Read Online An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page B

he wanted from Laila practically from the beginning of their relationship. She was the one filled with doubts. From time to time, her certainty had spilled over to shake his resolve.
    “Yes,” he admitted candidly.
    “Then tell her that,” Gram advised. “Better yet, show her.”
    “How?”
    She smiled at him. “That engagement ring you bought isn’t doing a bit of good burning a hole in your pocket. Put it where it belongs.”
    He shook his head. “She’s not ready.”
    “She’s not, or you’re not?”
    “I just told you that I want to marry her. Why else would I have bought the ring?”
    “Hesitation never wins a man what he wants,” she advised. “You, my handsome grandson, are smart as a whip about many things. You may even have an insightful moment or two.”
    “Thanks, I think.”
    “Oh, that was fair praise,” she said. “What you’re not is a mind reader, not even when it’s the woman you love. Don’t make decisions based on what you think Laila wants or what you think she might be ready for. Act on your own desires and let her decide for herself. She could surprise you.”
    She glanced beyond him and smiled. “Here she comes now. I’ll leave you two on your own. Don’t waste another opportunity.”
    He stood when she did, then hugged her. “Thanks for the talk and the advice, Gram.”
    “Anytime. That’s what I’m around for, to try to steer you young people in the direction you want to go. Sometimes it’s clear you’re not listening to your hearts the way you should be.”
    On her way past Laila, she murmured something Matthew couldn’t hear, then went on toward the elevators. Laila’s gaze followed her before she turned back to Matthew.
    “What were you two discussing?” she asked.
    “This and that,” he told her. “What did she tell you?”
    “That I’d never go wrong listening to my heart.”
    Matthew smiled. “She said pretty much the same thing to me, though you got the condensed version.”
    Laila smiled. “I love your grandmother.”
    “So do I. Now, do you really want to spend this evening with the entire family or should we sneak off and do something on our own?”
    “Such as?”
    “We could have dinner in your room,” he suggested.
    She laughed. “And we both know where that would lead. I thought you’d made a vow to keep your hands to yourself on this trip.”
    “Temptation keeps getting in my way,” he retorted. “But if that’s out of the question, let’s go dancing.”
    “Isn’t that what everyone else plans to do later?”
    “Ah, but they’re going someplace traditionally Irish where the dancing will be energetic. I’ve something a bit more romantic in mind.”
    She studied him a moment. “You’re in an odd mood tonight.”
    “You can thank my grandmother for that. She’s been putting ideas in my head.”
    “Romantic ideas?” she asked, looking startled.
    He nodded. “Does that scare you?”
    She held his gaze, her cheeks tinted pink with a surprising blush. “Not half as much as it should.”
    “Then we have a date?”
    “We have a date,” she said solemnly.
    “I’ll let the family know,” he said. “Grab your coat and meet me back here in ten minutes.”
    She started toward the elevators, then turned back. “Matthew?”
    “Yes?”
    “We’ve never had a real date before.”
    “Of course we have,” he said, then paused and thought about it. “We really haven’t, have we?”
    What they’d had were occasional drinks that had led to bed, a quick meal that had led to bed, a heated glance across a room that had led to bed. They had spent an awful lot of time with their clothes off and practically none out in public being a couple, discussing each other’s hopes and dreams.
    He smiled at her. “We’re way overdue, don’t you think?”
    “I don’t know. It’s recently been suggested to me that dating is highly overrated.”
    “Who on earth said that?”
    “Jess and Connie.”
    He laughed. “Well, just look who you