Nana Malone - Never Christmas Without You - Just for the Holidays / His Holiday Gift

The car wound around the island, driving along the coast before finally pulling up to the Morrison estate, which sat behind the Morrison Hotel and had a 1930s F. Scott Fitzgerald glamour to it. Justin opened the door for her. “The palace awaits, milady.”

When they made their way to the front door, it opened and Alex plastered what she hoped was a winning smile on her face.

Out walked a man who could’ve easily been Justin’s brother. Their frames were similar, but while their eyes were the same shade of brown, Justin’s always looked warm like melting chocolate, and this guy’s were flinty, dark and cold.

“Well, I would say the prodigal has returned, but no one wanted you home.”

Alex scowled at the guy. She was trying to be on her best behavior as she waited for Justin to say something. Even better to knock the guy on his ass. But her best friend did nothing. Merely clenched his jaw and ignored the comment.

Well, she couldn’t stand for that. “Justin, sweetheart, who’s this asshole?”

The other man cocked his head. “Well, this one is feisty. I do like feisty. Pretty, too. Sweetheart, are you sure you’re supposed to be with this guy? I’ve got more money. Better looking, too. I’m Martin.”

Alex twitched to slap him. If only Justin would let her hit him. Justin grabbed the last of the bags from the valet and tipped him. Before Alex could open her mouth, he leaned down and whispered, “Remember, we’re here for Grandma Lucy. Ignore him. You’re only succeeding in giving him what he wants.”

The problem was, ignoring idiots was not her strong suit, except for Brian. Damn. Her big mouth was why Justin liked her. It was also why a lot of other people didn’t. You came for him. She sighed. She had come for him. So she’d have to play his way. “I’m Alex, Justin’s girlfriend.”

She would just go ahead and ignore that happy buzzing feeling those words gave her.

Martin grinned at her. It was more leer, really, than grin. “I’m Martin. And I’m CEO of Morrison Hotels.” He said it like he was announcing at some grand ball. She didn’t have the heart to tell him he should wait for someone else to announce him first.

“Well, you must be very proud of yourself.” It was the nicest thing she could think of to say. Because what she really wanted to say was high on the not-appropriate list.

Behind Martin someone put a hand on his arm and tapped him out of the way. When he stumbled to the side, a diminutive woman with a shock of white hair, aviator sunglasses and a wide grin said, “I’ve been waiting for you two to show up.” Considering she’d been in the hospital, Grandma Lucy was spry enough to stride over to her grandson and wrap her thin arms around him, squeezing tight.

Now, this... This was what Alex wanted from his family. The love and devotion were clear and glowing on Lucy’s face. The old woman stepped back and took a proper look at her grandson. “You look like you haven’t been sleeping. I certainly hope it’s not because you’re worried about me,” she said to him.

Justin shifted on his feet and avoided her gaze. “It’s good to see you, Grandma. This is Alex.”

Grandma Lucy turned and scrutinized her. “I do like it when my grandson exceeds expectations.” She reached out and gave Alex a tight hug.

Damn. Wasn’t this woman supposed to be sick?

Grandma Lucy stepped back and nodded her approval. “Oh yes, you’ll do just fine.” Then she turned to her grandson. “Alex? Haven’t you been telling me for years about your best friend, Alex?”

Justin scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, Alex is my best friend. She’s just also my girlfriend.”

Grandma Lucy nodded. “I approve. Now, let’s get on inside. There’s cooking to be done and rooms to be assigned. Martin, stop standing around and come get their bags. Take them up to their rooms.”

Martin sputtered. “But we have valets for that.”

Grandma Lucy leveled a look on her other grandson that made him jump. Martin hopped to it, took the bags from Justin. She gave Martin a satisfied nod as he lugged them inside. She leaned in and said to Alex, “Sometimes you just need to know how to handle men.”

Alex fought a grin. She liked Grandma Lucy. Maybe this Christmas wasn’t going to be so terrible after all.

“Now, Justin, I put you and Alex in the blue room. South facing so you’ll get plenty of light. And you’ll be able to see the shore from there.”

Alex frowned. The blue room? As in one room? “Um, Miss Lucy. I know how traditional you must be—I wouldn’t dream of spending the night in the same room as Justin.” She sent Justin a beseeching glance, silently pleading with him to do something. Justin, come on. Come through for me.

Justin shook his head. “Grandma Lucy. Since when have you been down for cohabitation? With Martin’s girlfriend, you railed about how it wasn’t respectful under your roof. Now you’re sticking me and Alex in the same room?”

Grandma Lucy just waved him off. “I was saying that because I didn’t like the girl. She was a gold-digging wh—”

“Grandma Lucy,” he said with the faintest hint of warning in his voice.

His grandmother shrugged then took Alex’s hand. “Well, I call a spade a spade. And that’s what she was. And that’s why I didn’t want her digging her claws any more into my grandson. But of course Martin doesn’t listen to me. And that, one day, will bite him in the ass.” She led the way to the foyer, then turned around and smiled at both of them. “Go on, now, Justin, kiss your girlfriend.”

Alex froze. What the hell? There was no way she could endure another kiss from Justin. The other day when they were shopping, it was one thing to make Brian jealous. But she couldn’t possibly kiss him just because. Her heart couldn’t take it. Neither could her libido. Incinerating in the Morrison home was not a way to impress, for sure.

Justin shifted from foot to foot. Then leaned in and gave Alex a kiss on the cheek. “Grandma, is there mistletoe all over this house?”

Grandma Lucy giggled. “Just because your grandfather is long gone doesn’t mean I can’t feel the romantic spirit of Christmas.”

“I never thought of Christmas as particularly romantic,” Alex said.

Grandma Lucy patted her hand. “That’s because you never had someone special to spend it with. Now you have my grandson. And, Justin, if you hope to keep a woman, you have to kiss her better than that. Do it again and this time put your back into it.”

Alex couldn’t help it. She sputtered, and the laugh broke free, echoing around the expanse of the high-ceilinged foyer. Yeah, you keep laughing—he’s about to kiss you in a minute, and you two need to make it look real. Damn. She turned to face Justin and licked her lips. His gaze was pinned to her tongue as if his entire focus was on how she might taste. When Justin leaned over, he gently mouthed, Make it look real. And Alex swallowed hard.

When his lips brushed over hers and his hands moved around her waist to pull her close, her mind reeled. As the blood rushed in her skull, her knees felt too weak to support her weight. Right there in the front of Justin’s grandmother, Alex was melting. Into a pool of hormones and need and—But before she could even settle in and enjoy herself, it was over too soon. He pulled back and then brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. All Alex could do was blink in confusion and wonder and—Oh right. Grandma Lucy was saying something to her.

“Now, see, that was a kiss. Justin, honey, you better learn to do that all the time if you’re to keep this beauty.”

“Grandma, no antics. Alex is shy. She doesn’t like flaunting our relationship in front of everyone.”

Yes. That was exactly what they’d discussed. Alex wanting to keep her private life private. As a reason for not showing too much affection to each other. But screw that plan. Alex was now all about demonstrating passion. She might slip Grandma Lucy a five under the table to suggest that she kiss Justin again.