Beast’s voice went low, almost a growl. “And you’re not staying here alone. I meant what I said.” He paused. “It’s only Christmas. I can just go home next year, but I’m not leaving you alone.”
She blinked. “Beast, you don’t have to.”
“It’s not about having to,” he cut in softly. “It’s about what I want, and I want to stay here with you, Belle. I want to spend Christmas with you.” He might have been using the excuse of not wanting to leave her unprotected, but honestly, the thought of having to leave Belle at all had him tied up in knots.
Belle lowered her gaze, breathing out slowly. “I haven’t spent Christmas with anyone in a long time.”
“Spend it with me,” he said. “We’ll figure out the rest as we go.”
She hesitated for only one breath, then nodded. “Only if you agree that we spend Christmas in New York, with your family. If your truck is the issue, then we can take my car, but I won’t let you miss out on Christmas with your family because you feel the need to stay here and babysit me.”
“I’m not fucking babysitting you, Belle. I’m here with you because I want to be.” He reached for her, and she let him pull her into his lap. “Damnit, tell me that you feel this thing between us, too, honey. Tell me that I’m not alone in this pull between the two of us, Belle.” Maybe he was asking her for too much with such an admission, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted them to be on the same page.
She nodded her head, and he let out the breath that he didn’t know he had been holding. “I feel it too,” she whispered. Beast’s chest loosened at the same time something tightened—something deeper, protective, and maybe a little bit dangerous. Belle cuddled into him as his cell phone rang, and he growled. He checked the caller ID, hoping like hell that his mother wasn’t calling back for another round of scolding him.
“It’s Savage,” he said. Beast answered the incoming call from Savage.
“You two good?” Savage asked, skipping the formalities of even a hello.
“For now,” Beast said. “We’re heading to Yonkers as soon as my truck is fixed. My mother wants me there for Christmas, and I’m bringing Belle along with me.”
Savage didn’t seem to even blink at the news. “Smart. Get her out of town. Give Shane nothing to latch onto, and maybe he’ll move on.”
Beast exhaled in relief. “Didn’t think you’d be cool with it.”
“I’ll call our club up in Yonkers and get their Prez, Hurricane, on standby,” Savage said. “He’ll have your back up there, noquestions asked. Just promise me that you’ll keep Belle safe, man.”
“Of course, you have my word,” he said. Beast’s throat tightened. “Thank you for everything, Savage.”
“You can thank me by bringing her back safe,” Savage said. Beast ended the call and tossed his cell onto the table. Belle wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
“What was that for?” he asked. Beast watched her for a moment—her strength, her fear, her trust in him, and something inside him shifted. He wasn’t just helping her; he was choosing her. And choosing to take her home meant something.
“For just being you,” she whispered against his lips. “I knew you were a good guy when you sat up at the bar the other night. Are you sure that you want me to meet your family?” she asked.
He wasn’t sure of anything anymore except for one thing—he wanted Belle to meet his family because he wanted her to be a part of his life both now and after Christmas was over. The question was—would she feel the same way about him when the dust settled and the holiday was over?
Belle smiled—small, warm, and hopeful. And Beast swore, right then and there, he’d burn down the world before he let anything happen to her.
