Christmas Ever After

by Sarah Morgan

  Us.

  If any word had ever sounded as good, she couldn’t remember.

  Her heart felt huge in her chest. “I like the sound of us.”

  “I like it, too. I love it.” He smiled against her mouth. “I love you. And we’re going to make a great us.”

  Part of her, the part that knew life didn’t usually turn out fantasies, still didn’t dare believe it. “I never expected to fall in love with you. I was having fun, that’s all, and suddenly in the middle of having fun, and talking to you, I realized I wanted to carry on doing it.”

  “So do I.”

  “Are you sure? You said—”

  “I know what I said. And that was the way I felt to begin with. When Brit texted me and asked me to go to your exhibition, I tried to find a reason not to go.”

  “I reminded you of Selina.”

  “A little. I found you very attractive, and I didn’t trust the feeling. In the summer I was rude to you—”

  “You were keeping me at a distance.” She understood that now. She understood all of it.

  “I used to think that being in a committed relationship meant sacrifice. That it forced you to make difficult choices. Then I spent time with you and realized that it’s not about choosing one life over another. It’s about sharing that life with someone you love. You were the one who showed me that was possible. I want that someone to be you.”

  She listened, still afraid she was dreaming. That this was another one of those scenarios spun into reality by her creative brain. “When I was with you, I was me. Because I wasn’t trying to impress you, I didn’t feel the need to be anyone other than who I am. I didn’t care if you judged me, and it turned out that you didn’t. You taught me to accept who I am. You taught me that having a passion and wanting to pursue it is valid. You were never impatient about what I did. You made me so happy.”

  “I was so scared of hurting you.” He groaned the words against her lips. “I don’t ever want to hurt you.”

  She wrapped her arms round his neck. “I’m not some vulnerable flower, Alec. I’m not going to blow over in the wind or wilt if you leave me at home unwatered.”

  “I know. I discovered that on that night when you threatened to put your stiletto through my balls.”

  She grinned. “In the circumstances, that was very rude and ungrateful of me. I’m surprised you didn’t leave me there.”

  “I would never have done that.”

  “I know. You refused to leave me.” It choked her to think of it. “You behaved like a real hero.”

  “Don’t put me on a pedestal.”

  “I’m not. I know who you are, Alec.” She touched his face gently. “I know you’re single-minded and focused when it comes to your work. I know you have bursts of enthusiasm for what you’re doing that makes any intrusion from the outside world unwelcome. When you’re working on a project that’s all you think about. You give yourself totally to it and even the thought that something or someone might intrude on that makes you irritable. I know you think that’s selfish, but I think it shows focus and commitment and a drive to do the very best you can, and I understand that. It doesn’t irritate me. On the contrary, it’s one of the many things I love and admire about you.” She paused, trying to explain. “If I’d been on my own that night … well, it wouldn’t have been pretty. You did what needed to be done, even though it inconvenienced you. I think that’s heroic. And you were kind. You didn’t even like me, and you were kind.”

  He inhaled deeply. “I liked you. In fact I liked you a little too much. I liked your fire and energy and your ability to laugh at everything, even yourself.”

  “You took me to your home, even though that must have been the last thing you wanted to do.” She swallowed. “I think I fell in love with your family before I fell in love with you.”

  “It was mutual. They love you back. They’re going to love you even more now.”

  “Let’s call them. I want to tell them. And after that we’ll call my parents.”

  He eased away from her, his gaze searching. “Are you going to tell them not to cancel the Plaza for June?”

  “No. We’re not getting married at the Plaza. We’re getting married on the beach. A lobster bake, catered by the Ocean Club, followed by ice cream from Summer Scoop. All of our friends and the people we love. Guests can arrive on the Captain Hook and we’ll ask John if we can decorate it.” She hesitated, wondering if she’d misread him. “Unless you’d rather have the Plaza?”

  “A beach wedding sounds perfect to me.” He lowered his head and kissed her. “You,” he said slowly, “are the most generous, unselfish, beautiful person I have ever met.”

  There was a sound behind them and both of them turned.

  All four of their friends were hovering in the doorway.

  Emily’s cheeks were wet, Brittany was blinking rapidly and Ryan was grinning at him.

  Alec rolled his eyes. “Is anything around here private?”

  “Not much.” Zach moved to one side as Lizzy wriggled through.

  “Can we open our presents now? That pile there is for you, Sky.”

  Still dizzy from everything that had happened, Sky looked toward the tree. “You all bought me presents? Oh.” She was immensely touched but then she saw Brittany shake her head.

  “That pile is from Alec. All of them.”

  “A bit over the top if you ask me,” Ryan muttered. “Puts pressure on the rest of us.”

  Emily slid her arm into his. “Is that your way of saying you forgot to buy me a present?”

  “I might have bought you a couple of things. Token gestures. But nothing like the Mount Everest of gifts Alec has produced, so don’t get your hopes up.” But Ryan was grinning and Lizzy was dancing on the spot like a flea.

  “He’s bought you tons of things. We chose some of them together. I can’t wait for you to open them, Mom.” The word slipped out naturally and Skylar looked at Brittany and then at Emily.

