Chapter TwentySeven
I used to love Christmas.
Going and selecting a tree, and then spending hours decorating it with Flynn while we drank hot chocolate and watched tacky Hallmark movies.
I loved the atmosphere of the season. The twinkling lights and the shop windows dressed in golds and reds. The hustle of the people on the streets frantically shopping for that perfect gift, and the sudden drop in temperature threatening to bring snow with each new breeze.
It was my favorite season of the year.
Landing in Monaco on Christmas Eve morning, I felt as Christmasy as the damn Grinch.
I always wanted to visit the French Riviera. During my time studying journalism, I managed to snag an opportunity to study abroad for six months. They placed me in Ireland, a beautiful country and somewhere I would happily return. While in Ireland, I took every chance I got to explore the rest of Europe on my days off.
Pairs. Barcelona. Amsterdam. Rome.
Each one of them was as beautiful and breathtaking as the next.
Sitting in the back of the car and watching the streets go by, I was awe-struck by it all. Old buildings, crystal blue ocean filled with expensive boats, and glimpses of the Rock of Monaco—pictures that plagued my social media only showed half of its true beauty.
Jaxon and I may not have been on the best of terms for some reason unbeknownst to me, but damn, it was hard to be unhappy in such a place.
Benny drove us through winding roads while Jaxon’s knee started to bounce the closer we got to his family home. His demeanor hadn’t changed since the dinner. He had an invisible barrier around him, shutting down all his emotions, and making him a stranger once again.
It was killing me.
I thought I would be able to rely on him.
My entire world was falling in around me. My dad was dying. Flynn was still ignoring me. The company I was trying to keep afloat kept trying to drown. And now my husband had done a complete U-turn on our relationship.
Whatever I thought was happening between us was nothing more than an error of judgment on my part.
All I needed to do was focus on getting through to August. Then, I could get at least two of my problems dealt with.
Bye-bye Reynolds Regality Jewels and bye-bye Jaxon.
Bile scorched my throat at the thought of one of those disappearing from my life.
Jaxon’s fingers tapped repetitively on his twitching leg. He didn’t want to be here, and he definitely didn’t want to be here with me. Despite my own personal advice to draw a long and blunt line in our relationship, I reached over and took his hand in mine.
“Did you live here your whole childhood?” I asked.
His whole body seized tighter than a coiled spring. “Pretty much.”
“I can just imagine a little version of you, spending your summer holidays on the beach and burying your little brothers in the sand.”
“I hate the beach.”
I sighed.
Of course he did.
“Just the sand part,” he continued. “It gets everywhere. Days and several showers later, you still find the stuff between your toes.”
“That’s why I never understood sex on the beach.” I laughed as his eyebrows shot up. “Like you said, sand gets everywhere. Everywhere. Think about it. Who wants to get grains of sand all up in their vagina? No, thank you.”
“Talking from experience?”
“Hell, no. I get nervous enough that something is going to swim up into my vagina when I am swimming in the ocean, never mind sand.”
“I never thought about it.”
“About sex on the beach or turning a vagina into living sandpaper?”
A faint chuckle escaped as his body loosened. “Both, I guess. I hate sand, so the thought of doing anything on it never crossed my mind.”
“For the health of all parties involved, I suggest you keep it that way.”
His thumb stroked the back of my hand. “How very considerate of you.”
I smiled at him. “You stick with me, and I’ll keep you right.”
“Promise?”
I nodded. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
His leg no longer twitched by the time we arrived at his family home.
The Dade home was old French Riviera with a touch of modern.
I understood that Jaxon was incredibly wealthy, but Dade Diamonds was still a relatively new business in the grand scheme of things. He and his brother’s billionaire status was only acquired in the last five years. The brothers were newcomers with pretty much nothing to their name when they started the company.
The house in front of us screamed infinite wealth.
“I didn’t grow up here,” Jaxon said as if he was reading my thoughts. “Frederic and I bought the place for our Grand-mère a couple years ago. She took care of us when our maman passed. We thought it was the least we could do for her.”
“That’s sweet of you.”
He shrugged. “She’s as stubborn as a mule. She refused to take it unless we all agreed to come home every Christmas.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
It was a half-truth. Both Jaxon and Olivier had spoken so fondly of their grandmother, and who could blame them? The woman stepped into a mother role without hesitation. However, I feared meeting someone as important as Jaxon’s grandmother would only blur the line between us more.
