“Oh, he was a little fussy, and when I checked on him, I realized I hadn’t put the diaper on properly. I figured a shower would be easiest to clean him up, and it might help settle him down. I’m about to lay him back down, actually.”
I can see her nod from the corner of my eye. “I think I’ll stick around this time, if that’s okay?”
My heart beats a little faster, and I can’t stop the grin from taking over my face. “I’d like nothing more,” I blurt, without thinking.
And I’m not even a little surprised when I realize it’s true.
Chapter 29
Butt Plug What Now?
Phoebe
“Wheredoyouwantthis stuff?” Eric juggles an armful of fresh greenery. “Is there even any room left?”
Archer and Eric showed up bright and early to decorate my front porch for an impromptu Santa Claus photo shoot. They’ve been fastening evergreen boughs, twinkle lights, and various ribbons and baubles to the support beams for the last three hours.
“That’s the last of them?” Archer asks from the top of a ladder. “Is the backdrop covered? No holes?”
Eric looks to the end of the porch where they’ve made a solid wall of greenery and lights. It’s even prettier than the enchanted forest at Kris Kringle’s.
“Webster and Frederick are going to love this.” I grin up at Archer. “Thank you.”
He smiles. “No thanks necessary. I wanted to do this. After all, what kind of Santa would I be if I let them miss out on their engagement announcement when I have the suit at my disposal?”
I chuckle. “True.” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in seeing him in the Santa suit again, too. Will it bring back any more memories of that night? Or are they lost forever, washed away with that morning’s hangover, never to be seen again. “It’s still nice of you to go to this much trouble.”
He climbs down the ladder and dusts his hands on his jeans, drawing my attention to the way his thighs test the seams. Why does he have to be so sexy? It’s unfair for him to look so good all the time.
“I didn’t go to that much trouble, actually. I delegated most of this to Eric. He gathered all these decorations together for me.”
I look at Eric where he’s fastening the last of the boughs to a section of railing. “That’s impressive. Where’d you find all this stuff at the last minute like this?”
Eric darts a glance in my direction, a smirk on his lips. “Let’s just say it wasn’t easy, and leave it at that.”
“Okay,” I drawl. “That sounds…suspicious.”
Archer laughs. “We won’t need to hide you from the cops later, will we?”
“Nah,” Eric says with a chuckle. “My feet are way too fast for that. Damien, though? His slow ass might need bail money.”
He tells us a story about Damien getting caught by the owner when they were raiding the Christmas tree lot for scrap branches that’s so hilarious we’re still chuckling when Webster and Frederick pull into my driveway. The look on their faces when they get out of the car is one of complete and utter delighted shock. They look like…well, they look like kids on Christmas.
“Phoebe. I can’t believe you did all this.” Webster comes up the stairs and pulls me into a hug. “It’s so beautiful.” His eyes are shining and I know we’re seconds away from tears.
“I didn’t do it,” I say quickly, to circumvent any crying. “Archer and Eric did everything. I’ve been in the kitchen all morning.”
Webster turns his shiny eyes to Archer. “You did all this? For us?”
Archer scrubs a hand over his neck. “Well, yeah? I hope it’s okay.”
Webster pulls Archer into an even tighter hug than he gave me. “Yes, you silly man. Of course it’s okay. This is even better than that farmer’s market set up. It’s gorgeous.”
Frederick, the more sedate of the two, joins us on the porch and reaches a hand out to Eric. “Hi. I’m Frederick. You must be Eric. Thank you for this. It looks amazing.”
Eric grins. “You’re welcome. It was nothing.” He looks between Webster and Frederick. “I hear congratulations are in order? I brought champagne. You should go in and pop it to celebrate.”
I smack my head. “Yes, of course. Come inside. Mom and Warren are dying to see you, Webster.” He cringes. He hasn’t seen my parents since our fateful non-wedding day, and I think he’s worried about what they’ll say.
