Page 32 of Bossing My Holiday
“This is magical,” she whispers.
“Now you know why I agree to come here with him every Christmas.”
Waverly smiles at Brax, but it’s a different sort of smile. It’s the shared smile of people who both know tragedy and the loss of parents far too young.
I dismiss the attendant and walk Waverly through the lobby toward the residence elevators. “There’s a spa on the secondfloor. Just give them your name, and you can have anything you want done.”
She shakes her head but doesn’t say anything as we step onto the elevator, and I swipe my card and press the P. Waverly is vibrating beside me, and Brax shifts in closer, both of us pressing against her.
“You’ll be great,” he whispers in a low tone.
“I’m fine. Just really nervous suddenly.”
“They’ll love you,” I murmur as the doors open.
She puts her hand on my forearm, stopping me before I can get out. Her expression is open and sweet and reassuring. “They’ll love me. All parents do. I promise I’ll be your perfect girlfriend and help you in any way I can.”
I have the biggest urge to kiss her. An urge that continues to grow instead of diminishing the more time I spend with her outside of the office. But just as Waverly needs this job, I need her in it, and I can’t blow that by kissing her because I’ll want a lot more than just a kiss, and she deserves better than me. Better than the type of man I’ve been to her.
A jolt of guilt and unease hits me as we step into the foyer. I’m about to lie to my family, including my sick grandmother. As if sensing my thoughts, Waverly reaches over and takes my hand. She doesn’t say anything, but her touch is like a salve to my senses.
“He’s here!” I hear my mother call out from the other room.
“He’s late!” my grand-mère responds in French, and I roll my eyes, even as I fight an indulgent smile. I swear, there is no pleasing my family. But I’m about to try.
Heels click-clack on the wood floors, and then there’s my mother with a smile so bright it puts Rudolph’s nose to shame. “My baby is home.”
I sigh. “Hi, Mom.”
She grabs me by my coat and hauls me in so she can hug me. I hug her back, happy to be here and to see her. The housesmells the same. Like pumpkin spice from the candles she loves to burn and dinner roasting in the oven.
“I missed you.”
“Like crazy,” I say because that’s what we always say when I come home.
“Yes.” She pulls back and holds my face in her hands. “You look good. A little thin maybe, but?—”
“Mom!”
She laughs. “Fine. I’ll stop pestering you, but only because you brought someone special for me to meet.”
“Yes, hi Mom,” Braxton says, and she laughs and smacks at him.
“I’ll get to you in a minute.” She goes for Waverly, who is hovering slightly behind me. “You must be Waverly.” My mother doesn’t do handshakes. She’s big on hugs and extra love. She goes right for Waverly and brings her in for a huge hug. “I’m Francine. Tristan has told me a lot about you over the years. It’s so wonderful to finally meet you.”
That still strikes me as odd. I had no memory of ever mentioning her, let alone to my mother, but when I told her it was Waverly I was dating, she blew a gasket and told me she knew I must have loved her all along since she’s the only woman I’ve ever talked about to her.
Waverly throws me a raised eyebrow over my mother’s shoulder as she hugs her back. “It’s lovely to meet you. Thank you for having me in your home. I’ve really been looking forward to this. Here.” She steps back and hands my mother the flowers. “These are for you.”
“Oh, honey, they’re beautiful. And I see chocolates too. Nice choice.”
Waverly preens a bit. “I had help picking them out.”
“Now you.” She grabs Braxton and gives him an enormous hug, his eyes closing as if this hug means just as much to him as it does to my mom. It hits a soft spot just beneathmy cold heart, and Waverly catches it, giving me a secret smile.
She returns to Waverly, holding her by the shoulders. “Well, you are gorgeous, aren’t you? I see my son has impeccable taste, though he wouldn’t tell us much more about you. You’ll have to fill us in with every detail.”
Waverly blushes and looks down.
