Chapter Sixteen
Christmas Eve had finally arrived, and the entire village seemed to be buzzing with anticipation for the midnight celebration that had become one of Zermatt’s most beloved traditions.
Seated beside Grant in the lounge area near the fireplace, Amelie should have been relaxed.
Instead, she found herself checking the time for what felt like the hundredth time.
The boys had disappeared shortly after breakfast with Mac, Nico, Rafe, and Grant.
Well, technically, Grant had only been with them long enough to collect them before promptly abandoning whatever mysterious mission they had planned and returning to her.
When she had asked where they were going, he had given her a suspiciously vague answer, calling it “guy stuff,” and then refused to elaborate further.
Normally, that level of secrecy where Tyler and Trevor were concerned would have made her nervous.
The problem was that Grant had then spent the remainder of the day providing a very effective distraction.
A slow smile threatened to form as several memories from the afternoon drifted through her mind. Suffice it to say, very little of their kid-free time had actually been spent outside of Grant’s suite. Or out of his arms. Or fully dressed.
Heat immediately crept into her cheeks.
Beside her, Grant seemed to notice.
“You’re doing it again,” he said, amusement obvious in his voice.
Amelie looked at him. “Doing what?”
“Worrying.”
“I'm not worrying.”
Grant raised an eyebrow. “Sweetheart, you’ve checked your phone six times in the last three minutes.”
She opened her mouth. Then closed it. Because, unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong.
With a sigh, she leaned back against the sofa and glanced toward the elevators once more.
“It’s getting late.”
Grant reached over and laced his fingers through hers. “They’re fine.”
“Grant.”
“They’re with Jessie, Mac, Nico, and Rafe.”
“The only reason that statement doesn’t make me frightened is that Jessie is with them.
His laugh echoed through the lounge.
A few minutes later, the front doors slid open, and relief washed through Amelie so quickly she nearly laughed at herself.
The boys emerged first, followed closely by Jessie, Mac, Nico, and Rafe.
“There are my favorite people,” Amelie said as she stood.
Tyler and Trevor immediately crossed the lobby and wrapped their arms around her in quick hugs before moving on to greet Grant.
“Did you guys have fun?” she asked.
“Yep,” Tyler answered.
“Lots of fun,” Trevor agreed.
Amelie narrowed her eyes, finding that answer suspiciously vague.
“What exactly were you doing all day?”
The boys exchanged a glance, then another, but neither of them answered.
Her suspicions immediately doubled.
“Well?” She asked again.
“Well, what?” Tyler asked.
Amelie squinted her eyes. “What were you all doing?”
“Stuff,” Tyler answered, looking as if the question bored him.
Amelie stared at him. “Stuff?”
“Christmas stuff,” Trevor said.
That answer was somehow even less helpful.
She looked toward the others for assistance, only to find them all suddenly fascinated by the decorations in the lobby.
Not a single one of them would meet her eyes.
Amelie shook her head. Whatever they were hiding, she wasn't going to get it out of them tonight.
As everyone gathered their coats and prepared to head toward the village, her attention shifted when she noticed Jessie walking toward Grant. The other woman paused beside him and discreetly slipped something small into his hand.
Then, as if sensing Amelie’s gaze, he casually slid the item into his pocket.
Amelie paused, watching the exchange.
“What was that?” she asked.
Both Jessie and Grant answered a little too quickly.
“Nothing.”
Amelie’s eyes narrowed.
Jessie suddenly found something hilarious and wandered off toward Mac before anyone could ask any further questions.
Meanwhile, Grant looked entirely too innocent, which, knowing him, only confirmed he was hiding something.
Amelie folded her arms. “You’re all being weird.”
The boys immediately looked away while Mac coughed, Nico grinned, and Rafe laughed. Grant, meanwhile, had the audacity to kiss her forehead before saying, “You look beautiful tonight.”
The blatant attempt at distraction should have annoyed her. Instead, it worked. Well, mostly.
As the group headed out into the snowy Christmas Eve evening, Amelie couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone knew something she didn’t.