Page 120 of Once Upon a Holidate
Christmas Eve day was slow at the Happily Inc police station. Even those in town for holiday weddings seemed to be on their best behavior. Garrick had planned to use the time to catch up on his paperwork, but ever since he’d talked to his daughter about what had happened with Wynn he’d been unable to put their conversation out of his mind.
Joylyn had assumed he was in love with Wynn and he’d assumed he wasn’t. Only one sleepless night and an unproductive morning later, he knew that his daughter had been right and he’d been a fool who might have lost the woman of his dreams.
Wynn was great. He’d thought that from the second he’d gone to ask for help and she’d jumped right in to make sure his house was warm and welcoming for his daughter. He admired her enough to offer to have kids with her—a reality that made him cringe every time he thought about it. Because if he really was in love with Wynn, then he’d pretty much done everything possible to mess up what could have been an incredible moment.
Co-parent? Had he really suggested that? What kind of moron offered to have children with a woman before talking abouthow he felt? He wasn’t interested in a business arrangement. He wanted a forever thing. Love, marriage, a family. But instead he’d hurt her, and now he had absolutely no idea how she was feeling or if he’d screwed up everything between them forever.
Shortly after eleven, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He told his assistant he was going to be gone for about an hour and drove the short distance to Wynn’s store, taking a chance that like most of the businesses in town, she would be open until at least one in the afternoon.
Sure enough, the lights were on and a couple of customers stood at the counter. Garrick walked in and looked around but didn’t see Wynn. One of her employees glanced up and smiled.
“She’s in her office, Garrick.”
“Thanks.”
He made his way down the hall and then stepped in through the open door.
Wynn was on her computer, staring intently at the screen.
She was so beautiful, he thought, coming to a stop. She had on a red sweater with little reindeer across the front. Her long curly hair was pulled back, and there was a slight frown line between her eyebrows.
Warmth swept through him. Not just the sexual kind, which was nice enough, but the loving kind. This woman was exactly who he’d been looking for. He could only hope he hadn’t figured that out too late.
“You have a second?” he asked.
She jumped and turned to him. “Garrick, hi. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I know. I just need a minute of your time.” Maybe two minutes. He wasn’t sure how long it was going to take him to tell her how sorry he was to have been so stupid and how much he loved her.
“It’s okay.” She stood and smoothed her hands down her jeans. “I wanted to talk to you, as well. I was waiting until this afternoon when I thought you’d be home.”
That was good, right? Her wanting to talk to him? Unless she was planning on telling him he was too stupid for the likes of her and to get lost.
He swallowed. “Do you want to go first? I can, if that’s better.”
She smiled. “I’ll go first.” The smile faded. “Garrick, I’m sorry about how I acted before, when you mentioned co-parenting children together.”
He winced. “Not my best move. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. I said I wanted more kids in my life, and you came up with a way to make that happen. I was just surprised because, well, I guess I was surprised and hurt, which I didn’t want you to see.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know. It’s on me, not on you.” She squared her shoulders and looked at him. “I was hurt because I don’t just want children with you, Garrick. I want a real relationship. I’m in love with you, and I want everything that goes with that.”
Shewas in love withhim?
He circled the desk and pulled her against him, then pressed his mouth to hers. Her arms came around him, and she kissed him back.
“I had more to say,” she mumbled against his lips.
He drew back an inch. “Like what?”
“I had a whole speech about how I’m not trying to push you or make you uncomfortable, but that I wanted you to know how I felt.”
He kissed her again, then leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry I was an idiot. It was a dumbass thing to say. I love you, Wynn. Of course I want kids with you, but I also want to marryyou and have us be a real family. All of us. You, me, Hunter, Joylyn, Chandler, the baby, our kids and maybe a few pets.” He paused to stare into her eyes. “If any of that interests you.”
She smiled at him. “We would need a much bigger house.”