  Her eyes were glistening and she stooped to hug Lizzy. “In that case I think we should open them now. I don’t want to wait a moment longer. I want to see what you chose.”

  Another change, Sky thought. Another shift in their relationship. And it was a good one.

  She knew how much that word would mean to her friend.

  As Lizzy extracted herself from the hug and dived under the tree to start opening presents, Brittany walked across to Sky and Alec and hugged both of them. “That ring is amazing. I’m so happy for you both. Can you believe this? It used to be the three of us against the world, and now we’re a six.”

  “Seven,” piped up Lizzy, half-buried under wrapping paper, “nine if you count the dogs.”

  Emily exchanged looks with Ryan and Sky knew what they were thinking.

  Soon they were going to be ten.

  Brittany gave a soft smile. “Our little circle has grown.”

  Our circle.

  Sky’s skin tingled. Friendships changed, but that didn’t mean they were less meaningful or genuine. Just different.

  She glanced at Alec and saw him smile with understanding.

  He drew her back to him and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her gently. And this time when it felt different, she understood why. He’d kissed her so many times, in friendship, in passion and for comfort, but he’d never kissed her with love.

  Until now.

  It melted over her, sliding into every part of her, warming every corner of her body, and she knew that this was the feeling she’d been waiting for all her life.

  Her heart felt too big for her chest.

  She was dimly aware of laughter and the tearing of wrapping paper as her friends gathered round the tree and she drew away just enough to speak, whispering the words just for him.

  “I always wondered how love would feel.”

  The look in his eyes was just for her. “How does it feel?”

  “It feels amazing. Like waking up to a perfect winter day of blue sky and crisp white snow.” She sm
iled, because now she knew the truth. “It feels like Christmas, ever after.

  Acknowledgements

  I’m grateful to all my readers. So many of you take time to email and chat to me on Facebook and your kind comments and supportive messages always make my day.

  Seeing my books on sale around the globe is a dream come true for me, made real by the team at Harlequin. Thanks to Loriana Sacilloto, Dianne Moggy, Margaret Marbury and Susan Swinwood for their encouragement and support, and to the global editorial team who have embraced my single title career. The team in the UK have done so much to deliver my books to the widest possible audience and I’m truly grateful. It all started with you!

  I’m lucky enough to have Flo Nicoll as my editor and I’m thankful for the vision, patience and enthusiasm she displays as we work together on each book.

  I’m grateful to my agent Susan Ginsburg and the team at Writers House for everything they do.

  I have the best family in the world and I’m continually grateful for their unwavering support and all the delicious meals they produce when I’m on a deadline. You’re the best!

  Cool, calm and competent, Paige Walker loves a challenge. But starting her own company is nothing compared to hiding her crush on Jake Romano – her brother's best friend and the only man to break her heart. Can she convince Jake that she's strong enough to handle their still-sizzling attraction?

  Read on for a sneak peak at the first book in Sarah Morgan's brilliant new trilogy – brimming with the excitement and glamour of New York!

  SLEEPLESS IN MANHATTAN

  Paige stood for a moment, thinking how unpredictable life was.

  Who would have thought that herself, Eva and Frankie losing their jobs would have turned out so well?

  Urban Genie existed only because life had laid a twist in her path.

  Change had been forced on her, but it had proved to be a good thing.

  Instead of fighting it, she should embrace it.

  What had Jake said?

  ‘Sometimes you have to let life happen.’

  Maybe she should try and do that a bit more.

  And maybe one day she'd look back and realise that not being with Jake was the best thing that could have happened—because if she'd been with Jake she wouldn't have met—

  Who?

  Would she ever meet someone who made her feel the way Jake did?

  She stood leaning on the railing, gazing at the city she loved.

  The lights of Manhattan sparkled like a thousand stars against a midnight sky and now, finally, as the last of the guests made their way to the elevators she allowed herself a moment to enjoy it.

  ‘Time to relax and celebrate, I think.’

  Jake's voice came from behind her and she turned to find him holding two glasses of champagne. He handed her one. ‘To Urban Genie.’

  ‘I don't drink while I'm working.’ And while Jake was present this was definitely still work.

  She knew better than to lower her guard a second time.

  ‘The guests have gone. You're no longer working. Your job is done.’

  ‘I'm not off duty until the clear-up has finished.’ And then tomorrow would be the follow-up, the post mortem. Discussions on what they might have done differently. They'd unpick every part of the event and put it back together again. By the time they'd finished they'd have found every weak spot and strengthened it.

  ‘I don't think one glass of champagne is going to impair your ability to supervise that. Congratulations.’ He tapped his glass against hers. ‘Spectacular. Any new business leads?’

  ‘Plenty. First up is a baby shower next week. Not much time to prepare, but it's a good event.’

  He winced. ‘A baby shower is good?’

  ‘Yes. Partly because the woman throwing it for her pregnant colleague is CEO of a fashion importer. But all business is good.’

  ‘Chase Adams is impressed. By tomorrow word will have got around that Urban Genie is the best event concierge company in Manhattan. Prepare to be busy.’

  ‘I'm prepared.’

  His praise warmed her. Her heart lifted.

