Her face pales. “Sorry, I didn’t realize. I mean, I know Jessica is remarried, but I didn’t recognize you. Which is crazy since I have seen you before. On multiple occasions in the bar and around the island. Oh, mermaid, someone stop me.”
I chuckle and throw an arm around her shoulders. “You’re adorable.”
“Ugh.” Miles moans. “Another one bites the dust. Can we have one occasion in this family where a brother isn’t mooning over some woman?”
Jaxon fiddles with his glasses. “I believe you’re mooning over a woman at this very moment.”
“Burn.” Kai licks his finger and makes a sizzling sound.
Sloane barks out a laugh. “Are we discussing Hazel?” At my nod, she shakes her head. “You are going to have to do a bunch of groveling to get her back.” She rubs her hands together. “Shall we bet on how long it’ll take?”
“I don’t like you,” Miles mumbles as he flees the room.
I growl and set off after him but Sloane captures my wrist to stop me. “You love me and you know it!” she shouts after him. “I’m your favorite bartender.”
Screw falling for this woman. Consider me fallen. I love Sloane Wilder. No other woman could put up with my brothers’ shit with a grin on her face. And shovel their shit right back at them. Not to mention how protective she is of my daughter.
“Miles Raider, I’m throwing away your Christmas present.”
At Mom’s shout, I rush to the kitchen with Sloane and my brothers. Mom slams a bottle of chocolate syrup onto the counter. On top of the bottle sits an elf with his pants pulled down as if he’s using the bottle as a toilet.
Sloane buries her face in my shoulder, her body shaking as she tries to contain her laughter. My brothers and I don’t bother trying to contain our laughter.
Mom glares at us. “This isn’t funny.”
Miles smirks. “It’s a little funny.”
She grabs a rolling pin and rushes after him. He scurries away while singing, “I’m the gingerbread man. You can’t catch me.”
Sloane smiles up at me. “You were right. Christmas at your mom’s house is not to be missed.”
I’m glad she thinks so because if I have my way, she’ll be spending all of her future Christmases here with me and Adele.
And I intend to have my way.
Chapter 22
“I asked for a quiet day. The universe laughed.”
Sloane
Zane hesitates at the door. “Are you sure you don’t mind babysitting Adele today?”
Did he forget I’m the nanny? “I babysit her every day while you work.”
“But it’s your day off.”
Rumrunneris officially closed today. It’s a rare occurrence, but Harper wanted to give us time to recover from Christmas. The bar was packed on Christmas and Boxing Day.
It was crazier than normal, which is saying a lot for Smuggler’s Hideaway. I don’t want to see another naked mermaid or find another piece of glitter in my clothes for at least two weeks. Too bad New Year’s Eve is coming up.
“It’s fine. My only plans for today are to relax with Boozer and Adele.”
“If you change your mind, call Mom. She’ll jump at the chance to spend some time with Adele.”
She’d also use the opportunity to try and push me and Zane together. I cottoned on to her play at Christmas. She wants Zane to settle down, and apparently, Little Miss Matchmaker has chosen me as Zane’s partner. Doesn’t she realize her son will never settle down?
Although, he did cancel all of his holiday plans for Adele. He was planning a trip to Iceland. There’s an active volcano he wants to hike. I shiver. An active volcano? Is he nuts? But he stayed home instead. He’s even going into the distillery to attend a meeting he’d normally skip.
