the middle of their troubled relationship. She'd been too naive to pick up on the secret machinations that were weakening her marriage until it was too late. Larry's incessant extravagances had made it all too tempting to him to go to Georgia for the money he needed, and all too easy for Georgia to use this as a weapon to destroy Larry's fragile new loyalty to Norie.
After Larry's death Norie had felt utterly rejected. She'd been afraid that she might still be too naive to prevent Georgia from using her money to divide her from her son. No, Grant would never understand.
The high-ceilinged rooms glowed with rosy, welcoming light and warmth and smelled sweetly of fir and spruce. Norie was in the kitchen nervously making tea. Darius's things were everywhere, but Grant hadn't seemed to notice. He'd been too busy lighting the heaters and laying out his presents for her in front of the Christmas tree.
He had taken off his jacket and was kneeling by the tree. From where she stood, Norie watched him with a longing that was so intense it bordered on pain. She marveled at the play of powerful muscles in his back beneath the fine fabric of his shirt every time he moved, at the way the light shimmered iridescently on his blue-black hair.
Finally he became aware of her and met her gaze with a hungry, flushed look that made her cheeks glow even brighter than his. As she moved toward him, he picked up a small green present wrapped with a golden bow. 'I want you to open this one first, gypsy girl,' he said in a deep, husky voice.
'Now?'
'Now,' he said softly.
She remembered the blue silk shirt hidden beneath her bed. 'I bought you something, too.'
'Did you?' He grinned at her. 'I wasn't sure whether you'd be glad to see me or whether you'd throw me out.'
She nuzzled her face against his shoulder. 'It's a good thing you didn't call. I would have told you not to come. But now that you're here… ' She slid her pale hands upward across the broad expanse of his chest until they found the knot of his tie, but she was so clumsy at loosening it that he had to help her. Unbuttoning the first three buttons, she slid her fingers inside and touched his hot, warm skin. 'I'm glad you came,' she whispered in a hushed voice. 'So very glad.' With her lips she began to explore the hollow at the base of his throat.
'I kept thinking about your turkey. It seemed a shame for you to be out here all alone, eating by yourself,' he said in a low, hoarse tone, pulling her closer.
'You better not have come back just because of my turkey.'
He gave her the small present. 'I want you to open this one first. It will explain everything.'
Her fingers shook as she tore into the glittering ribbon and then the green paper. Inside was a white cardboard box, and inside it, a smaller black velvet one. She snapped the inner box open instantly.
A solitaire diamond engagement ring winked at her from black velvet.
Her breath caught. She stared at the ring for a long moment, then looked back up at him.
'Well?' he whispered. 'Do you like it?'
Gingerly she touched it, tracing the finely cut stone, the gleaming band with her fingertip. Her gaze blurred. 'It's beautiful, Grant. The most beautiful ring in all the world.'
'For the most beautiful woman.'
'But are you sure?'
He smiled down at her. 'I love you, Norie. Marry me.'
She ought to tell him. About Darius. Now.
But she was too dazzled by Grant's words, by the tenderness shining in his eyes. So she just stood quietly and let him slide the ring onto her finger and twist it so they could both watch it catch the light and shimmer.
'There, it's a perfect fit,' he said, pleased.
'Grant, I'm not the right kind of woman… '
'Hush.' His hands were in her black silky hair. He pressed her face against his chest and smoothed her hair. Softly he said, 'You're so beautiful, Norie. The whole time I was gone, every day, every hour, I was thinking of you.'
'So was I.'
'I nearly picked up the phone to call you a thousand times. But I knew what you'd say. I needed you so much. I felt so hopeless, so lost.'
'So did I.'
'No more, gypsy girl.'
'What about Georgia?'
'She will accept you. I swear to you she will.'
Then he lifted Norie's face toward his, and he bent slightly to cover her lips with his. He kissed her ever so gently. She moaned and raised her arms to encircle his neck. Her heart had begun to thump erratically. Waves of desire pulsed through her, and she knew she had to stop him.
Finally she got the words out. 'Grant, there's something terribly important I have to tell you.'
'What could be that important?' His hand cupped her chin and he lifted her face again so he could resume kissing her. 'More important than this?'
Their lips met. His tongue dipped into her mouth again just as the front door flew open with a bang. Norie scarcely heard the eager footsteps as her child ran inside, the door slamming behind him. She was too aware of Grant tensing in surprise.
'Mom! Hey, Mom, I'm home!'
Suddenly Darius stopped and stared in disbelief at the vision of his mother in a man's arms, the two of them framed in the doorway with the lights of the Christmas tree twinkling behind them.
Norie withdrew slowly. Still holding her hand, Grant stepped back a single step to stare at the diminutive replica of himself.
Darius was still in his 'church clothes,' but just barely. His shirttails were wrinkled and hung loosely out of his slacks, his tie was crooked, and his shoelaces were dragging. Norie was sure that in all his life, Darius had never stood so absolutely still for so long without being told to. His blue eyes were open wide with wonder.
'Santa is awesome!' Darius shouted in his outdoor voice, using his idol, Ray Liska's, favorite word. Then Darius ran happily toward them, never doubting for a moment that he would be a welcome addition in the big man's arms.
Grant knelt slowly to the child's level.
'Santa really did bring me a daddy.' Darius let out a big sigh. Then he touched Grant's sapphire tie tack. 'You are real! Boy! You even look a little like me.'
'What's your name, son?'
'It's Darius.'
'Darius?' Grant looked up at Norie. His face was dark, unreadable.
'Hey, can you play football?'
'I played in high school,' Grant told him almost absently.
'Awesome.'
Darius didn't usually hug people he'd just met. But he made an exception with Grant and laid his cheek against Grant's trustingly just for a second before pulling himself free and dashing eagerly toward the kitchen.
'Hey, come on. I gotta lot of things upstairs I want to show you.'
Grant stood up slowly. As Darius dashed up the stairs, Norie's soulful eyes sought Grant's and silently pleaded with him to understand. But he looked past her, his expression closed and hard. Without a word he left the room and followed Darius.
Norie stayed downstairs, her heart filled with an agony of doubt and regret. She could hear their voices-Grant's deep baritone mingling with Darius's overly excited shouts.
Why was her life always like this? Just when she was sure she loved Grant, she'd ruined everything. She wouldn't blame him if he hated her.
An hour passed before Grant came down again. Norie was in the kitchen, sitting silently at the table. The tea she had made for herself had gone cold while she'd waited nervously, hopelessly.
