“Most are,” my mom teases, as she smooths a hand down her Def Leppard concert tee. I’ve given up trying to get them to wear team gear. It’s just not their style.
“Thanks again for coming tonight, and for taking care of Mia,” I say to them.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mom says.
Dad nods toward her. “What she said,” he seconds, then smacks a kiss to her cheek.
I might have been served a shit sandwich in romance, but in the family department I have everything.
19
FROZEN FRUITCAKE
ROWAN
“Penelope dashed around the corner, peered past the snow-covered bridge, and spotted the thief,” Mia says dramatically, and before she can do it, I flip the page at the speed of light. I’ve got to know how Penelope catches the stinker who had the audacity to steal the gifts from under the Christmas tree in the mayor’s office.
“Who did it?” I ask urgently, sitting straight up in Mia’s bed, while blue lights from Matilda cast a soft glow from the corner.
Mia shoots me a look that translates tosettle down.“Dad, we’ll get there.” As Wanda curls herself tighter into a dog ball at the foot of the mattress, Mia pauses, takes a breath, then smiles serenely, too damn pleased with herself for her performance reading the newestThePeppermint Patrolmystery from the book Advent calendar.
I make a rolling gesture. “It’s late, cupcake.” The game started at five-thirty, so it’s past ten and, besides—my uninvited guest will be coming any minute.
“I’m wide awake. Maybe I can even say hi to Agent Jason,” Mia says. She’s always called him that.
I tap the page. “Only if you read me another chapter.”
“I will.” She spreads open the pages and clears her throat. “But Penelope didn’t have to do this alone. Her besties, Xenia and Juan, hunkered down next to her, binoculars scanning for signs of the thief. Penelope brought a finger to her lips when?—”
A loud rapping echoes through the house. “Hurry. Read me another ’graph,” I say.
But Wanda’s already howling at the moon, skittering across the room, and soon she’ll likely be flying downstairs.
With a mountain of reluctance, I push up from the bed. “I’d better go let him in,” I say, stretching the kinks out in my shoulder.
My muscles bark, a reminder that I should probably ice my shoulder pretty soon. Standard operating procedure after a game, but the story has been more captivating than I expected so I haven’t done it yet.
I head to the bedroom door but Mia’s faster, sprinting out of bed, racing down the hall in her pink “girls rock” pajamas, twin braids trailing down her back. “I’m going to beat you to it.”
But I call after her. It’s better to be safe than sorry. “Mia, I’ll open the door.”
Her shoulders sag, but she stops at the top of the stairs and waits for me. Together, we head down the steps and toward the front door, where Wanda barks like she’s giving the visitor the business.
As I near the entrance, I grab my phone from the foyer table to check the Nest cam.
Would you look at that? Jason’s not alone. He brought his beautiful sister.
My pulse spikes at the sight of her—shiny brown hairspilling in gorgeous waves over her shoulders, a dark green coat, glossy lips, and a merry and bright smile on her pretty face.
A jolt of electricity shoots through my body, but now’s not the time to entertain those thoughts or feelings. Shoving them out of the way, I swing open the door. “Are we having a party?”
“It’s Agent Jason!” Mia shouts, while Wanda dances for him.
Jason steps inside and offers Mia a palm for high-fiving. “Sunday night party. I brought popcorn. And this hanger-on I found watching the Webflix holiday movie of the week.” He jerks a thumb toward Isla, who rolls her eyes and play punches her brother in the shoulder.
“I’ve already seen it five times.”
“As if that’d stop you from making it six,” he says.
