Auntie Gray, and even though my heart is still pounding from the fright, I can’t help but giggle at the thought of my big, bad Daddy being given a scare by his siblings.
Lifting my head, I flash Auntie Gray a smile. “I wasn’t scared at all. Must have been Daddy.”
Another growl rumbles in Axel’s chest. “Clearly I didn’t do a good enough job of washing all those lies out of your system, little girl. Perhaps another enema is in order.”
Embarrassment heats my cheeks, not just at the thought of getting another enema but because now everyoneknowshe gave me one. “Did you really have to tell the whole world?”
I’m whining, exactly like a Little girl, but I can’t seem to help myself. Being treated like a child brings it out in me, apparently, no matter how hard I try to cling to the knowledge that I’m not actually a toddler.
“It’s just your uncles and your Auntie Gray,” he says, bouncing me exactly like one might a fussy baby. “We don’t have secrets in this family.”
Great. So every time he decides to shove something up my ass, everyone will know about it.
“We really didn’t mean to startle you, little one.” A different brother, Dane I think, steps forward and holds out a lumpy package wrapped in plain brown paper. “But our family has a tradition, handed down through generations. The Chivaree, it’s called.”
“Right. The thing where you dance around like maniacs and bang on pots and pans while your brother fu—claimsme on a table,” I respond dryly, not taking the offered package.
But rather than looking chagrined, they all only grin. “That’s part of it,” Colt says with a shrug. “But there’s more. Presents for the new bride and groom.”
I’m torn. I do like presents—who doesn’t?—but I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of doing something nice for me after everything they’ve put me through.
But it seems the decision isn’t mine to make. “You’re being rude, Lanie.” Axel’s low murmur is tinged with disappointment, and it settles heavy in my chest even though I know I don’t owe him or his siblings any politeness. “Be a good girl and open your presents.”
Or you can open them with a red-hot bottom.I don’t need him to actually say the words hanging in the air between us to understand that’s exactly what will happen if I disobey.
So I guess I’m opening the fucking presents.
Taking the first gift from Dane, I give the crudely wrapped package a squeeze. Whatever it is, it’s soft, and my curiosity gets the better of me as I rip the paper away.
And despite my feelings toward my new “family”, my heart trips in my chest at the sight of the fluffy stuffed penguin in my hands. “Oh. He’s so cute.”
“I like animals, and I’ve been collecting these ever since we all decided to build a family of our own,” Dane says by way of explanation. “And he seemed fitting, since we found you in the snow and all.”
“Thank you, Uncle Dane. I love him.” And I mean it. It’s been years since I had anything as frivolous as a stuffed animal, and the fact that he put so much thought into picking out just the right one for me goes a long way toward thawing my frosty feelings toward my uncles.
Well. At least toward Uncle Dane.
“Here, little one.” Auntie Gray steps forward and holds her hand out. “Let me hold your new friend so you can finish unwrapping your presents.”
“Oh, but…” It’s silly and childish, but the thought of handing over my new toy has my heart constricting in my chest.
“Don’t worry, honey. Auntie Gray will take good care of him until you’re ready to snuggle him.”
“Okay.” Reluctantly, I pass her my new penguin friend, my gaze lingering on them until I’m satisfied she’s holding him carefully enough for me to shift my attention away from them and back to my uncles.
Up next is Bram, with a thin, square package. A book, I realize when I unwrap it. “Mr. Popper’s Penguins. I’m sensing a theme.”
Bram grins and shrugs, looking so much like his twin with that simple gesture it’s almost eerie. “Dane mentioned the penguin stuffie and I figured it was the perfect choice. I have a whole library downstairs though, if this one isn’t to your liking.”
“No, no, it’s perfect. Thank you, Uncle Bram.”
Stepping forward and nudging his twin aside, Colt thrusts another crudely wrapped package toward me. “It’s not a penguin, but I think you’ll like it just the same.”
“A snowglobe!” Squealing happily, I tip the globe upside down and then upright again, joy spreading through my chest as I watch the glittery snow fall around the city. “Oh! Is this Las Vegas?”
“It is. I thought you could make do with this until we can talk your Daddy into letting you come see the real thing with me.”
“Not a chance in hell,” Axel grumbles.
