Grace (The Family Simon #5)- Juliana Stone Page 0,80

in love and complete and, ugh, nauseatingly happy.”

“I get it. I won’t say a thing.”

Cooper kept Grace’s mind off of the sad state of her personal life for the rest of the evening, and it was nearly eleven when his cab dropped her off at her brother’s apartment building. She hugged her cousin fiercely.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “I needed that.”

Cooper kissed her forehead and then gazed down at her. “I don’t know what Matt Hawkins’ deal is. But I do know that he’s got to be a decent guy or Betty Jo would never give him the time of day. Now, knowing that doesn’t change the fact that he might not ever get his shit together. He might not ever deal with whatever it is that’s got him spooked. And that’s not on you. That’s on him. Got it?”

She nodded. “Have a great Christmas, Coop, and tell Rick I said hello.”

She watched the car until it disappeared and then headed into the building. The doorman, Davis, gave her a big smile and a wave and for the first time in days she answered in kind.

She entered her brother’s apartment and wandered through the silent rooms until she stopped at the large window overlooking Central Park. She pressed her heated cheeks against the cool glass and stared down into the darkness, wondering where Matt was. What he was doing? Was he happy? Or was he as miserable as she was?

Christmas lights twinkled from below and she squeezed her eyes shut. What was that she heard? Grace held her breath and concentrated. Music? Someone singing?

She listened carefully and a slow smile spread across her face as she began to hum along. It must be coming from the apartment next door.

I’ll be home for Christmas...

The words sank in. Their meaning sank in. And with a start, she jerked back from the glass. What the hell was she doing? She thought back to her mother’s words and felt a jolt of electricity roll through her. No way was Grace going to let Matt dictate her actions. She had some things to say and he was going to listen. Even if she had to tie him down and stick a damn cloth in his mouth.

She knew what she needed to do and it didn’t involve any kind of waiting. She’d get through the gala and head to Michigan with her brother Beau and Betty Jo.

Grace smiled as a surge of the old fire hit her square in the gut. She smiled and hummed a few more bars of the Christmas song.

I’ll be home for Christmas.

She was done waiting. Done being sad and miserable. Life was too short for that kind of apathy.

You can plan on me….

Matt Hawkins wouldn’t know what hit him.

32

Matt brought Justin back to New Waterford right after their father’s funeral. Delilah had been MIA for days until she showed up just in time for the wake. She’d proceeded to get shitfaced drunk and after being inappropriate to several members of his father’s squad, Matt asked her to leave.

She was primed to make a scene but all Matt had to do was mention the fact that she’d abandoned a minor, and he had no problem reporting her to the cop who, only moments earlier, she’d been all over.

“You can’t do that,” she’d spat. But he saw the fear in her eyes.

“Don’t push me.” Matt spied Justin a few feet away. The kid looked so damn lost and angry. “He’s coming back to New Waterford with me.”

She never batted an eye. Hell, she put up no fight whatsoever and now, weeks later, Matt was pretty damn sure it had been her plan all along. The estate was a mess—turns out she had a bit of a gambling problem and Nevada had become her best friend—but he was dealing with it.

Funny how things worked out. Less than two months ago, he’d been alone. Minding his own business, restoring his cars for the clients who paid him well to do so. Playing hockey on Friday nights, hanging with the boys, and occasionally getting busy with whatever woman caught his eyes.

Now look at him.

He had a dog and a kid living in his house. And hell, Dory was here every other night for dinner. All he needed to complete this picture of domestic bliss was…

All he needed was Grace.

“Shit,” he muttered, yanking on his hand and freeing it from under the carburetor he’d been working on. It was bleeding and he swore as he headed over to the