“How was training?”
“Good. I almost forgot what it was like to be in the ring.”
He hadn’t been back since the hit-and-run. He’d spent all his time taking care of me at the expense of his career. Most women would start to get ideas about what that meant. Not me. I always knew our time would come to an end.
“Our secret isn’t a secret.”
“Hmm?” I craned my neck back to meet his eyes.
“I stopped by the station today. Bea told me we weren’t fooling anyone. She said everyone’s known about this from the beginning. It’s some kind of game to them.”
“You mean, all this time we’ve been sneaking around and everyone knows?”
“Guess we weren’t as careful as we thought.”
“I’m not complaining,” I grinned. “It was hot.”
“Yeah?”
His lips trailed along my neck, making me forget how angry I was at him earlier for leaving me at the shop for so long without a word. This was the problem with our relationship. Practically anything could be fixed with sex.
But as he slid his fingers down between my legs and stroked my clit, I pushed away the doubts and the insecurities, and thought only of how good he could make me feel.
This might not last forever, but I could enjoy it while it lasted.
I was notin the Christmas mood, nor did I have the desire to go anywhere for the day.
And it showed.
As I sat at the table on Christmas Eve, my family walked on eggshells around me as every comment they made was met with a scowl or an indifferent comment. I was the Grinch, and I was ruining things for everyone.
“Honey, why don’t you take a nap?” my Aunt Marjorie asked, patting my hand gently.
“I don’t need a nap. All I do is nap.”
“Maybe it would help if?—”
Sighing, I tossed my napkin on the table and shoved to my feet, nearly falling over the leg of the chair as I tried to graspmy crutches. Dad was there in an instant, handing them to me before I fell on my ass.
“What’s wrong, sweet pea?” he whispered.
I nearly broke at the softness in his voice. My dad had a way of breaking down my anger and twisting it until I could laugh. Right now, I desperately needed that.
“I don’t know. Nothing’s been the same since the accident. I’m just so…angry all the time.”
Except when I was with Sam.
But he wasn’t here. He didn’t want to be anywhere near me or anything that resembled a family gathering where he might be construed as my lover or boyfriend.
“It’s going to take some time to get over what happened. You know I’m here for you.”
Sighing, I leaned against his shoulder, taking what little comfort I could from him. “I know, and I appreciate that. I’m just not in the mood for any of this right now.”
“Do you want me to take you home?”
I looked up at him, practically in tears as he smiled down at me. “Really?”
“Of course. I hate for you to be alone on Christmas, but if that’s what you need, I’ll do it.”
