Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 30

Oam

30 First Date

Chrissy POV

I smile when we appear in Jack’s penthouse. I’ve only been here twice with Nick, and it was when I was a teenager. It is definitely the picture book definition of a bachelor pad. Not much has changed as I quickly scan the room. I honestly never imagined this happening. Me being here in Jack’s arms. I really believed that Jack would never see me as a woman, but the heat in his eyes earlier when he saw me for the first time in my short sparkly dress definitely made me a believer in

Christmas miracles.

I giggle to myself, and he tightens his hold on me. “Care to share what that giggle was about, pixie girl,” he asks. “I was just thinking about how surreal it is for me to be here not as Nick’s sister but as the woman you profess to want.” “I will do more than profess pixie girl. I am going to show you what it truly means to be loved and worshiped. Are you ready to head to dinner,” he asks. “Or we could just order in and hang out here.”

I’m suddenly wanting him to myself. “No way. This is our first date and I plan to make it a memorable one. We will come back here after it’s over, and I will tuck you into my big bed to sleep,” he says. “Sleep is that code for something else,” I say, trying not to sound disappointed. I am the one that said he had to work for it and here I am practically whining about what he just said. He cups my cheek and forces me to look into his eyes.

“Chrissy, you are important to me. This isn’t a fling or a fleeting romance. You are the woman that I plan to spend the rest of my very long life with. We will have plenty of time to explore each other, but right now I want to show you that this and this are more important,” he says, pointing to my head and heart. “Can we at least make out a little?” “We can make out a lot. In fact, I plan to kiss you senseless before we head down to my car,” he says.

Boy does he ever. By the time he is done kissing me, my legs feel like jelly. He wraps his arm around my

waist and leads me to the elevator that will take us to the first floor. When we step out into the crisp night air, he tightens his arm around me even though he knows the cold doesn’t affect either of us. I’m shocked to see a driver waiting by a black town car. He opens the door and Jack helps me inside. When he slides in next to me, he pulls my hand into his.

“I hope you like steak,” he says with a wink. He knows that steak and garlic mashed potatoes is my favorite meal. It has been since I was a kid. The fact that he was noticing such things has warmth spreading across my chest. We pull up to an unassuming building and I wonder if we are even at the right place. The door opens, and he steps out before offering me his hand again. I place my hand in his and once I’m out he leads me inside.

I’m confused as soon as we step inside when I realize that every table is empty. “Jack,” I start to

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30 First Date

say, but he cuts me off. “I wanted you to myself tonight. No distractions and no interruptions say, unless, of course, Clarice or Nick need us,” he says. I lean in and press a kiss on his soft lips. Before he can deepen it, a boisterous female voice has us pulling apart. “Jack, I was so happy when you called me. I haven’t seen you in so long,” she says. Jealousy bubbles up inside me when the woman

tries to hug him.

She obviously isn’t his real age, but she looks like she is. She is tall with a blonde bob. She has on a chef’s coat, but her long legs are barely covered by whatever dress she has underneath. Jack sticks his hand out, effectively stopping her from wrapping her arms around him. “Giselle, it is good to see you. I appreciate you and your brother being so accommodating to me and my fiancé,” he e says. Her face quickly morphs from flirtatious to irritated.

“Fiance, really Jack. I didn’t think you ever did serious with a woman,” she says, like I’m not standing next to him. “Why do I get the feeling you want to be more than friendly with my fiancé, Giselle?” Her eyes get big as she looks between the two of us. Jack looks like he just won a million dollars when I call him my fiancé. “I assure you miss that was not my intent. I have known Jack a long time. I was simply being friendly,” she says,

“I think that you have tried to shoot your shot and failed based on the fact that he would never fiancé is bring me to a place run by a woman he screwed.” “You know what, Giselle I believe my right. I have never given you the slightest inkling that I was interested, but in my defense you have never acted so brazenly. I’ll be sure that your brother knows exactly how you have disrespected my fiancé,” Jack says, taking my hand to lead me back out of the restaurant.

He turns me to face him when we reach the car. “I’m sorry pixle girl. I never expected,” he starts to say, but I cut him off. “You have nothing to apologize for. You are a handsome man, and I’m not shocked that women want you.” He opens his mouth, but I raise my hand to stop him. “The fact that you shut her down without a second of hesitation and treated me like I was the only one that matters is what I care about Jack.”

He cups my cheeks in his big hands. “You are the only one that matters.” He presses his lips against mine and I wrap my arms around his waist. “Jack, hey man,” a deep masculine voice calls out, and he groans against my lips. He pulls back and turns around. He pulls me to his side as a large man in a chef’s coat stalks toward us. “Jack, don’t leave. Giselle told me what happened. Well her version of what happened, but I know my sister. What the hell did she do,” he asks.

“Jeremy, this is my fiancé, Chrissy. Chrissy, this is Jeremy. Your sister decided to make a comment about me not having serious relationships. She disrespected my girl. You’ve known me long enough to know that is not something I tolerate, Jeremy,” he says. “Of course not, and I would never expect you to. I am so sorry Chrissy. My sister can be a pain in my a** but she is my sister. I sent her home, and I’ll prepare and serve your dinner myself. Please come back inside,‘ he says.

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20 Fest Date

Clam

Jack looks at me and I smile. “What do you think, pixie girl,” he asks. “I think you promised me a steak dinner.” “Lead the way, Jeremy. My girl is hungry,” he says. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing him call me that.

Nick POV

“Thank you, Nick,” Clarice says as we make our way back to the apartment. “Clarice, you don’t need to thank me for anything.” “Yes, I do. Everything that has helped me heal since I arrived is thanks to you and Chrissy. Even before I knew that you were this amazing magical man, I felt like I was home. Like despite all the pain, I was where I was meant to be,” she says. I pull her close as we make our way inside.

Just as we step inside, a portal appears and my mother steps through. “Mom, what the hell are you doing here?” “Excuse me, Nicholas Kringle. Is that the way you talk to your mother,” she says, and Clarice giggles. “I’m sorry, mom I just wasn’t expecting to see you today. What’s wrong? Is everything on schedule?” She rolls her eyes. “Besides that your father is driving me crazy, everything is going according to his plan,” she says sarcastically.

“So you came here to hide from dad. Have you also been in the peppermint schnapps again too?” “Oh you, don’t say such things. I don’t need my future daughter–in–law thinking I’m a lush,” she says. “I would never think that,” Clarice says, and I chuckle. My mother glares at me before she takes Clarice’s hand in hers. “How are you feeling, sweetheart,” she asks.

“Amazing actually. We got to see the jelly bean this morning and I spent time with my parents for the first time in a long time. Your son loves me. I feel like everything in my life is perfect right now,” she says. I press a kiss on her temple. She pulls the baby’s ultrasound picture from her pocket and hands it to my mother. Tears form in her eyes as she stares at the picture. “My first grandbaby,” she says before she looks at me and then Clarice.

She pulls Clarice into her arms, hugging her tight. A few seconds later, she groans and takes a step back. “Have I mentioned your father is a pain in my a** this time of year,” she says and Clarice giggles. “Clarice, how would you like to meet Nick’s dad?” “Oh no, you want to use us to keep dad from nagging you about something he needs you to do his way.” “Yes, I don’t care the reason. I want to meet Santa Claus,” Clarice blurts out. My mother smirks at me before she wraps her arms back around Clarice and they disappear.