by Peyton Banks
Smiling, Harris shook his head. After all these years, they were still madly in love.
“She got you, Dad.” Harris pointed his beer to the little mistletoe hanging over them.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Chester chuckled, looking up.
“You know what that means, Chester Bates.” Molly stomped her foot, not letting her man go. His mother’s favorite time of year was Christmas, and because of her, they kept the Bates’s family traditions alive.
“All right, woman, pucker up.”
“I thought all you were bringing was pies?” Harris grumbled, loading the back seat of his truck. He didn’t know what Gracie had cooked, but the scents assaulting him were amazing.
“Everything your mother asked for. She said there were going to be about fifty people or more coming through.” Gracie handed him a box that held dishes in it covered with tinfoil. He placed them on the floor so they wouldn’t turn over and shut the door before looking at her. She looked beautiful with her dark hair straight and resting on her shoulders. Her white cotton hat covered her ears, and her red winter coat stood out against the stark white backdrop of winter.
“I missed you.” He tugged her close and wrapped his arms around her. He hadn’t seen her since he had left her house yesterday morning. She had a lot of cooking to do after work, and he hadn’t wanted to distract her. His mother would have tied him up and hung him out to pasture if he had messed up her dinner plans. To keep himself busy, he had a few errands to run himself, and was able to take care of everything.
“I missed you too.” Gracie tilted her head back and met his gaze. She had on a touch of make-up and had dressed up for the party. Jeans and a sweater were his attire. No way was he getting fancy. His father already had the family room reserved for any guests who wanted to watch the game, and he planned to be seated right next to the old man. “My bed seemed so empty last night without you.”
“Don’t tell me that. It was hard sleeping in my old bedroom,” he groaned, kissing the tip of her nose. He hoped soon they wouldn’t ever have to part. Somehow, they would make this relationship work. He lived in Chicago, and she lived here. The commute wouldn’t be bad, but during winter, the snowfall could be unpredictable.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to keep you mother waiting. She’s already called me four times today.”
Harris opened the passenger door and helped her into the truck, but not before he stole a kiss. He made his way over to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel, started the engine, and backed out of the driveway. Guiding the vehicle onto the street, he began to make the short drive to his parents’ home. The streets weren’t entirely clear, so the trip back was going to take a little longer.
There was no rush. He just wanted to spend a little time with his woman before the family bombarded her and took her from him. Flipping the radio on, he found a station playing popular Christmas songs.
“Thanks for inviting Ida and Luna to the party.”
“Of course. The more the merrier, as my mother would say.” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and started up the wipers as the snow began to fall, making it harder to see. “Your parents are still coming too?”
“Yep. I think they’re already there.” Staring out the window, she asked, “So why did you need to come pick me up?”
He chuckled and took her hand, needing to touch her. She was beautiful, and just being close to her made his heart race.
“I told my mother I was bringing a date, and I had to go pick her up.”
Gracie swung around, laughing. “You said what?”
“I told you we’re together, Gracie. I’m introducing you to my family, not as friend, but as my girlfriend.” He kissed the back of her hand.
“Girlfriend?” She quirked her brow. “I do like the sound of that.”
By the time they made it to his parents’ house, the snow was really coming down. Pulling into the driveway, he parked at the back of the house in front of the garage. Cars already lined the street from guests who arrived early, with dinner not being served for another hour or so.
Harris sent a quick text to Drew, telling him to come out and help with the dishes.
Exiting the truck, he went around to help Gracie out. After shutting the door, he looked over at her, her big brown eyes staring up at him in question.
“Are you sure about us?”
He sighed. He promised he was going to erase all doubt from her mind, and he meant what he said. Wanting to make sure he got his point across, he pushed her up against the truck and covered her lips with his.
Just as the kiss started getting heated, they broke apart at the sound of a cough. Harris glanced over his shoulder and found Drew standing there with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“It’s about time, you two,” he cheered, jogging down the stairs. “But can we move this party inside? My balls are freezing.”
Harris shook his head at his brother and opened the back door to the truck. He handed him the box with the pies.
“Hey, Drew,” Gracie greeted him, smiling.
Drew winked at her. “Gracie, whatever’s in this box smells amazing.”
“Hey, don’t be hitting on my woman,” Harris snapped as Gracie giggled, taking the bag he handed her.
“It only took you twenty years to realize it.”
Grabbing the last of the bags, Harris slammed the door shut and followed Gracie and Drew into the house.
The party was in full swing, the house decorated within an inch of its life. The smells permeating through the air were mouthwatering, and Christmas music was playing through the speakers strategically placed throughout the house.
The house was filled with laughter, love, and joy.
After setting their items in the kitchen, Drew took their coats as they kicked their boots off in the mudroom. Pulling out a pair of small flats from her purse, Gracie she slid them onto her feet.
“Thanks, bro,” Harris murmured, slapping his younger sibling on the back.
