Page 19 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

I already had on cute leggings, so I switched from my tunic to my long sweater, and stuffed my feet into knee boots, and called it a win. It was chilly out, but not heavy coat chilly. Of course if I was from another state, I would probably be wrapped up in a parka.

That thought made me smile, and I ran back downstairs to see both women taking turns cuddling with Mr. Darcy.

“That’s a very spoiled cat,” I said with a snort.

“He’s just misunderstood,” Brooklyn teased. “But now I really do want a puppy.”

We said our goodbyes to Mr. Darcy before we all clambered into Brooklyn’s SUV.

“I’m so glad that you were able to get a new car this year, Brooklyn,” Eliza put in from the back seat. She had forced me into the front seat, and one didn’t tell Eliza Wilder-Montgomery no.

“Me too. It worked out that the work truck should just be for work. It’s covered in dirt and other raw materials constantly, and sometimes I want to be able to go out to dinner and not end up with mud stains on my pants.”

“That wouldn’t be awkward at all,” I teased and Brooklyn shuddered. “I can’t believe that you are a landscape architect. I can’t even keep a plant alive.”

“Your gardens look really great for winter. But if you ever want any help, just let me know.”

“You work more hours than I do from what I hear.”

“Maybe. But I like helping friends. And that’s what we are. Friends.”

“So did you always want to be a landscape architect?”

“I always loved playing in dirt, so yes. I love creating and figuring out what to do next to make someone’s dream home or business a true dream. I could ask you the same about being a voice actor.”

Eliza and I laughed, but I let out a breath.

“I was always great at drama and being on stage as a kid. I enjoyed math and science, but history and English were where it was at for me. And then moving into the arts was where everything clicked. But I realized that I liked making voices and using my voice for good over wanting to act completely. If that makes sense.”

“So community theater isn’t for you?” Eliza asked.

I shook my head. “No. I thought about it when I was in college, but we had to work long hours in order to afford college, so it really wasn’t my thing.”

As we pulled into the parking lot, Brooklyn squeezed my hand. “I’m still sorry about Emily.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat as we piled out of the SUV. “Thank you. Every day is terrible without her, but the holidays may get worse.”

“I understand.” Eliza moved forward and gripped my hands. “Loss changes a person.” Something crossed her eyes, but I didn’t ask. Everybody had their own secrets, their darkness. Their loss.

“So back to you, were you always good at growing things?”

“Actually yes. My dad is an architect for the Montgomerys, since you know he is one,” Brooklyn said with a laugh. “And my aunt Megan does what I do. So I would follow her around, and things just clicked for me.”

“And your mom owns a bookstore, right? Downtown?”

“Yes. Beneath the Cover. It’s still going strong, and I loved hanging out there as a kid. Hell, I still love hanging out there now.” She winced. “Sorry, Aunt Eliza. Didn’t mean to curse in front of you.”

Eliza did her best to look offended, but the laughter in her eyes spilled the truth. “I mean how dare you. An actual curse word in front of me. I’ve never heard it before.”

We each laughed as we walked through the outdoor mall, stopping for lunch halfway through, and shopping to our heart’s content.

There were carolers, a small string quartet, and decorations everywhere that just breathed life into the holidays.

And it wasn’t just Christmas of course. Hanukkah started the day after Christmas, and there were plenty of other holidays that happened within this three-week period.

So watching everybody, even a little stressed as they walked around, was entertaining.

“So did Lexington always want to become an architect?” I asked Eliza and could have rightly bit off my tongue.

The other woman’s gaze brightened, even as her cheeks pinked with excitement. “He was always good at drawing. As an art teacher myself and somebody who takes time to paint every once in a while, it always made me smile when he would draw alongside me.”

“Takes time to paint my ass,” Brooklyn said, pausing. “That did not sound right at all.”

“Not even a little,” I said, holding back the loud laughter that would probably bring attention to us.

“Seriously though, you are an award-winning artist who just happens to teach at the local community college when you can. You are brilliant, Aunt Eliza.”

“Oh stop. I’m good at what I do, and I’m grateful for it, but it wasn’t the only thing in my life. Raising the boys and making sure that their father didn’t end up falling off a roof or something as the construction lead was a little too much for me.”

“So I guess watching his family thrive in their respective jobs led him down that path.”

“I think so. Brooklyn’s father, of course, is an architect, same as my sister-in-law Annabelle. We have a few more in the family, or at least ones that went along a parallel path. And it just worked out that they were able to find their way. And I’m so grateful for it.”

“And he’s great with working with others, meaning we get more projects and bids and we can grow over time.

But not so quickly that we fall behind.” Brooklyn looked at her phone and winced.

