“What trend? And can we maybe start walking back toward civilization?”
Joker rolled his eyes and started walking. “The trend of one of us doing something so everyone else has to fucking do it. First, Ace got a boyfriend, then everyone else got a boyfriend. Then he got married, and now everyone else is getting married.”
“Are you saying that we’re all followingAce’sexample? Because that’s terrifying.”
Joker threw his arms up. “I don’t know. I need to blame someone, and he’s the most qualified for the job.”
Jack snorted. He’d known Joker a long time, and his friend had always hated change. More than most. Especially when things were going well in his life. It was a childhood trauma response he’d never really healed from.
“No one’s going anywhere,” Jack replied quietly.
Joker frowned. “I know that. I mean, deep down, I do, but…there’s always that part of me that fears I could lose it all.” He stopped and met Jack’s gaze. “I have so much to lose, Jack.”
“Hey, you’re never going to lose us. Hell, our family went from us two, to six, to the freaking Brady Bunch. With our track record, we’re more in danger of gaining annoying family members than losing.” The fact remained that Jack knew neither of them would change a thing. They were fortunate to have their, at times, overly dramatic family.
Joker laughed softly. “Yeah. Good thing Colton and Ace have a mansion, or we’d have to move our family barbecues to a damned stadium.” He playfully bumped into Jack’s arm. “Thanks.”
“No problem. I guess we could both use a good kick in the ass sometimes.”
“You really going to promote Maury?” Joker asked as they finally made it back to the market square.
Jack wasn’t surprised his friend had heard, which meant everyone else had. “Yep. King mentioned having a meeting when we got back. I think he’s on board with all of us stepping back a bit. We’ve all been working non-stop since opening Four Kings Security. Then there’s the whole Tampa branch thing.”
Joker nodded. His phone dinged, and he checked his messages. “Looks like Gio’s talking to Clara. See you back at the cabin.” He went off searching for Gio while Jack went to find Fitz, who’d texted him to let him know he was in the field behind the stalls with Red and Laz building a snow poodle.
On his way to Fitz, something caught Jack’s eye, and he doubled back to one of the stalls. “Excuse me. Would that take long to personalize?”
“Not at all,” the young woman chirped.
“Perfect.” He told her what he wanted, and a few minutes later, he had his little gift. Jack laughed as he neared Fitz, Red, Laz, and the snow poodle with a pink bow on its head. “Gee, I wonder who that is?”
“Just in time,” Fitz replied. “Our snow poodle is complete, and I’m ready to be warm again.”
“We’ll head back with you,” Laz said, taking Red’s hand. “I’m all snowed out.”
They returned to the cabin, where Red and Laz joined King and Leo in the kitchen. Jack followed Fitz upstairs, where they shed their layers, or in Fitz’s case, many,manylayers.
Jack tucked his small gift box in his nightstand drawer and followed Fitz into the bathroom. They took their time in the shower, kissing and caressing. How long had it been since they’d done something as simple as shower together? With Jack coming in at all hours, sometimes they barely saw each other.
Not anymore. Things were going to change.
When they dressed in their pajamas and climbed into bed, Duchess curled up in her fluffy princess bed near the window, the snow falling outside creating the perfect ambiance, Jack pulled the box from the nightstand drawer. He turned and held it out.
“I got you a little something.”
Fitz gasped. “Aw! You’re so sweet.” He kissed Jack’s cheek and opened the box, his expression softening at the glass ornament.
It was heart-shaped with two candy canes making a heart, with the words, “I love you to the North Pole and back” painted above their engraved names and, of course, Duchess’s name beneath theirs.
“Oh, baby, I love it.” Fitz ran a finger lovingly over their names. He gently placed it back in the box and tucked it in his nightstand drawer, then he proceeded to show Jack just how much he loved it, and Jack.
The following day, at breakfast, everyone was talking about the cookie-baking competition, which was a testament to Winterhaven’s magical holiday influence because, since when did Joker care about cookies?
“Youare looking forward to decorating cookies?” Jack asked, eyeing Joker.
Joker stared at him like he’d grown antlers. “What? No. I’m looking forward toeatingthe cookies everyone decorates. Didn’t you read the flyer? The cookies the contestants bake will be handed out to members of the audience who want them.Hello. Free cookies.”
That made more sense.
