Page 21 of Mistletoe and Holly

Holly dissolved into a fit of laughter, her entire body shaking against me, and I had to join in. I loved seeing her this happy and carefree.

“At this rate, Harper’ll end up with enough money to go to YaleandHarvard,” she giggled.

“Maybe MIT too,” I snickered, pressing my lips to her shoulder.

It had been a damn long time since she’d smiled or laughed like she’d been doing tonight, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure it became a daily occurrence again. To make sure that she came back out of the shell of grief and stress she’d been living in since Owen died and started actuallylivingher life again.

CHAPTER11

HOLLY

I was almostafraid to open my eyes when I drifted into consciousness. Afraid that I’d wake up to find out that the utter perfection that was last night had all been a dream.

But the delicious ache between my thighs and the slight strain in my muscles, accompanied by the warmth of Shephard’s body and the rhythmic rising and falling of his chest under my cheek, told me that I hadn’t dreamed it. It had really happened. Every kiss. Every touch. Every murmured declaration of love. And dear God, the best sex I’d ever had in my life.

As my eyes fluttered open, they zeroed in on my hand resting on his chest.

My left hand.

That was still adorned with my wedding and engagement rings.

After the dust had settled in the wake of Owen’s passing, I’d decided that I was going to give those rings to Harper when she turned sixteen. When she was old enough to really appreciate their sentimental value and take care of them properly. But they’d stayed on my finger this whole time, a constant reminder of what I’d lost. I’d made the excuse that I was keeping them safe for her, but in reality, those rings had been a physical manifestation of the trauma and grief I was holding onto.

Sitting up and groaning quietly as I felt the burn in muscles I’d forgotten even existed, I located the clothes I’d never bothered to put on last night and threw them on. Staying perched on the edge of the bed, I twisted the rings around my finger absentmindedly, contemplating doing what I should have done two years ago.

I felt movement in the bed behind me, and a strong arm wrapped around my waist as a kiss was pressed to my shoulder. I turned to look at Shephard, and he gave me a soft kiss that made my heart swell.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he breathed against my lips.

I smiled and kissed him again. “Morning.”

“You seemed like you were deep in thought just now.”

Shifting my position so I could face him, I took a breath and held my hand up. And just like he always did, he read me like a book. He took my hand and skimmed his lips over my knuckles, then brushed his thumb over the rings.

“You don’t have to take them off, Holl,” he said softly. “It’s okay if you’re not ready.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked back the tears stinging my eyes, then took a shuddering breath and, with shaky hands, slid the rings off and set them on my nightstand. As I looked at the indent on my finger where they used to be, a few droplets started to trickle down my cheeks, and Shephard wiped them away before kissing me slowly and tenderly and pulling me into his arms.

“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I know that wasn’t easy.”

“No, it wasn’t,” I admitted. “But it’s time. I should have done it a long time ago. After he died, I decided I was going to give them to Harper when she turned sixteen. I should have taken them off then, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Until now.”

He backed up just far enough to look into my eyes. “Please tell me you didn’t do that for me.”

I smiled and pecked his lips. “I didn’t. I did it for me. Owen’s part of my past and I’ll always love him, but it’s long past time to let him go and move on. I know in my heart that’s what he would want.”

Shephard gave me a sad smile as he kissed my forehead and enveloped me in his arms again. I sighed contentedly and rested my head on his shoulder, and I felt his lips press to my hairline.

“He loved you and Harper so much,” he whispered. “You girls were his whole world. He said so all the time. That’s how I know he’d want you both to be happy now.”

Oh, my God. Harper.

“Shit, what time is it?” I gasped as I pulled out of his embrace and craned my head to look at the clock.

Eight. Okay, not too late to sleep in on a snow day. I blew out a sigh of relief…before realizing that I still had to talk to her about last night’s developments.

“How about we butter our girl up with breakfast before we talk to her?” Shephard suggested, once again knowing exactly what I was thinking.

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