“We should probably be getting back soon. I still have a few invoices to finish up so I can call it a week and actually enjoy the holidays.”

“And I suppose it has nothing to do with you wanting to meet Duke?” I teased.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said primly, her cheeks pink. “But, we should probably get home, because I know Lexington will be home soon.” She sing-songed the latter part, and I flipped her off. Of course Eliza caught me, but she just burst out laughing.

We sang along to pop rock and oldies on our way home, and for the first time in forever it felt as if I was finding my place. Finding friends.

When we pulled up to my home, I frowned as Lexington’s truck was already in my driveway.

“Did he forget which house he lived in?” I asked, even as my stomach tightened.

He got out of the truck, and I did my best not to watch how his jeans hugged his thick thighs as he did so. After all, his mother was less than a foot away from me. I needed to control my hormones. Maybe.

“No, he’s right where he needs to be,” Eliza said as we scrambled out of the car.

“Good timing,” Lex said with a grin. “I have one of your presents right here.”

I stumbled, my throat tight. “A present?”

Of course I had gotten Lex a present, not that I had told the others who it was for. No, I had just been doing it because he was a great neighbor. And I really liked his kisses.

Lex smiled, and awkwardness settled in. Was I supposed to go to him, touch him, hold him, run away? I didn’t know. But then Lex Montgomery did what he did best and took control of things. He rubbed his knuckle against my cheek and leaned forward, brushing his lips against mine. “Have fun shopping?”

I blinked at him, wondering if he realized that he had just kissed me in front of his mother. But nobody said a damn thing, instead they opened the back of Brooklyn’s SUV and proceeded to pull out my bags.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice soft.

“I remember when you were growing up that you always had two trees in the house, if not more. And well, the front bay window seems a little empty right now.” That’s when I realized the back of his truck wasn’t completely empty. A medium-sized fir tree lay there, and my throat tightened.

“Lex,” I breathed.

“It’s not the best tree in the world, it’s a little straggly since we’re so close to the holidays, but we need to let the tree live to its full potential.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Tears filled my eyes, and I blushed, ducking my head.

Lex cursed under his breath before he wrapped his arms around me.

“Did I mess up? I can put the tree in my house. I don’t mind having two.”

“No. You did good. I was just focusing on so many things that I was trying to let the holidays pass me by. But it seems your family’s not letting me.”

“We Montgomerys are a little stubborn like that. So I did okay?”

I looked up at him then, and my eyes filled. “You did great. I love it.”

“Good,” he said, letting out a relieved breath. “Well let’s get this inside, and I have a few things for you to decorate it with, I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do with it.”

This time the uneasiness in his tone outweighed the happiness, and I went to my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“I have a few things, but let’s look at what you have. Starting new traditions is good.”

“Yeah, it is.”

And I took a step back before I did something silly like kiss him again in front of his family.

“Okay, how can I help?”

“We’ve got this,” Dash said, and I hadn’t even realized the other man was there. He just winked at me, playful as always, and the two of them wrestled the tree into my house. Eliza went down on her knees, crawling underneath it to make sure it was settled, despite all of our protests.

“Dad is going to kill me if he sees you there, taking care of things with me not helping.”

“I’m an adult, I can handle it,” Eliza said.

“Why the hell are you letting your mother do the hard work?” Beckett Montgomery said, and I jumped.

“Sorry about that,” Beckett said as he grinned. “The door was ajar, and nobody heard me knock.”

“Oh, it’s okay. Come on in, Mr. Montgomery.”

“Call me Beckett.” He gave me a tight hug and kissed the top of my head.

“It’s good to see you home, Mercy.”

I met Lex’s gaze, and he just winked at me. Then I rolled my eyes and got to work on decorating.

When Silas joined in, the four Montgomerys of their tiny branch laughed together, as if them standing in my home trying to make my house full of joy was a usual thing.

Brooklyn had left soon after dropping us off, because she did have work to do and I didn’t feel out of place.

Even in my own home. Silas carried Mr. Darcy around, surprising me, and I just looked at the family of four and how tight knit they were.

No, the boys didn’t look like their parents since they had been adopted when they had been babies, but they still had the same Montgomery mannerisms, and I knew that they had always felt like Montgomerys by blood.

Just like this family was trying to make sure that I wasn’t alone for the holidays.

My heart clutched, and when I tried to lean back into the wall, I realized it wasn’t a wall, instead it was Lex himself. I sighed, letting myself relax against him as he squeezed my hip.

“You like the holidays yet?” he whispered.

“A new kind of holiday. But yes.”

So I settled in and watched how his family drew me to them.

Even as I had no idea what to do with the man currently holding me close.