No panic, no doubt, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to him. After all these years, she still had his heart, and he didn’t know how to tell her without making her run like hell in the other direction.

Even worse, he didn’t know how to get her to stay.

Chapter 31

CHRISTMAS DAY WAS a blur of activity for Molly, from having hot chocolate with her parents Christmas morning, to spending time with her mom and Emma.

Emma and Luke—and their dogs, Boomer, Daisy, and Annie, had shown up midmorning for brunch, so they’d all spent time in the kitchen together cooking.

It was so different from the Christmases she’d had over the past twelve years. To be with her mom and sister making homemade cinnamon rolls—a family tradition on Christmas Day—was special. She’d really missed this, maybe more than she’d allowed herself to admit.

When the doorbell rang around eleven and she found Carter there, she was even more surprised.

“I thought we were meeting later.”

“Yeah, but I changed my mind. Besides, I have gifts for everyone.”

“Oh. That’s so nice, Carter.” He was constantly surprising her, and warming her heart with the way he treated her family. They had planned to meet at his house later tonight, when it was just the two of them—alone. To know that he’d taken the time to bring gifts for her family was just so . . .

Him.

She didn’t know why she was surprised about anything thoughtful he did.

Why did he have to be so damn sweet? Couldn’t he be a jerk every now and then? He was making this so hard on her.

And that thought was simply ridiculous and set her off in a way that confused her.

Which was also ridiculous, but there it was.

“Carter,” her mother said, greeting him as he walked in and shed his coat. “I’m so glad to see you. Merry Christmas.”

“Same to you, Georgia.” He kissed her cheek. “Do I smell cinnamon rolls?”

Her mom smiled and slid her arm in his. “You do. And coffee. Are you hungry?”

“Well, my mom did fix breakfast early this morning, but I’ve had your homemade cinnamon rolls before, and I’m not going to turn them down if you’re offering.”

“I am.”

They headed into the dining room.

“Molly, pour Carter a cup of coffee, will you?”

Molly sighed. “Sure.”

Not at all the way she had planned the day, but whatever. He sat at the table downing two cinnamon rolls while he chatted with Luke and her dad, so she busied herself in the kitchen prepping lunch with her sister while her mom rested her leg.

“You seem . . . irritated,” Emma said.

“Me? Not at all.” She took out her non-irritation on the celery and onions she was slicing for the stuffing.

“Are you mad that Carter showed up?”

“We were going to have a mini-Christmas alone at his place tonight.”

“But he’s here now, Molly. Isn’t it nice that he took time away from his family to be with you?”

“Yes. It’s great.”

She had no idea what was wrong with her.

Then they all opened presents, talking excitedly over each other, looking to see what everyone got. Her mom had snuck out to go shopping and had gotten her a beautiful set of new luggage.

“Not that I want you to use them, mind you,” her mom said. “But that stuff you dragged in when you got here had seen better days.”

Molly laughed and hugged her parents.

Emma got her a pair of earrings with shiny blue sapphires.

“I love these, Em. Thank you.”

“I was going to wait for this until later when we’re alone, but I want you to open it now,” Carter said, handing her a gift bag.

“Okay. It’s not lingerie, is it?” she asked, eyeing her parents.

He laughed. “No. Definitely not lingerie.”

She sifted through the tissue paper, and pulled out an envelope, opened it up, then read the contents and looked up at him. “Airline tickets?”

“For New Year’s Eve. To Las Vegas. I booked us into the Venetian, and we’re going to see a show, then bring in the new year at one of the clubs.”

“Oh, Moll, that sounds like so much fun,” Emma said.

“What a wonderful gift, Carter,” her mom said.

Molly didn’t know what to think. New Year’s was a week away. But still, a trip? Together?

It was sounding more and more like something a couple would do. A couple in a relationship.

She looked up at him and forced a smile. “It’s great. Thank you.”

“You’ve been working really hard. I thought a getaway for both of us was a good idea. And we’ll take a couple extra days to hang out and have some fun.”

“Sounds . . . awesome.”

She brushed her lips against his. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’ll give you your gift later.”

He waggled his brows. “It is lingerie, isn’t it?” he whispered.

She rolled her eyes. “No.”

They ate and talked and cooked, then ate some more. All in all, it was a perfect day. Even better, her mother was completely comfortable moving around the house now, since her casts had been shortened even more. She was doing so well, and Molly couldn’t be happier for her. In a couple of weeks she’d be cast free and starting a new form of therapy to work her muscles now that her bones were mostly healed.