Page 74 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

“Losing everything I love.Bill, Winterridge, the family I’ve made here,you.”

Ashley sucked in a breath as his gaze locked on hers.

“You’re not going to lose me.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’m my grandfather’s granddaughter.I’m a fighter.And this time I’m ready to fight for you.For us.Whatever it takes.”

She was scared, too, but she wasn’t going to let history repeat itself.It took her eight long years to find her way back, and she’d been terrified she wouldn’t recognize Winterridge or that it would feel different.But it didn’t.That’s the thing about home—it waits for you.

Her eyes drifted to the hayloft overhead, hidden in shadow now.A lifetime of memories lived up there, but one in particular stole her breath.

“Why don’t we get the ending we should have had all those years ago?”Her gaze returned to Carter.Something warm flashed in his eyes, followed by a slow, mischievous smile.He bent and swept her into his arms.

A laugh escaped her.“Carter!”

“What?”he asked, already heading toward the ladder.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet you love me, anyway.”

She did.

She always had.

Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her toward the loft, where old memories waited beneath the December sky, and new ones were ready to be made.

Chapter twenty-three

Ashley

Thesoulfulsoundsofthe Jackson Five’sI Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clausplayed lightly in the background as Ashley sat at the dining room table that she, Taylor, and Tori had transformed into an all-out wrapping center.Rolls of paper covered every available surface, ribbon spilled across the table, and discarded scraps littered the floor beneath their chairs to pick up later.Taylor had apparently interpreted “buy a few Christmas presents” as “single-handedly keep every boutique in Connecticut in business.”

Ashley hummed quietly to the song as she tied a ribbon around Grandpa’s gift: a first-edition book on Long Island history she’d stumbled across in a tiny antique store in the city over the summer.At the time she had no idea why she had picked it up.She just saw it and knew that if someday she were to see her grandfather again, she would give it to him.She’d brought it with her to put in his coffin, so she didn’t have the reminder that she could have driven herself to Connecticut at any moment to give it to him while he was alive.

Now she was able to give it to him in person.The leather binding had seen better days, but Grandpa loved old books almost as much as he loved being right.She smiled as she tucked the bow under the package.

“Did you know in this song Santa is the dad?”Taylor asked.

“Of course,” Ashley said.

“Who the heck did you think it was?”Tori dropped the scissors she was holding and stared at her sister in confusion.

“I thought she was cheating on the dad with Santa.”

Ashley pressed her lips together to hold in the laugh, but it was no use.

Tori stared at her sister before barking out a laugh.“You’re an idiot.”

“I cannot be the only one who thought that,” Taylor retorted.

“I believe you are,” Ashley said, trying to keep from laughing again.

Taylor sighed, then her eyes lit up.“Carter!”she exclaimed.“I have a question for you.”

Ashley tried not to stare, but his smile was bright and infectious.She kept thinking about his lips and hands all over her.Heat spiraled up her neck into her cheeks, and her thighs tingled with the memories.