When Kat excused herself to use the restroom after a lively round of Pictionary, Liam asked, “When are you going to seal the deal with Kat? Because if you don’t ask her to marry you, I might.”
Jack laughed, helping himself to another serving of peanut brittle.
“Do you really think she’d go out with you once she knows I’m an option?” Emmett goaded his younger brother.
“You’d all better be quiet,” Lucy scolded. “Do you want Kat to come back and hear you fools fighting over her?”
“Why not?” Everett grinned. “Perhaps we should duel for her hand in marriage like in grand old Victorian England.”
“Good grief.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “Clearly those costumes I rented have gone to your heads.”
“What do you say, old chap?” Everett turned to Jack, tipping an imaginary top hat. “Are you prepared to fight for your lady’s hand?”
“You haven’t been able to beat me in a skirmish yet,” Jack challenged. Although all of his brothers stood over six feet tall, he had a good inch or two on Everett.
“Aye. But I was but a wee lad back then. And ye didn’t fight fair.”
“Are you supposed to be British or Irish?” Micah asked, watching the amusing exchange from his corner of the couch.
“He sounds like a pirate to me,” Liam snorted over the rim of his glass.
“Dad, can’t you make them behave?” Lucy pleaded. “They’re going to embarrass me in front of Kat.”
“Speaking of Kat…” Emmett glanced toward the hallway. “She’s been gone awhile.”
“Ladies take their time in the powder room,” Everett told him with a superior smirk. “You’d know that if you ever had a girlfriend.”
Emmett threatened to toss a throw pillow at his twin, but reconsidered when he caught their mother’s stern glare.
“Maybe she got lost,” Micah offered helpfully. “With all the rooms and hallways, this house is like a maze.”
“I’ll go look.” Lucy sprang from the couch, but Jack set his drink on the coffee table.
“No, I’ll go. You try to get these hooligans under control while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do my best.” She sighed heavily, as though she didn’t have high hopes for her success.
Jack bit back another chuckle as he walked into the hall, overhearing his brothers argue over which one of them was Kat’s type.
Philistines, every single one of them. But he loved them anyway. And boy, did it feel good to be reunited with his family again.
Eventually, he’d have to confront his father about the past.
But for now, he’d savor the present.
And look forward to the future.
Chapter 24
Jack found her in the den, which was basically a carbon copy of the sitting room but with different decor.
For a moment, he stood in the doorway, not making a sound. She looked so beautiful gazing at the Christmas tree, framed by the frosted bay window. The glittering lights cast a colorful glow across her features as she admired the ornaments.
He held his breath, wanting to drink in the sight for as long as possible. But as he shifted his feet, the floorboards creaked beneath his weight.
Startled, she glanced up. The instant she met his gaze, a slow smile spread across her face, sending his pulse into overdrive.
“I was starting to worry you’d found the wardrobe that leads to another land,” he teased, moving toward her.