“Please get this over with. Mom has been in a tizzy, wanting to know who you were bringing home.”
“Will do.”
Turning to Gracie, he found her already puttering around the kitchen, and he went over to take her hand.
“Wait, I just want to finish—”
“I promise you can come back. Let’s put my mother out of her misery.”
Relaxing, Gracie smiled. “Okay.”
He could hear his mother’s laughter from the living room. He nodded and waved to a few of his uncles and neighbors as he made his way through the house.
He found his mother sitting on the arm of the couch next to his father, and Gracie’s parents, Ed and Emma, seated next to them.
“Mom, Dad,” he called out, gaining their attention. Looking up, Molly’s smile froze on her face as he pulled Gracie in front of him and wrapped his arms around her waist. No words were needed. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Molly cried out, “Really?” She and Emma both jumped up and ran across the room.
“It’s about time!” Emma squealed, swatting at his arm.
“You about gave me a heart attack by not telling me who you were bringing to dinner,” Molly chuckled, hugging Gracie tight before pulling back and narrowing her eyes. “You lied to me the other day when I asked you if Harris was there.”
“W–We were caught off guard, and he made me do it,” Gracie sputtered.
Their gazes met, and Harris knew without a doubt that he was in love with Gracie.
7
“Oh, my goodness. Mrs. Bates can cook her butt off,” Ida moaned, walking into the kitchen behind Gracie.
Gracie patted her stomach. “I know. I love coming for her Christmas Eve dinners.” The Bates’s certainly knew how to throw a party. There were so many people in the house. Some she knew, and others she had been introduced to.
It felt good to hear Harris refer to her as his girlfriend to his family and friends.
“So, you and Harris finally g
ot together. When did this all happen?” Ida asked, leaning against the island. She had a hurt expression on her face that had Gracie feeling guilty.
“Well, it sort of just happened.” Gracie shrugged, pulling out the ice cream for the apple pie she had thrown into the oven to warm up. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg filled the kitchen. “The night we took Luna to get her pictures with Santa, Harris stopped by my house, and let’s just say the rest was history.”
“You little hussy!” Ida laughed, balling up a napkin and throwing it at her. “That’s why you didn’t call me all weekend?”
“I was, um, a little busy,” Gracie admitted with a wide grin.
“You have to spill all the freaky details. I’m a single mother, and believe me when I say, cobwebs have formed on my thighs.”
Gracie laughed at her friend as she walked over to the oven and pulled the pies out. With multiple desserts already sitting out for the guests, Gracie promised herself to taste each and every one of them. That pumpkin pie had her name written all over it.
“Do you need help?” Ida asked.
“Um, I’m not sure if Molly wants this pie brought out with the other desserts.”
Ida was already walking out of the kitchen, announcing, “I’ll go ask her.”
Gracie looked around the kitchen and cringed at the mound of dishes piling up on the counters and in the sink. She would have to help tackle the mess before she left for the night.
“There you are, Gracie,” Drew sang as he entered the kitchen. It was eerie how much he and Harris resembled each other and their father. He was about the same build as Harris, his hair was slightly darker, and had the same blue eyes as his brother and father. “My dear brother is looking for you.”
“Oh, okay. Is he still in the family room watching football?”
Once dinner was over, most of the men had retreated to the family room to watch the games. Gracie wasn’t much of a football fan, but if she didn’t want to get written out of her parents’ will, she had to claim to be a Chicago Bears fan.
“He’s in the front room.” Drew backed out of the kitchen and left.
“That’s weird. Usually they’re glued to the television,” she murmured as she started toward the living room.
She was unsure why her heart was racing like a runaway train. Entering the room, she found her parents sitting in the same spot as earlier. It appeared as if every guest and family member were crowded into the small area.
Harris stood in the middle of the room with a lopsided grin on his face.
“What’s going on?” she asked, looking around nervously. Finding Ida and Luna leaning against the wall, Ida shrugged her shoulders in response to her question.
“Come here, Gracie.”
Without a thought, she did, tucking her thick hair behind her ear as she looked up at him.
“Why is everyone in here?” she whispered.
“Because I asked them to,” he chuckled. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips.
What the hell was going on?
“For what?”
“For this.” Going down on one knee before her, the room went deathly silent as everyone looked on. Gracie’s sight blurred from the tears gathering in her eyes.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, blinking back the tears threatening to fall.
“Gracie Nicole Logan, we’ve been friends our entire lives. You’re everything I want. You’re strong, beautiful, funny, and smart. You’ve been by my side through my highs and lows. It was you who wrote to me every week I was deployed, and you who supported me when I sat for my firefighter’s exam. It was you who always had by back no matter what.”
“Harris,” she hiccupped, the tears now streaming down her face.