Knocking on the front door, a child no more than four years old with uncontrollably curly blonde hair and piercing blue eyes opened the door in their pajamas.
The little girl practically jumped into Jaxon’s open arms. “Uncle Jax!”
“There she is.” Jaxon’s face broke into a grin. “Petit monstre!”
Uncle Jax?
An elderly woman hobbled into sight. Flour coated her sun-kissed cheeks and apron as she greeted me with a smile that would have melted ice-caps. “Oh Dieu merci, il a enfin ramené une femme à la maison!”
I froze.
Why didn’t I download a starter guide to understanding French for the flight instead of reading my favorite author’s newest romance novel?
The past couple of months with Jaxon, I picked up some words, but not enough.
Jaxon scooped up his niece, placing her on his shoulders. “Grand-mère, Evelyn ne parle pas fran?ais. En anglais seulement, s’il vous pla?t.”
His grandmother nodded and waved me into the house. “Apologies, dear. I am just excited to have you here. It’s been a long time coming since that one even thought about bringing a woman home to meet his family.”
Jaxon rolled his eyes. “Evelyn, this is my Grand-mère, Florence.”
“It’s a pleasure.” I followed them into the house. “Thank you again for inviting me to spend Christmas with you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
Florence’s hands encased my cheeks. Flour and lavender settled my nerves as she graced me with a genuine smile. “Nonsense. You are family now. You do not need an invite. You simply show up and you will be welcome. Always.”
I willed myself not to cry.
Weeks of pent-up emotion threatened to break free.
“And you—” Florence turned to Jaxon and the child giggling on his shoulders. “—you know you are not supposed to answer the door. Wait until I tell your papa.”
“No! Don’t tell him!” she squeaked. “Uncle Jax tell her not to tell Daddy.”
Florence tapped her fingers on her chin. “Fine, I won’t tell him. Only if you are good and go get washed and dressed right now. Can you do that for me?”
She wiggled to get down. “I’ll do it! That way, Daddy won’t know, and it will all be our little secret.”
The second Jaxon put her down, she was up the stairs faster than a hare.
“She’s trouble.” Florence shook her head. “Turning out more like her papa every single day. God spare us all.”
“Penny will be fine,” Jaxon assured. “It could always be worse. She could turn out to be exactly like her mother rather than Frederic.”
Frederic Dade was a father.
Had I fallen and bumped my head?
How could I have not known Jaxon had a niece? Or that Frederic had a secret daughter?
The harsh truth was that I knew very little about the man I was married to. Outside anything to do with his business, anything that a simple internet search could answer, I knew next to nothing.
Florence guided us through the open hallway into the back garden and onto a veranda. Glass surrounded us on either side, but thankfully, the front was open letting the cool breeze flow.
My breath caught in my lungs at the view.
Green gardens filled with a multitude of colorful flowers, the distant sight of the sparkling ocean, and in the center a grand swimming pool.
“This place is out of this world,” I said breathlessly.
Jaxon stood at my side. “It’s a hell of a difference from New York.”
“I know you didn’t want me to come with you, but right now, I’m kind of glad I forced your hand,” I said lightly.
He exhaled deeply. “I didn’t want to come because of family politics. It had nothing to do with you.”
“Really?”
“Really. I am glad you are here with me.”
The smile took life before I could stop it. “How do you ever leave this place? I mean, look at it all. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than all this?”
“I can think of something far more beautiful.”
He was staring at me. Heat rolled through me, my stupid heart fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird. “Oh, what’s that?”
My body moved closer to him while my brain tried to fight against my heart.
Fingers pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, tracing the shell as he, too, looked as lost as I felt. “You’re the single most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on.”
Those stupid butterflies took flight once again.
“You made it!” Olivier’s voice snapped us back into reality. The youngest brother walked into the veranda with a tray of cups. “Good to see you dragged Jax here, kicking and screaming.”
“Go to hell,” Jaxon muttered.
“Why so grouchy?” Olivier teased. He turned as another man appeared carrying a tray of baked breads, jams, and mouth-watering bacon. “Jax clearly didn’t have his nap on the flight over.”
The other laughed. “Shall we send you up to Penny’s bed? Maybe get her to read you one of her books while you nod off?”
“You can go straight to hell, too.” Jaxon snatched a croissant off the tray. “Evelyn, this dickhead is Elliott. Dickhead, this is my wife.”
My wife.
My wife.
