An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods Page B

his seat on the board? What?”
    “He mentioned a few things along those lines,” Trace admitted. “Frankly, I tuned him out. When he finally let me get a word in edgewise, I said no. Again. And told him he was being a stubborn idiot for not making the exact same offer to you.”
    “Trace, we both know that is never going to happen. Even if he begged me to come back, the most he’s going to offer me is a vice presidency, and he’ll do that grudgingly. He doesn’t think I have what it takes to run the bank.”
    “You could go back, prove him wrong.”
    “Not if the cost of doing that is walking away from Matthew.”
    Trace’s gaze leveled. “You told me before we left home that it was over between you. I thought you only came along on this trip so you wouldn’t be alone for the holidays.”
    “I thought it was over.” She shrugged. “Now, not so much,” she admitted. “And before you get all worked up, I have no idea where this is going, but I’m not just walking away because my being with Matthew makes Dad crazy. I’m happy when I’m with him, Trace. I see myself in an entirely different way. He’s good for me like that.”
    She regarded her brother earnestly. “Do you know what it’s like to grow up with everyone around you thinking you’re stuffy, reliable and boring?”
    “Reliability is a good quality,” Trace countered.
    “But stuffy and boring aren’t. Heck, I was boring myself. Remember Dave? He was perfectly suitable. Dad adored him. But even you thought I’d wind up bored to tears if I stayed with him. Matthew’s taught me how to live. Really live.”
    “You’re talking about a wild, passionate fling,” Trace said. “I get that. You were probably due, but come on, Laila, you can’t live your life that way. It’s not realistic. Life is about compromise and being sensible, about making plans and sticking with them.”
    She gave him a long look. “Is your marriage to Abby that dull?”
    He immediately bristled. “Of course not. We have—” He hesitated.
    “Passion,” she said heatedly. “That’s what you have. Don’t you think I can see that every time I look at the two of you? I want that, Trace. I want to feel alive when someone walks into a room and looks at me. I want my heart to pound when someone says my name. I want to see the same look in a man’s eyes that you get when you see Abby, as if you’re seeing the sun, the moon and the stars all wrapped up in that one person.”
    “And Matthew makes you feel like that?” he asked skeptically.
    “Yeah, he does,” she said softly. “And maybe it can’t last, but for now I want it, big brother.”
    “Even if you wind up with your heart broken?”
    She nodded, then answered with absolute certainty. “Even then.”
    “Okay,” he said, sounding resigned. “You know all I really care about is your happiness. If Matthew can give you that and you consider it a fair trade-off for losing the career you always wanted, it’s your call.”
    She sighed. “It shouldn’t have to be a trade-off, but yes, it’s worth it.” It had taken her a while to realize that, but she understood it now. Life without that blood-sizzling excitement was hardly worth living.
    “Shall I tell Dad that, or do you want to return his call?” Trace asked. “Maybe he’ll have a change of heart if you tell him what you just told me.”
    She chuckled. “No, if I tell him that, what he’ll have is a heart attack. You call. Tell him whatever you want to, but the bottom line is no. I won’t take the job under his conditions.”
    And truthfully, she didn’t want to risk listening to any of his persuasive arguments, especially knowing the price tag that would go along with them.
    “No second thoughts?” Trace asked.
    “Not a one.”
    “Okay, then. I’ll tell Dad.”
    As they walked back to the hotel, Trace draped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m proud of you,” he said.
    She regarded him with surprise. “Why?”
    “For knowing what you