“Yeah,” Ella said. “I’m the only one of her grandkids who showed any interest in sewing. I think I’d like to sell my designs, my creations.”
“That sounds awesome. I’d like to see them sometime,” Hawk said.
She braced herself for the confession. “You almost did, actually. I tried making my dress on Christmas Eve.”
“You made that?”
She shook her head, unable to pull away from his gaze. “I designed a dress but ran out of time. Grammy tried to help me finish it, but she ended up buying me a dress instead.”
Hawk stared at her as though she was still wearing the gown. He exhaled a puff of air. “You looked so gorgeous that night. I was beside myself to not pull you to me and kiss you right there in front of everyone. But, you know, you’re just as amazing in my sweats and shirt.”
She licked her bottom lip, trying to think of a way to deflect his praise. “There you go, talking about me in your clothes again.”
He laughed. His smile was a burst of sunlight on a wintery afternoon. It sizzled through the remaining chill in her bones.
“Speaking of which,” she said, “I still need to get those back to you.”
“We have time,” Hawk said with a shrug.
Happiness radiated through her body. Her heart drummed in her chest. “We do?”
“Sure. I don’t want this—” He gestured to her and back to himself again. “To be over. That is, if you’re willing to give me a second chance.”
Her thoughts scattered as trembling overtook her. “Give you a second chance? Hawk, the fact that you’re even talking to me now means so much.”
He reached for her hand. His warm touch made her sing. “I want to spend every second I can with you. To talk to you,” he said with a promise. “Every day, for as long as you want. As long as we both want. I want to get to know you, to hear more about your life and have you become a part of mine. We don’t have to limit it to talking, either,” he added with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
Still reeling from their kiss, Ella couldn’t stop her smile at the suggestion.
He went on, his thumb making light circles on her hand. “That is, if you’re in favor of the occasional interruption.”
“I’m absolutely in favor.”
They shared a secret look that burned with a thousand hints and suggestions and hoped-for moments alone.
“Are you hungry?” Hawk asked.
“Starving.”
He extended his hand. Ella’s fingers prickled as she slid them across his soft skin. He wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest.
His apology, his earnest words, his request to continue what they started; his faith in her good name and the spark that had flared in his eyes seeped into their embrace. It coursed through her with vindication. It ignited yearning within her, to be held like this by him for the rest of her life.
The scent of his cologne teased her darkest thoughts as his heart pounded promises to her ear. Possibility. Longing. Redemption. And more midnight kisses. Each was a trumpet blast with every lub-dub. Hawk had forgiven her, and not only that, he wanted her for who she was.
Christmas miracle, indeed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-Three
Ella thought keenly of the last time she’d stood on the step of her father’s home. It’d been Christmas morning, two years ago, right after she’d started dating Derek that Stina had opened the door with a smile only to have the expression flip like a pancake into a grimace. That she’d demanded to know what Ella thought she was doing there.
And that she’d refused to let Ella speak with her father and instead dismissed her before slamming the door—Ella’s door—in her face.
Memories didn’t hold onto pain after a while, though, and Ella was pleased to discover she could lift her heart as she elevated her hand toward the doorbell.
Dad answered, wearing a striped sweater, jeans, and socked feet. His surprise was evident in his lifted brow.
“Hey there,” he said. “How’s my girl?”
She was still his girl? That was promising.
Dad hadn’t called or stopped by to visit again since she’d asked him to leave her apartment. She hadn’t been sure about stopping by, but he was her father. Ella had allowed Stina to stand between them for too long. She wanted to make things up with her dad, and this seemed like a good start.
“Hi, Dad. Can I come in?”
“Sure, but…”
“Stina’s here?” Ella suggested.
“Yeah,” he said with defeat.
This didn’t bother her as much as it might once have. It shouldn’t surprise her that her dad had offered whatever bail had been posted for Stina’s release from jail. She still couldn’t completely grasp what had happened. Stina and Pris being arrested. Serving time in jail.
“That’s okay,” Ella said. “I’m here to see you.”
Her father stepped aside and invited her in. The house looked Stina-fied. After Stina had married Dad, she’d swept through, taking down pictures and souvenirs from family trips, decorations and quotes Ella’s mom had picked out and displayed. She’d renovated the place completely with her own yuppie style.
Ella had resented her for it but saw it in a new light now. Had it been hard for Stina to move into a home where another woman’s touch was everywhere she looked? Regardless, she didn’t need to try and erase Ella’s mom completely from the picture the way she had.
“How are you doing with all of this?” Ella asked her father there in the entryway. The cream carpet had been updated since the last time she’d been here.
“I’ve been okay. We’re getting by, though it’s difficult without Stina’s income.”
Part of her was startled that he decided to stay with the woman after all she’d done to emotionally blackmail Ella, but she’d long since known her father’s weak character. She pitied him for it now. Partly because she knew from her own
