“Aje said your trailer’s ready for you.” Coke came in, Benji on one hip.
“Unca Jason!”
That little boy lit up like it was Christmas again, wiggling and reaching for Jason.
“Hey, kiddo. Come sit with me a minute.” Jason reached for Benji, who leaped for him.
Jason hugged him tight. “Me and Uncle Candy brought Christmas in the truck.”
“Did you? Presents?”
Dillon had forgotten Christmas had just passed.
“Uh-huh. When everyone’s done their chores and Uncle Candy’s had breakfast, we’ll get them.”
“’Kay! I clean the toy room!” And off Benji went like a shot.
“Nice one,” Tracy said, bringing more plates of food and cups of coffee.
“Thanks. I’m learning. Missy’s a master.”
“She is.” Tracy flopped into a chair, making Jase jump. “Damn, my feet hurt. This is like tending bar.”
“You tended bar?” he asked.
“I did. That’s how I met Nate,” she said. “Two bullfighters walked into a bar…”
“And she didn’t fall for me!” Coke exclaimed, cracking the whole room up.
“She’s my girl,” Nate said. “What can I say?”
“That she is, Nattie. And one of the best ones ever.”
Nate flexed some, and Dillon ducked his head. Every so often he wanted to clock Nate in the face, but the way he loved his wife made Dillon happy.
Hell, the way the son of a bitch adored Coke made him pretty damned happy. Anyone who loved Coke could be okay with him. Eventually.
Coke came to Jason, clapped him on the back. “Merry Christmas, kiddo.”
“Merry late Christmas, Gramps. You have a good one?”
“I did.” Coke chuckled. “Dillon made everyone leave us alone.”
“Damned right I did.” His cheeks heated, because he hoped that wasn’t censure, just statement of fact on Coke’s part.
“Good on him. You work all the damn time, man.” Jason’s smile was crooked and glinting.
“A man has to stay busy,” Coke said, “but it sure was nice to have a quiet Christmas in the snow.”
“Did you make snow angels, Uncle Poppy?” Janey was AJ’s oldest and she came crutching in, her ankle busted.
“We didn’t. I’ll have to try that.”
Dillon would make sure the hot tub was running first, so they could sink that poor body into wet heat right after. Snow angels were bound to make Coke’s arthritis worse.
Coke met his eyes, and he could see how tired Coke was, how worried.
Yeah, there were so many chances for a cluster fuck here.
