What on earth am I saying?
I frown.
She inclines her head. “Thank you. So do you. I mean, you look handsome, not beautiful.” She stutters awkwardly over her words, and I grin. “I’m going to start again,” she says with a smile. “Happy New Year to you too, although we officially have another couple of hours to go, I think.” She chuckles. “I see you survived Christmas in one piece.”
I roll my eyes. “Remarkable, I know,” I say as we begin walking down the corridor together. “They were actually civil. I didn’t want to jinx it, so I got out of there before the fireworks could start.”
“I’m glad it wasn’t as you feared.”
“Me too.”
We reach the top of the stairs and stop, staring at each other in silence. My whole body tingles with awareness.
“Shall we go down?”
Kat startles at my words. “Yes, probably. If not, they’ll send out a search party.”
She smiles, and my stomach contracts.
I motion for her to lead the way.
She’s changed out of her work suit into a long black evening gown with embroidered edges. It hugs her figure, but floats around her legs.
I follow behind, my eyes tracking every movement she makes.
“There you both are,” Caleb shouts up the stairs. “The festivities are about to start. You two are partners, by the way. Mum and Louise are together. Lottie is now with Lois and Nick, which leaves you two to battle it out against the rest of us.”
“Bring it on,” Kat says, her competitive streak rising to the surface before she can stop herself.
She bites her lip before turning to stare at me.
“I’m with you. Let’s show your brothers,” I say.
Her eyes sparkle, transporting me back in time to when Kat was so much more carefree.
Midnight chimes,and everyone shares a hug and a kiss. My lips graze Kat’s cheek, although they want nothing more than to claim her mouth after watching her sass her brothers all night. Her relationship with her sisters-in-law is something else as well. There’s no doubt how hard the Frazer men have fallen for their partners. And that’s what they are… partners.
Leah gets up and stretches, leaning back and gripping the back of the sofa. Her stomach protrudes almost abnormally with the twins she’s carrying. She rubs a hand over her belly and smiles.
“These two little monkeys need to go to bed, and I know Callum will be up and wanting his breakfast in six hours.”
My chest constricts as I look at Gabriel. He now has everything he didn’t know he desired. His eyes glow as he takes in Leah, his hand sliding around her waist. We all wish her and Gabriel goodnight as he ushers her towards the door.
“That’s me too,” Pen says, getting up.
Elijah and Lottie jump to their feet.
“I’m driving,” Pen says.
I’d forgotten they were staying at Elijah’s house on the property.
“Can Diana come?” Lottie asks.
Diana has been asleep with her head on Lottie’s lap for the past two hours, having been worn out by all the children.
“She can,” Francesca says, “but make sure you let her out in the morning.”
“We’ll call it a night, too,” Sarah says. “Lois and Nick will no doubt be up at the same time as Callum.”
