“Whoa, there, baby,” he says, his voice smooth and full of desire, making my thighs clench. “When I said I was going to get you to fall at my feet, this isn’t exactly what I meant.”
I push him off, hating the knowing smirk on his perfect, smug face. “This is a bad idea.”
His smile widens as he grabs the gifts we brought from the back seat, and I’m in awe of how fucking good he looks. God, I hate him for making me want him so badly, and now that I have agreed to let him touch me for the sake of making this look real, I don't know how I will survive it. His words from last night ring in my mind.
My hands will never leave your skin. My mouth will own your lips, and my cock, it’s going to love to call you mine.
The way I ached to touch myself last night after fleeing to the safety of my locked bedroom, I forced myself to sleep but woke up in pain from how aroused I was.
“There’s no going back, Moonshine. You’re the one who told my mama yesterday that we were in a relationship and in love. I’m sure by now my sisters and your brothers have heard the news.”
I recall the message I received this morning from Billie demanding to know why the hell I hadn’t told her I was dating Jase. I followed up with a promise to explain things tonight, but if Jase thinks it’s better off keeping the secret from everyone, then I won’t be able to tell her a damn thing.
The shimmering sequin top I paired with a denim skirt reflects off the twinkle lights strung around the porch railingsas we approach the house. My nerves kick into high gear as the sounds of laughter radiate from inside.
“Steady, baby,” Jase whispers into the crook of my neck, his hand steady on my hip.
“Monroe, Jase, I’m so glad you guys came!” Brynn shrieks, opening the door to the house like she owns the place. For a moment, I hesitate in the doorway as an overexcited Brynn wraps me in a tight embrace. “Oh, Monroe, you look stunning. Glowing and gorgeous.”
Jase catches my unease and leans in, tugging his little sister toward him. “Where’s my hug, Brynnie?”
From behind her, I catch sight of Monty, Theo, and Nash watching us closely as Brynn leads us in. The moment we enter the foyer, the smell of cinnamon, French toast, coffee and pine needles hits me, and for a second, it’s like walking straight into one of those perfect holiday movies. Except this one stars my overprotective and brooding brothers, and the man they are currently sizing up like they haven’t known him their whole lives.
Jase’s hand rests lightly at the small of my back as we walk further into the house, the heat of it both steadying and distracting. Bailey looks up from the kitchen island where she’s arranging platters of cinnamon rolls and a tray of scrambled eggs.
“Monroe,” she shouts, rushing for me, but Billie intercepts.
“Merry Christmas, Moe,” Billie says, moving in for a quick hug. “I am so glad you’re here. I was going crazy without you.” She takes a step back and looks at Jase as her gaze flicks between us as if she’s trying to decipher the puzzle before her. “Jameson.”
“Billie,” Jase says, and for once, neither of them sounds defensive.
Theo is the first of my brothers to come to join us, pulling me in for a tight hug. “Well, look who decided to show up. We were starting to think you two bailed.”
“Wouldn’t miss this lovely reunion,” Jase says easily, trying to keep calm as he sets down the gifts. “Merry Christmas.”
Monty's smile is hesitant, and I can see the vein in his neck pulse as he clenches his jaw tight. Instead of returning Jase’s greeting, he lets out a low grunt as he steps back, making way for Bailey, who comes over next, dragging Nash along with her.
“You guys made it! Come in, come in. There are drinks at the bar. The food is ready. I even made some hot cocoa for you, Moe.”
“Coffee, I need coffee, please.” Bailey laughs but leads us over to the kitchen.
As we follow Bailey to the large coffee station she has set up on the kitchen counter, Jase stays behind me, close enough that our shoulders brush ever so slightly as we walk.
Bailey shoves my shoulder slightly, giving me a wink. “It’s nice to see you both here together.”
I manage a smile, unsure if she means it as a genuine sentiment or a subtle prod that she knows something's up. The last time we spoke, Jase picked me up from girls’ night, so their suspicion is already there.
Bailey never reacted negatively to my sleeping with her brother in secret or the fact I kept secret that he was the father of my baby. If anything, she was the most understanding and, frankly, excited to have a niece or nephew that was related to us both. We always felt like we were close enough to be sisters, and now it looked like we might just be.
Jase’s hand remains on my lower back, his fingers softly running back and forth in circles to comfort me. To anyone else, it probably looks like nothing, but it sends a little pulse of heatthrough me. Although it shouldn’t, because we both know it’s part of the act. For me, I'm not so sure if that’s all it is anymore.
“Now that we’re all here, we can start eating,” Bailey says, motioning to Nash to help her carry some of the beautiful spread of food she’s prepared to the dining room.
There is everything from stacks of delicious French toast and cinnamon rolls, beautifully golden scrambled eggs with bacon and apple sausage, freshly baked biscuits with apple butter, and my favorite, an array of apple, blueberry and cherry cobblers.
My mouth waters at the sight of it all. The sweet scent of cinnamon and baked apples, the sizzle of the bacon, and the warmth radiating from the oven-fresh cobblers makes a rumble escape my stomach, eager for the feast to begin.
“Try this,” Bailey says, handing me the iced latte she’s prepared for me. It may be near the end of December, but I’m an iced coffee any time of the year type of girl. “It’s a blueberry and vanilla oat milk latte with a sweet cream and cinnamon cold foam and a dusting of granola crumble cereal. I’m thinking of adding it to the menu at Honeybees.”
