Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 68

68 Missing Him

Clarice POV

I smile before my eyes even open. I can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve. I don’t think I’ve been this excited about Christmas since I still believed in Santa Claus. I giggle, and a strong arm tightens around me. “What has you giggling this morning, Mrs. Kringle,” he asks. “Just thinking that this is my first Christmas, believing that Santa Claus is definitely real since I was a kid. Not even just believing it, but being able to touch Santa,” I say and run my fingertips down his muscular back.

“Don’t tease me Clarice. You know I don’t care about being late, but you do. You are worth the tongue–lashing I’ll get from my father,” he says as he presses a kiss to my neck. His hand moves to my breast and I moan. I’m just about to tell him I’ll take a tongue lashing from him when a knock sounds on the bedroom door. “I’m going to kill her” he says, and I giggle again. “She told you she was coming early.” He groans and picks up his head. “I’m going to miss you today. I know that your parents and the rest of our family deserve to have their time with you, but I really want you with me. Besides, you are about the only one that can keep me from me bludgeoning my father when he becomes his normal, overbearing bossy self tonight,” he says. I giggle again, and he presses a kiss on my lips. When he pulls back, I look into his beautiful

green eyes. In less than twenty–four hours we will be pledged to each other. I can’t wait. There isn’t an ounce of doubt in my mind that he is meant to be mine, and I’m meant to be his.

“You won’t do that because you love him, and he has to do our ceremony tomorrow after you both get back safely!” The second knock is more insistent. He groans again before he presses another kiss to my lips. I’m just starting to slide out of bed when the door opens and Chrissy is standing there with her hand over her eyes. “I swear to God, Nick, let Clarice go. I know you are a horn dog, but we have things to get done before tomorrow.”

“Chrissy, we were sleeping. We are both decent.” She drops her hand and glares at Nick who has made no move to get out of bed. “Dad is already on a rampage about a toy that got screwed up. Mom is going to need to drink the whole bottle of schnapps not to kill him. She doesn’t need you pissing him off more by being late. I’m not dealing with his grumpy a** at our ceremony if everything isn’t perfect tonight. Now get your behind up Nicholas Kringle,” she says. I cover my mouth to hide the laugh when Nick stands up facing away from her and the blanket falls away.

She screeches when his bare a** is exposed. She starts to gag and rushes out of the room. This time I can’t stop the laugh from escaping me. “What the hell, Nick. No sister wants to see their brother’s a***! manage to get out. “It will teach her to burst into my room uninvited,” he says. He rounds the bed and my eyes take in every inch of him. God, he is a s*xy man. Before he reaches me, he bends picking up his boxer briefs from the floor and pulls them on. “What were you thinking about sweet Clarice? You look like you’re starving, and I’m your next meal,” he says with a smirk.

His own eyes are full of lust. “Actually I’m hungry for food,” I say, teasing him. He winks at me with a knowing smile on his face. “Well then, let’s get you fed before they steal you from me,” he says. I expect him to turn to leave, but instead he drops to his knees in front of me. “Good morning princess. Are you

<68 Missing Him

hungry,” he says to my belly before he presses a soft kiss on it. The heat of moments ago fades, replaced by warmth in my chest seeing him talk to our daughter.

An hour later, Nick is gone. We are in the small dining room having lunch. My parents, Alexia, Thomas, and Trevor are all sitting around the large table. It’s crazy how much I’m missing Nick in such a short time. It’s only hours before I join him at the North Pole, but I hate the thought. I never felt like this with Trevor. Don’t get me wrong. I looked forward to him coming back after business trips, but this is an ache I can’t even describe. “Are you alright sweetheart,” my mother asks. I smile, but I’m sure it doesn’t reach my eyes. I hate myself for not being completely present with my family for our first Christmas in a very long time. I’ve missed sharing the holidays with them. A thought occurs to me. I’ll probably never get to share Christmas with them. If I do, then I won’t be able to be with Nick.

Yesterday, when I told them the plan for Christmas Day, I could see they were disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to see them tomorrow, but at least I can be present today. “I’m alright mom. Just missing Nick a little.” “I’d say more than a little. You were never good at hiding your emotions, even as a little girl. Claribelle, we wouldn’t have been upset if you went with him on his trip today. We will have many holidays together now that your home for good,” she says.