“A pleasure.” Elliott dipped his head. “It’s nice to meet someone able to tolerate Jaxon for longer than five seconds who isn’t blood-related.”
Jaxon flipped him off with a scowl.
“Delightful as ever,” Elliott rolled his eyes with a timid smile. “Welcome to the family, Evelyn.”
The third Dade brother was a complete mystery. Elliott, much like his brothers, had dark hair and the same envious bone structure. Small circular ringed glasses perched on his nose and highlighted his sharp hazel eyes. Yet, he appeared completely separate from the rest.
He wasn’t as cheerful and sunny as Olivier, nor was he as cold and unforgiving as Frederic. Where Jaxon was constant scowls, Elliott was reserved smiles.
“Everybody sit down.” Florence limped back in and ushered us to the table. “Tuck in before any of it gets cold. Evelyn, my dear, don’t be polite and wait until you’re offered, just grab whatever you want. Otherwise, these boys will eat it all.”
Jaxon pulled a seat out for me and took the one next to it.
“Where’s Freddie?” Olivier asked between mouthfuls of food.
“Sorting out Penny.” Florence poured herself a cup of coffee. “He said not to bother waiting for them, as it’ll probably be Christmas morning by the time Penny is finished in the bath.”
I smiled as Jaxon poured a cup of coffee with three sugar cubes and milk before sliding it in my direction.
It was strange how the smallest of his gestures made my cheeks burn.
Four years with Laurence and he never bothered to learn how I took my coffee.
“Your papa will be joining us later,” Florence said.
“Why?” Jaxon grunted.
“Stop that,” Olivier said quietly.
“I’m simply asking why he is coming.” Jaxon’s eyes narrowed. “Seems out of character that he wants to spend any time with his sons, unless there is free drink involved.”
“Jaxon,” Elliot warned. “Now isn’t the time.”
“He is coming because it’s Christmas.” Florence wagged a finger at Jaxon. “And before any of you start acting the fool, the man is still your family. I won’t listen to your gripes about it this year. Not when we have company.”
Tension rolled through the table like storm clouds.
None of them said anything, though the subtle change in Elliott and Jaxon’s facial expressions spoke more than words could.
Olivier swiftly changed the topic, once again bringing temporary ease to the table.
Florence was in her element surrounded by her grandsons. She didn’t speak much else during the breakfast, just happy listening to them talk and reminisce about old times.
Even Jaxon loosened up.
Any uncertainty or nerves that remained from the car ride were long gone.
After breakfast, I helped Florence clean up while the others took to wrapping up Penny’s Christmas presents.
“You really don’t have to do that.” Florence tried to wave me off.
I shook my head, submerging another dish in soapy water. “Please, it is the least I can do.”
She tried a couple more times before giving up and letting me.
“Jaxon told me about your own papa,” she said. “I am sorry you are having to live through that. Watching parents succumb to sickness, it is not easy. I shall keep him in my prayers.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“You know, I used to pray every night that someday Jaxon would find a good woman. Someone who can handle him. Someone who didn’t just see his money, but who could truly love him. God answered my prayers with you.”
A weight fell through the depths.
Florence placed a hand on my shoulder. “I am no fool. I may be old, but I still have my wits. Jaxon never wants to come home, always making excuses. If it weren’t for you, he would never have come home for Christmas.”
The weight swelled in my chest, taking my breath with it.
“He has never brought anyone else home, not even a girlfriend or a friend,” she laughed. “But now I know, he was just waiting to bring the right woman home. The woman who he truly loves and who truly loves him back. I know he isn’t the easiest of men, you know that better than the rest.”
She could say that again. Jaxon was as easy to figure out as a broken Rubik’s cube.
“None of them are easy,” Florence continued. “Olivier being the exception to the rule. But I can see it, you know. I can see how much love there is between you.”
I needed to leave.
I needed to get out of the damn kitchen.
Florence squeezed my shoulder. “Just promise me one thing?”
I managed to nod, not trusting myself to speak.
“Promise me that you will visit more. I understand you both have very busy lives, but I miss my family when they are gone. So, promise me that you will come home at least twice a year.”
“I promise.” The lie slipped through the wedge in my throat.
“And when the time comes and you have children of your own, they can spend their summers right here.” Florence grinned widely. “All the family under one roof. Ce sera parfait.”
I realized there in that second that being with his family, being welcomed by them with open arms, meant it wouldn’t just be Jaxon I’d be saying goodbye to come August.