When he woke up, Brandon's muscles ached. His arms were wrapped around Eva while they were on his couch, he tried to move without waking her.
She sighed and moved too. He stretched, and in silence stared at her in awe. He had no idea how long he'd watched her before she opened her blue eyes and gazed at him. His face felt warm. "We slept on the couch."
"It's fine." She tugged her shirt higher, though she was still covered.
He reached out and gently placed his hand on hers as she pressed her palm on the couch. "You don't understand."
"What?" She stared at him.
He stretched again. "I never sleep more than a few hours."
"You don't?" she said, standing.
Right. It was Christmas morning. Next year, he'd get a tree, if Eva was still with him. He felt a shiver down his spine and took his hand off hers. "Not since my parents died. I've functioned on a few hours sleep since the police knocked on my college dorm and told me I was now in charge of my sixteen-year-old sister."
She hugged him. "I'm sorry. That had to be hard."
"Sleep felt nice," he said, and wrapped his arms around her.
For a minute, neither of them moved.
Finally, she let go, brushed her hand on his five o'clock shadow and winked. "I'll get us breakfast."
He went and took a shower. Clean and dressed, he returned to the living area and heard Eva humming in the kitchen. He continued, but halfway there stopped at the kitchen entrance when his doorbell rang.
"Did you order something to be delivered?" he asked and stared at her curves. Eva was gorgeous.
She turned off the stove and shook her head at him. "On Christmas morning? No. Coffee is almost done."
"Good." He walked to the security cam in the living room. His entire body became hollow. He held his breath for a minute and then called out. "It's Grace."
"Who?" Eva came out of the kitchen and stared at him with an openness he never saw in Hollywood.
His heart beat faster and then he looked at his shoes. Grace would hate his black leather shoes on in the house. "My ex-fiancée. She's here."
"Buzz her in. I'll get coffee." Without understanding, Eva walked to the kitchen.
He called to her as she walked away. "Eva, don't go far."
A second later, he opened his front door. Grace’d left him, and at the time he had felt broken. Now he stared into her brown eyes, he no longer felt warm. He missed Eva's blue hues. With no warning, Grace hugged him, and her floral bouquet perfume overwhelmed. "I'm here."
With that much perfume, he'd not forget. He pulled away from her and stared at the door. Eva would be out in a minute. "Grace, what are you doing here?"
She pouted her painted red lips. "Brandon, it's Christmas."
"And?" He hadn’t spoken to Grace since she left him Thanksgiving the year before last.
She reached for him, but he shrugged away. "I made a mistake with Charles."
There was too much water under the bridge, and he didn't care enough to start again. She’d left him and her actions had left nothing to be desired. It was done. "Clearly. Look Grace, it's Christmas—"
"You said that," she interrupted, and this time took his hand.
At one time, her presence made him happy. He froze. "Don't. Grace, I've found someone else."
She pouted again. "You came to Miami for your sister's wedding and then stayed to produce a movie. Whoever she is must be new, and we both know you still love me."
Without invitation, she launched herself at him, and their lips met in a kiss. She tasted like stale coffee. He stopped a second later, but he heard footsteps behind him.
Eva must have heard or seen. He untangled his hands from his ex and pointed toward his gate. "Grace, get off. You need to go."
"Brandon, I love you," she said, and tried to hold him.
This was it. Grace was the past. He shook his head. "I don't love you."
"Eva!" he called out as he closed the door behind her.
He heard her wretch in the bathroom. She’d seen him. His face felt hot, but he knocked on the door. She called out, "I'm sick to my stomach. I'm leaving in a minute."
Eva was the most important person in his life. He called through the door. "Not over Grace. Please."
A few seconds later, he heard her splash water on her face and in a flash she opened the door. "You kissed her."
No. Not on purpose. He shook his head. "She kissed me."
Her eyes were as big as saucers. She put her hand on her hip. "You kissed her back. I saw."
If he lost Eva, he'd feel lost and alone. He swallowed and prayed the truth was enough. "I realized the only person I want to kiss is you."