“It took something so simple to realize that what I was searching for, I had all along. When I looked inside my heart, I only saw you. I can’t imagine growing old with anyone else, nor do I want to.” Pausing, Harris reached into his pocket and brought out a black velvet box.
Gracie was openly crying now. Her heart swelled at the thought of her dream finally coming true.
Everyone in the room seemed to gasp when he opened the box.
“Oh, my.” Cradled inside was a beautiful large princess cut diamond ring with a raised setting that allowed for smaller diamonds to cover the top part of the band. Taking the ring out, he held it up and took her hand.
“I love you, and don’t want to be with anyone else but you. I want to cherish you, travel the world with you, and spend the rest of my life pleasing you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” His blue eyes were crystal clear, showing her nothing but the love he felt for her.
“I love you too,” she cried out, nodding her head. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
The room exploded with cheering and clapping.
Harris slid the ring onto her finger and stood, bringing her into his warm embrace. Wiping the tears from her face, he leaned down and covered her mouth with his to seal the deal.
Epilogue
One year later…
“Merry Christmas!” Harris and Gracie shouted when Molly and Chester opened the door.
“You two are late,” Molly laughed. “Get in here.”
The past year had been a whirlwind. It may had taken Harris twenty years to realize he and Gracie belonged together, but they weren’t going to make the same mistake twice.
They were married by Valentine’s Day.
“Sorry about that. Grayson had a major blowout, so I had to put him in a bath.” Harris laughed, hauling the baby carrier as he followed behind his wife. He loved every moment of fatherhood. Even days like today where his son decided to ruin his entire outfit with explosive diarrhea.
“Ain’t he just a little stinker. Give me my grandbaby,” Molly exclaimed. Setting the carrier down on the floor of the foyer, he kicked his shoes off.
“You can take him out,” Gracie said, towing off her boots. Chester reached down and fiddled with the cover before revealing a chubby-cheeked baby, who had tan skin, curly brown hair, and big brown eyes, just like his momma.
Molly and Chester plainly ignored Harris now that they had their grandson.
Harris loved seeing his parents so excited. Grayson Harris Bates was born almost nine months to the day when Harris showed up with a bag of apples to Gracie’s home.
“Look at how big he’s gotten.” Chester’s voice was filled with awe as he lifted Grayson up to his chest.
“He looks just like Harris when he was a baby,” Molly beamed. “And those cheeks! Nana needs to kiss them.”
Grinning, Harris helped his beautiful wife out of her coat while watching his parents as they disappeared into the house.
“Thanks, babe.” Gracie lifted up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss before twirling around and disappearing as well into the house. He took off his blue hat and scarf he had received as a gift from Gracie last Christmas and hung them up, along with their coats.
One year ago, he had proposed to her on Christmas Eve in front of family and friends, which had been one of the best days of his life. Afterward, they had tried the long-distance relationship for a short while, but that didn’t work out. They spoke about their living situation and decided Gracie would move to Chicago. His house was located in a nice suburb of the city, and was a great area to raise a family.
When a manager’s position had become available in one of the stores in Chicago, she applied, got the job, and moved in with him. Her house sold immediately, and they had been living together in bliss ever since.
They had driven down to Langdale for Christmas, as it was a family tradition. Gracie and Harris had taken the entire week off to spend with family.
Drew had texted him earlier that he would be arriving later.
Harris walked into the home and followed the sound of laughter. The family home was decorated for the holidays as always in preparation for the Christmas Eve party. He went into the family room and found Molly sitting on the couch with Grayson tucked in
her arms.
Gracie turned at his footsteps and grinned. Scooping her up and out of the chair, he took her seat and pulled her onto his lap.
Gracie laughed. “Hey, I was sitting there.”
“Well, this is a better seat,” he joked, wrapping his arms around her waist. Pulling her back, he kissed her cheek. “Have you been a good girl, Gracie Bates?”
“Who, me?” She turned around, her eyes shining. “Nope.”
“Really?” His hands skated along her side, causing her to laugh as he tickled her. She let loose a screech while trying to escape him, but Harris kept a firm hold on her. His parents were too caught up in Grayson to pay them any attention.
“Do you have a toy stuffed in your pants, or is someone happy to see me?” she whispered in his ear while rubbing her bottom against his growing erection.
“Well, Mrs. Bates, later, I’ll allow you to find out for yourself.”
A Note From the Author
Dear reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read The Christmas Secret. This story came straight from the heart. I love holiday romances for the love that is always shared in them. This type of story is meant to bring a smile to your lips. I hope you enjoyed it and know this is truly a cute story that I just had to share with you.
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Happy holidays,
Peyton Banks
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P.S. Don’t forget to leave a review after reading! Please note that no review is too small.
About the Author
Peyton Banks is the alter ego of a city girl who is a romantic at heart. Her mornings consist of coffee and daydreaming up the next steamy romance book ideas. She loves spinning romantic tales of hot alpha males and the women they love. Make sure you check her out!
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