  He stood next to her and the brush of his sleeve against her bare arm made her shiver.

  His gaze collided briefly with hers and she thought she saw a blaze of heat, but then he looked away and she did too, her face burning.

  She was doing it again. Imagining things.

  And it had to stop.

  It had to stop right now.

  No more embarrassing herself. No more embarrassing him.

  She turned her head to look at him but he was staring straight ahead, his handsome face blank of expression.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said.

  ‘For what?’

  ‘For asking us to do this. For giving us free rein and no budget. For trusting us. For inviting influential people and decision-makers. For making Urban Genie happen.’ She realised how much she owed him. ‘I hate accepting help—’

  ‘I know, but that isn't what happened here. You did it yourself, Paige.’

  ‘But I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. I'm grateful. If you hadn't suggested it, pushed me that night on the terrace, I wouldn't have done it.’ She breathed in. Now was as good a time as any to say everything that needed to be said. And if she said it aloud maybe it would help both of them. ‘There's something else—’ She saw him tense and felt a flash of guilt that he felt the need to be defensive around her. Definitely time to clear the air. ‘I owe you an apology.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘For misreading the situation the other night. For making things awkward between us. I was…’ She hesitated, trying to find the right words. ‘I guess you could say I was doing an Eva. I was looking for things that weren't there. I was close to panic and you were trying to distract me. I understand that now. I don't want you feeling that you have to avoid me, or be careful around me. I'd never wanted that. I—’

  ‘Don't. Don't apologise.’

  He gripped the railing and she noticed his knuckles were white.

  ‘I wanted to clear it up, that's all. It was a kiss. Didn't mean anything. Two people trapped in an elevator, one of whom was feeling vulnerable.’ Shut up right now, Paige. ‘I know I'm not your type. I know you don't have those feelings. I'm like your little sister. I get that. So—’

  ‘Oh, for— Seriously?’ He interrupted her with a low growl and finally turned to face her. ‘After what happened the other night you really think I see you as a little sister? You think I could kiss you that way if I felt like that about you?’

  She stared at him, her heart drumming a rhythm against her chest. ‘I thought— You said— I thought you saw me that way.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I tried.’ He gave a humourless laugh and drained his champagne in one mouthful. ‘God knows, I tried. I've done everything short of asking Matt for a baby photo of you and sticking that to my wall. Nothing works. And do you know why? Because I do have feelings, you're not little and you're not my damn sister.’

  Shock struck her like a bolt of lightning.

  They were the only two people left on the terrace. Just them and the Manhattan night. The buildings rose around them—dark shapes enveloping them in intimate shadows and the shimmer of light.

  The storm clouds were gathering, creating ominous shadows in the dark sky.

  The sudden lick of wind held the promise of rain.

  Paige was oblivious. The sky might have come crashing down and she wouldn't have noticed.

  Her mouth was so dry she could hardly form the words. ‘But if you feel that way—if you do have feelings—why do you keep saying—’ She stumbled over the words, confused. ‘Why haven't you ever done anything about it?’

  ‘Why do you think?’

  There was a cynical, bitter edge to Jake's tone that didn't fit the nature of their conversation. None of the pieces fitted. She couldn't think. Everything about her had ceased to function.

  ‘Because of Matt?’

  ‘Partly. He'd k
ick my butt. And I wouldn't blame him.’ He stared down at his hands, as if they were something that didn't belong to him. As if he was worried about what they might do.

  ‘Because you're not interested in relationships—or “complications” as you call them?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘But sex doesn't have to be a relationship. It can just be sex. You said so yourself.’

  ‘Not with you.’

  His tone was harsh and she took a step back, shocked. They'd often argued, baited each other, but she'd never heard that edge of steel in his voice before.

  ‘Why? What's different about me?’

  ‘I'm not going to screw you and walk away, Paige. That's not going to happen.’

  ‘Because of our friendship? Because you're worried it would be awkward?’

  ‘Yeah, that too.’

  ‘Too? What else?’ She stared at him, bemused.

  He was silent.

  ‘Jake? What else?’

  He swore under his breath. ‘Because I care about you. I don't want to hurt you. There's already been enough damage to your heart. You don't need more.’

  The first raindrops started to fall.

  Paige was still oblivious.

  Her head spun with questions. Where? What? Why? How much? ‘So you— Wait—’ She struggled to make sense of it. ‘You're saying that you've been protecting me? No. That can't be true. You're the only one who doesn't protect me. When everyone else is wrapping me in cotton wool, you handle me like you're throwing the first pitch at a game.’

  He didn't protect her. He didn't. Not Jake.

  She waited for him to agree with her, to confirm that he didn't protect her.

  He was silent.

  There was a throbbing in her head. She lifted her fingers to her forehead and rubbed. The storm was closing in—she could feel it. And not just in the sky above her.

  ‘I know you don't protect me.’ She tried to focus, tried to examine the information and shook her head. ‘Just the other night, when we found out we'd lost our jobs, Matt was sympathetic but you were brutal. I was ready to cry, but you made me so angry and—’ She stared at him, understanding. She felt the colour drain from her face. ‘You did it on purpose. You made me angry on purpose.’