I don’t have the heart to tell her that’s not true. She pulls me in for a hug before she focuses back on the lively conversation that’s been happening around us. I look around the room and smile when I notice Trevor looks like he is a million miles away. A far car from the smile that was plastered on his face when he arrived back at the Inn last night. When he told me that Simone had accepted him after basically warning she would be a widow if he ever f**ked up, I couldn’t stop laughing.

Flashback

“No, you don’t understand Clarice. She wasn’t kidding, not that I have to worry. It’s weird, but it was s*xy the way she threatened me,” he says. “That is weird. You know what’s weirder is that this conversation seems totally normal. I want to hear everything.” “I know I want to tell you everything. It is really weird,” he says. “So what else happened?” “You want the details,” he asks, and I roll my eyes.

“Not the stuff that is private but everything else, yes. What does the bond feel like?” “It’s amazing. Even now I can feel how happy she is. I’ve never been so scared, Clarice. Especially when she brought up the cheating. I still hate myself for hurting you and I will always be sorry, but I could never look at another woman now. The thought makes me sick,” he says before reaching for the hem of shirt.

I know exactly what he means. I would never have cheated on Trevor, but I thought men were attractive. Now with Nick, I don’t even notice other men. “What the hell are you doing?” “I’m going to show you my mark,” he says, pulling his shirt over his head. “What the hell is going on,” Nick asks as he steps into the room, but there is no real anger in his eyes. “Trevor is showing me his mark.” “How about not getting naked in front of my woman Trevor without me here” Nick says as he takes the seat next to me.

“I don’t think you have to worry Nick. I know how jacked you are. You put me to shame,” Trevor says and Nick chuckles. His mark is beautiful. It almost looks like its glowing. It’s a beautiful bright blue color. “It’s beautiful, Trevor,” I say as I reach to touch it. Nick grabs my hand and I look at him confused. He can’t

Mowersting Him

really be jealous. “I’m not jealous, Clarice. I trust you completely, but touching a mating mark is equivalent to touching him in a more intimate place and Simone will feel it,” he says.

I’m sure my cheeks are bright red. “I’m sorry, Trevor, I didn’t realize.” “Hey, don’t be sorry. I had no idea. I would have let you touch it, so thank god Nick told us,” he says. “How are you feeling, Trevor, now that your bond is complete,” Nick asks. “Amazing, but I still hate being away from her. I wish she didn’t have to work tonight,” he says. “That feeling will always be there, but it won’t stay so intense. You will always want to be with her, but it won’t feel like a physical ache,” he says.

“That’s good because that’s exactly what I feel. Clarice, I wanted to mention something else. Simone was panicked last night after we, you know, because we didn’t use a condom. She was worried you would be angry with her if she got pregnant,” he says. “I would never be angry if she got pregnant. In fact, that would be awesome if the kids grew up together. I mean they will be siblings.” Sadness washes over me.

“Trevor, what are you going to do about the distance? I mean you can fly here all the time, but,” I start to say, and he cuts me off. “I’ll be moving here. I’m actually going to be looking for a house close to the Inn,” he says. I launch myself at him and hug him. “That’s amazing. I was worried you were going to miss out on so much with the baby and steal one of my sisters.” He laughs before he squeezes me tighter. “How could I live away from my best friend,” he asks,

Flashback Ends

“Claribelle, can I talk to you alone for a minute,” my dad asks, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Of course,” I say, getting to my feet. I wrap my arm around his, and he leads me to the chairs that sit near the large fireplace. He takes my hand in his. “Having you home and your forgiveness is more than I could have ever hoped for after the mistakes I made. I remember the year that your mother and I were separated. I was in a sh**ty apartment on Christmas day, missing my family.”

“I hated every minute of it. Hated that I couldn’t wake up on Christmas morning with your mother and with you. I hated myself for what I had done to our family,” he says. “Dad, we are past all that now.” “I’ll never be past it. I’ll never forget what I caused. It’s a reminder to me of how much I want to cherish every moment! have with your mother and with you,” he says. “I love you dad. I don’t want you to live in that guilt.”

“The happiness of having you home and your mother back at my side far outweighs those feelings of guilt.

I’m only telling you this because I think you should leave. I think you should get on a plane and go

wherever Nick is. You shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to be with him. He is your heart the same way your

mother is mine. I never want you to feel guilty for choosing him. I’m so happy you have him,” he says. “Why

does she have to choose?” My heart starts to beat against my chest when I realize who is standing a few

feet away.

12

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