“You’ve been added to a new family chat, D. You’re stuck with us now.” Lord Fraser chuckles.
“Be prepared for an influx of recipes.” Tavish groans.
“I know you boys are not looking after yourselves and cooking anything of substance.” Davina huffs.
“I’m looking forward to it. I really need to up my recipe game,” I tell her.
“Derrick burns water,” Charlie teases.
“Lucky I’m cute.” I smirk at him.
“At least you have that going for you.” Charlie chuckles as he nudges me.
“Charlie, it has been so wonderful getting to know you, too. The pictures of your home in Montana look amazing,” Davina gushes.
“Like I said, you are always welcome there.”
“I want to play cowboys,” Callum states.
“I think you might get yourself hogtied if you say that in Moonlight Falls,” Charlie tells him.
“I know how to ride a horse, I could be a cowboy.” Callum pouts.
“Don’t think the show ponies you rode are anything like what the cowboys ride,” Rowan teases.
“No, but riding is riding, isn’t it?” Callum asks Charlie.
“Kind of.”
“I want to try bull riding,” Tavish gushes.
“No, you are not. That’s far too dangerous,” Davina pipes in.
“His dating life is dangerous, and he survives that every day,” Arran says, teasing his older brother.
“At least I have a dating life,” Tavish throws back.
Arran flips him off and briefly looks at me before looking away.
“Enough chit-chat, otherwise we’re going to miss our flights,” Callum grumbles.
“You’re flying private, it goes when you go.” Rowan huffs.
“Goodbye, sweetheart, look after yourself,” Davina says.
“I will. Love you. See ya, losers,” Callum says, farewelling his brothers.
“Thanks again for everything, it’s been wonderful,” Charlie says on our behalf as we make our way out the door and get into the car. The crew is all standing there in the snow, waving at us and smiling, except Arran. I catch Charlie’s eye, and he reassures me everything will work out, and I sure as hell hope so as we continue to wave until they are nothing but a speck in the snow.
84
DERRICK
Taking the private car from Geneva to Zermatt via the Alps is like being popped into a screensaver. All snowy peaks, pristine lakes, and picture-perfect villages. My face is pressed to the window like a kid, and my mouth is gaped open as we drive further into a Christmas card.
“It’s beautiful, right?” Charlie says, his knee knocking into mine.
Callum has passed out in the front seat.
