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“ I can’t believe he wanted you to ride with him and you didn’t go,” Coral said for the tenth time.

“Shut up, Coral. Clem is a strong, independent woman. She doesn’t need a man,” Jade told our sister, and I grinned.

“Well, she can be a strong independent woman, but I wouldn’t say no to having a man look at me the way that man was looking at her,” Shelly said from behind the wheel.

She drove a neat little Land Rover our families had gifted her upon her graduation from medical school.

I still remembered how she cried and tried to give it back. But none of our parents would hear of it. Shelly was well-acquainted with how stubborn we could be, so she kept it, and I was glad.

It was kind of like her way of paying us back, offering to drive when we had family parties and get-togethers. I was so there for it.

Seriously, I hated driving.

I ignored their banter and snuck a peek at my phone, reading the text I’d received from Connor that morning.

I know you said you needed time, but staying away from you all day yesterday was hard as fuck and since I’ll be seeing you in a few hours, I thought maybe this was okay. I miss you, Darlin’. Can’t wait till later.

A million thoughts raced through me. Sparks of need and remembered passion. Whispers of possibilities, and not to mention the mother of all emotions, hope which really did seem to spring eternal.

I didn’t reply to his message. I just couldn’t. If he didn’t show up, I’d be crestfallen. And if he did, well, I didn’t know what I’d be.

Fucked. I’d be fucked.

But hopefully in pleasurable ways.

“Michaela just got there. Ooh, Lucy, too,” Jade reported with a squeal.

“Yes! We can get baby snuggles,” Shelly said, doing a little shimmy in her seat.

We were all infatuated with baby Michael. He was pretty dang perfect.

“Amber will be late,” she added, mentioning our other sister.

She was always late, so that wasn’t anything unusual.

“Carol time,” Shelly shouted, turning on the radio.

Quicker than I could say Jingle Bell Rock , the holiday music station was locked and loaded, and we were on our way to the worst sing-along ever.

And I meant that with love. But really, none of us could carry a tune. And it showed. Still, it was fun.

And I sure as shit needed a little of that.

Especially when I imagined being alone with Connor and my whole extended family for an entire weekend.

I’d tried texting my father to ask him what the hell he was thinking, inviting the man who tried to take down his business, and he only laughed.

“Clemmy mine, if he’d really tried to do that, I’d be spending the weekend with lawyers and computer geeks and not my beautiful family.”

“But what about the virus?”

“Connor is responsible for pointing out some serious flaws in our system. I fired Jameson, by the way.”

“Stoole? Why?”

“Because Callahan proved his half-assed work was responsible for a lot of what happened. That and the sonovabitch had a file on you. You didn’t date him, did you, Clemmy mine?”

“What? Ew, Dad gross!”

“That’s what Connor told me. Anyway, the man had words with Stoole, but don’t worry. He didn’t kill him. However, he did sell me his company and if I can convince him, he is going to work for me.”

“Are you serious?” I whispered.

“Clem, is that okay? Would you rather I didn’t ? —”

“No! I mean, yes, please do. I mean, if he is qualified, then hire him.”

“Okay, good. See you soon, Clemmy mine,” Pop said, and I smiled.

Clemmy mine was how I used to say my name when I was barely more than a baby. I’d almost forgotten, but every now and then one of my parents used it.

It was like they wanted to remind me I was still their baby girl. Like I would forget.

What Pop didn’t mention was if Connor had really hurt Sigma International, or even if he’d just tried to, he would probably have also called in his special team .

The one Pop used when I’d been kidnapped all those years ago. The one that left no evidence behind.

Just scorched earth.

Speaking of which, I should probably tell Connor not to bring that up since Mom didn’t know. None of the moms did.

Pop and my uncles had me promise back then, and I did in exchange for fighting and shooting lessons.

I grinned, wondering what Connor was going to say when he found out I could shoot and spar.

Maybe if I was lucky, he’d let me wrestle with him.

The idea made my pussy clench and my mouth water.

It was early days yet, and while I wasn’t sure I trusted him, I was pretty sure my heart was still invested.

Oh, who was I kidding?

Mom was right when she said our family tended to fall headfirst into love.

I knew without a doubt I was head over heels, and admitting it, even if only to myself, felt fantastic.

Connor might not be there yet, but he seemed so earnest when he said those things to me the other night.

About not going anywhere. About me being his. And about him coming to my family’s Christmas party.

Last year, Michaela and Liam were the center of a major drama. I was happy they’d both worked it out, but I was really looking forward to a good old holiday time.

Connor didn’t seem like the kind of man to celebrate, but when he walked me through the club, one hand around my waist the other in front of us, making sure no one bumped me as we walked, he’d mentioned how much he was looking forward to it.

“Connor, are you sure? We can just wait to see each other after,” I told him, willing to try to come up with a compromise for us.

“Are you kidding me? I haven’t had a family Christmas since I was a kid. Do you mind me coming?” he asked, frowning.

“Not at all. I just don’t want you to worry. I’m not going to read anything into it,” I said as we reached the truck.

He closed his hand around the handle, but didn’t open the door. With his other hand, he cupped my neck and spun me towards him.

“If you aren’t reading anything into it, then I’m doing something wrong, Darlin’. Now, me coming to your family’s house for Christmas means exactly what you think it means. Get in the truck. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he grunted, slamming a kiss on my lips and smacking my ass as I climbed inside the vehicle.

The following day, I spent my time packing and answering correspondence with the construction team working on Drew’s Place.

It was so close to being finished. I was nervous and excited, eager to start that new chapter of my work life.

But I was even more eager to take this step with Connor. To see if we could really be together.

Please. Oh please.