I batted my lashes at him in all innocence. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
He laughed softly, and pointed to his plate. “Was this supposed to be a tree? Because right now it looks like the snowman from that horror movie Ethan made us watch at Halloween.”
“It’s a Christmas tree,” I said, picking up the misshapen cookie. “Or maybe a Christmas shrub.”
He nodded. “Shrub feels generous.”
A small streak of frosting clung to his sleeve. I swiped it off, then sucked the sweetness from my finger. “I think the kids did a great job. Considering they’re only amateur caterers, and they were free.”
“And I think you need to stop doing things like that when we’re in a room full of people, which stops me from responding the way I’d like.”
His gaze burned into me, and heat spread slow and full inside me. Without breaking eye contact, I dipped my finger into the frosting again and repeated the motion. Adrian groaned low in the back of his throat.
“Is that all you have to say?”
His hazel eyes flashed with desire, and he took a step toward me. But before he could say or do anything else, our party of two was interrupted.
“Refill in aisle six,” Ethan said, holding up two empty ice buckets. He shoved one of them against Adrian’s chest.
“I’m not in charge of refills.”
“You are now,” Ethan replied, and started for the kitchen without waiting for him to agree.
I let the noise swell around me and headed back toward the tree. Emma and Sadie were crouched by the presents piled upby the undecorated tree, shaking boxes with the focus of jewel thieves.
Sadie held one up. “Can I open it?”
“Tempting,” I said, crouching beside her, “but I have a better idea. Go upstairs and change into your pajamas. All the sugar from tonight is going to need a soft landing soon.”
Emma lit up and grabbed Sadie’s hand. “Race you.”
They tore off toward the stairs, their giggles floated up to the landing. Just then, Will walked past at the same time, hands in his pockets.
“Time for—”
“I was on my way upstairs already,” he cut me off. “Gonna play some video games before bed.”
I stared after him, the tail of his shirt disappearing around the corner. The wild part was how easy the whole night had been with them. Less arguing. Less pushback. As if they were trying to set a record for best behavior. I didn’t know if it was the holiday vibe or that I’d come back, but something had softened around the edges of their usual antics.
Someone tapped my shoulder. “Do you know where the ice went?”
I blinked. Right. Ice. That was where Ethan and Adrian had vanished to earlier. “Let me check,” I said, already heading toward the back hall.
I passed the archway to the kitchen just as both of them came out. Adrian had his curls smashed beneath an oversized winter hat he hadn’t bothered to fix, and Ethan carried a look that said he’d reached the end of his patience with whatever they found in the freezer.
“We need to make an emergency ice run,” he said.
Adrian hooked his arm into mine. “And you’re coming with us.”
“But… the kids…”
“They’re fine,” Ethan said, already reaching for the coat hooks by the door. He shoved a puffer at Adrian and handed mine with a quick nod toward the living room. “Miles! Keep an eye, will you? Getting more ice.”
Miles shot a thumbs up from across the room, mid-conversation with a group of staff. And that was it. Decision made. Ethan held the door, the wind hissing through the crack like it was warning us. I hesitated on the threshold.
“Is this a good idea?” I asked. “That storm is building.”
Ethan pulled his hood up. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back long before it hits.”
