And that was all it took for the swear warden and her big ears to dig her claws into another poor, defenseless victim. She actually helped him in some ways because she’d distracted everyone from wondering why he said what he had. I couldn’t help but giggle when the little tornado blew right up to him and put her palm out. I guess he wasn’t defenseless as long as he had cash in his wallet.
“You said a bad word,” Embry said, tapping her foot. “So I hope you brought money with you. You might be new, but you should know better.”
Paxton looked around the room and everyone burst out laughing. He looked so confused but Embry’s brother, Hudson, waltzed up next to his sister and cleared it all up for him.
“If you say bad words, you have to pay my sissy. She has a big jar full of money and she is rich.” The awe in his voice when he talked about his big sister was adorable.
Paxton cleared his throat but reached into his pocket and laid a bill in Embry’s palm.
Her eyes went wide. “Twenty bucks!” she shouted in uncontrolled excitement.
“I’m not used to being around kids so I figure by the time I leave I’ll owe you more money,” my brother—that was so weird to say, but I liked it—told her.
“Wow, you plan on saying a lot of bad words,” Embry said, causing everyone to laugh once again, including Paxton. “That’s okay, I always have more room in my jar, so have at it. As long as I don’t repeat the words and I make money, all is good.” She then walked off like it was any other day.
Which to her, I guess it was.
My brother's gaze shifted back to the woman that had caused his payout. He didn’t leave his eyes on her long so I don’t think anyone else noticed where they had strayed once again.
Next thing I knew, Jurnee was ushering him in to sit down and the kids were requesting more songs. I smiled when I realized the open seat he’d just occupied was none other than the one right next to Capri. I shrugged it off, he was leaving anyway, and walked over to where Bodie was sitting.
When I was standing right in front of him, he pulled me down onto his lap, the warmth of his body sinking into my skin. I settled into the best spot in the house and laid my head on his shoulder as the kids danced around singing, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.”
Damn, they were all so freaking cute.
A mix of kids of various ages and yet they all played together so perfectly. They were a family, just like the adults, with Embry as the leader. That girl was as protective of every one of those kids as her father, Braxton, and all the other men in her life were of the people they cared about.
Gyth and Summer’s boy, Dexter, wouldn’t know what hit him when they got older. Right now girls were still gross but that would change and Embry would be there when it did. I’m sure she meant what she said about them getting married. I had to hand it to the girl. She was eight and knew what she wanted. The crazy thing was, she usually got it.
My gaze landed on Peyton and Piper and I watched them happily sing along with the others. I couldn’t help but think about this morning when I saw the necklaces around their tiny necks. They’d insisted on wearing them and it warmed my heart.
When the song came to an end, all the kids decided they needed a snack and something to drink. They’d been jumping around so long I had no doubt they worked up an appetite again. We’d already had dinner but there were enough appetizers left to feed an army.
Paxton had declined any food and had only graciously accepted a bottle of water when we were talking, but I thought he might want something now.
Everyone was getting up and wandering back into the kitchen area. I reluctantly left my luxurious seating spot and walked over to where Paxton still sat.
“Come on, you have to try some of the food,” I told him and walked off expecting him to follow so he couldn’t argue again about not needing anything.
Once everyone was claiming space in the room and the kids had their treats, I grabbed a mini cinnamon roll off a tray and handed it to Paxton.
“You have to try this and anything else Capri made because they are so good. But I’ll warn you now, prepare to be sick by the time you roll out of here because once you start on your treats you can’t stop.” I laughed as I looked over at the baker herself, Paxton’s eyes following mine.
He didn’t protest this time and put the sweet, gooey treat into his mouth, taking a bite. And moaned.
“Told ya,” I chanted.
His eyes widened and his face flushed as he realized everyone was watching him. He finished chewing and shrugged as he polished off the remaining piece of the dessert in one swoop. “You got me now, show me what else this heavenly baker makes,” he said, looking at Capri who quickly averted her gaze from his.
But not before a pleased look crossed her face. Then she masked it within seconds and dropped her eyes to the floor.
I grabbed a lemon bar off another plate and handed it to him. He devoured it and tried many more. That was when I realized my brother and I had something in common. We both had a serious sweet tooth.
Once everyone filled up on food again, there was more singing, some games were played, and as the kids did their thing, the adults all talked. The children started getting tired and we knew it was time for everyone to head to their own homes.
Only I knew what that meant.
My brother was leaving.