She blinked and trembled a little. "What?"
This was his only shot. He reached out for her shoulder and said, "She kissed me, and the taste of her was stale. You’re not."
"I'm not?" She closed her eyes.
"No. Eva—" Then, his lips met hers, and this time, he felt like the sun that rose from the ocean in the morning. Eva made him feel complete and whole.
The world stopped moving, and he was right where he wanted to be.
The doorbell rang again, and again. Clearly, Grace had more to say. Eva must have thought the same because she said, "She's back."
"Come with me this time." He offered his arm.
She nodded and followed him. However, the second he opened the door, the sun blocked his vision while Eva screamed, "Chris!"
This was his house, and his property. He took a step forward to ensure the user wasn't on his doorstep. "You not welcome at my house. It’s Christmas morning."
Chris stared at Eva while he said, "Eva's having my baby, not yours."
He fished his cell phone out of his back pocket and searched his phone. "Leave now. I'm calling security."
"Leave me alone, Chris," Eva said while he dialed security and typed in his code that there was an issue. Soon, Chris would be gone.
In the meantime, Chris said to Eva, "We both know until you hooked up with Brandon that you didn't want our baby. Once Brandon leaves you, what will you do? If you give me the baby, I'll ensure he or she lacks for nothing."
Eva's face went white.
He placed his phone in his pocket. "Go inside, Eva. Security has been notified."
Eva instead went and stood behind him. "Chris, I don't know why you lied to Brandon. My baby is the only thing in the world I want, and I won't let you have it. Now go."
It. She always said girl. His ears buzzed, but he didn't say anything. He pointed to the car that stopped in front of his gate. "Security is here, Chris. Get off my property."
Chris curled his hands into a ball and stepped closer. "You're a smug jerk, Brandon Campbell. Your sister was the only reason I pretended to be nice to you."
Brandon pushed forward and refused to let Chris get past him. "Just like you pretended to love her while you stole her money. And now you think you can steal Eva's baby, but she's smarter than you give her credit for."
Without another word, Chris landed his fists against his cheek and nose.
Brandon felt the blood rush down his nose, but it didn't matter. He brushed his face and punched him square in the nose. Chris fell backwards. "If you’re going to start a fight, know who you're starting with." Cool heads often win fights. In the corner of his eye, he saw security. He waved his hands for the two men near the gate. "Come in."
A few minutes later, he walked inside and locked the door, and heard Eva crying. He followed her to the kitchen and asked, "Are you okay?"
She said as he put his hand on her back, "I'm fine." She assessed his face like his mother once did and glanced up and down. She covered her lips while she gasped. A second later, she walked away and returned with some frozen peas from the freezer. "Your nose. Let's put some ice on it."
"I'm fine," he said, but he liked that she held the bag firm. She took care of him. He swallowed and said, "Here."
She moved the bag and said, "Brandon, thank you."
Her thanks weren't necessary. He reached up and brushed her cheek. Her skin was soft. "Don't worry about it. I'm sorry I brought you out there. I assumed Grace had come back."
She scooted closer to him and brushed her hip on his. "We're a mess, you and I."
He needed confirmation that she trusted him. "Why did you call your daughter 'it?'"
She then put the frozen peas back in the freezer. "I never told him anything. I certainly never told him what I was having. He's not part of my life."
He walked over and placed his hand on the small of her back. "Eva, relax. I believe you."
She leaned closer. "No one normally does."
The smell of roses wafted through him. "Eva, don't let others ruin our Christmas."
"Okay," she said, hugging him.
He kissed her forehead. "Good, now get dressed."
"Where are we going?" she asked as she pulled away.
He bowed. "It's a surprise."
Her eyes widened. "I'm not big on surprises."
"I couldn't get you much in terms of presents for under the tree, but I have something planned for us. Indulge me?"
"Okay, give me five minutes."
With a smile, she walked out of the room. Brandon's heart grew in his chest. Today, she'd see what he'd planned—this was the best Christmas present he could offer her.