“Excuse me?” Jake says sternly. “I am not now, nor have I ever been Santa.”
Lucas and Oscar both roll their eyes and make scoffing noises. “We know it was you last year, Uncle Jake,” Oscar says.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jake sips from his orange juice with a sniff.
“And Auntie Nel was the elf,” Lucas says. As Nel didn’t have a beard to cover her face, she’s unable to deny it, just pointedly looking around the room, avoiding the conversation.
“The elf can’t make it this year,” I say, trying to pout sadly but my cheeks are pulling into a smirk at Nel, who glares. Last year, both my Santa and elf dropped out last minute and Jake and Nel agreed to step in. The elf costumesaidone size fitsall, but the manufacturers hadn’t accounted for curves as voluptuous as my sister-in-law’s. Let’s just say some of the dads at last year’s Christmas party will be talking about Santa’s elf for years to come. “This year, I believe Mrs Claus is coming instead.”
“Yeah, and she’s bringing her own costume,” Nel grumbles out of the corner of her mouth.
“And Mrs Claus’ big brother is very grateful for that,” Harry says with serious gratitude as he tips his glass towards her.
Nel rolls her eyes and shakes her head but smiles affectionately back at him.
Breakfast continues in a flurry of excited chatter. Excitement for the Christmas party, for the big day tomorrow, and for everyone to meet Jake’s family. I can feel the heat of Harry’s eyes scorching my face throughout the meal. He watches me even as he talks with Luke and Jake, when he answers my dad’s questions grilling him on work, and as he tells the boys to stop squabbling over the last piece of pineapple in the fruit salad. Harry watches me like he’s going to devour me whole and I’m getting clammy. Yeah, I’m horny. Horny for my husband. I’m suddenly extremely excited to give him his Christmas present.
“Okay,” Harry announces loudly. “Boys, you’re with me, we’re tidying up.”
Oscar immediately gets up and starts bringing his plate over to the sink while Lucas grunts and groans about how unfair it is to have to do chores at Christmas.
“And yet your mother didn’t complain once when she made this delicious breakfast for you. Weird.” Harry pulls his face into confusion and waits pointedly for our eldest to get his arse in gear and help. He does, with only a slightly humbled apology and I smile at them, to which Harry winks at me again. God, those damn winks are gonna get me right in the pelvic area.
My dad and Uncle Gordan don’t offer to help tidying up. Something happened when they retired and now they fullyembrace the holiday they have coming to stay here, no longer lifting a finger. Mum rolls her eyes at her husband and brother-in-law and asks Harry if he’d like some help, but he waves her off. Jake doesn’t ask, just jumps in, filling the sink with soapy water.
I grab Nel and pull her to the hallway, where we’re alone once everyone has filed into the living room. “Do you have it?”
She smiles, amused at my impatience. “Yes, Lis. It’s upstairs on your bed. I figured you wouldn’t want it under the tree to be opened in front of your entire family.”
“Good shout,” I chuckle. “Thank you, Nel.”
“No need to thank me. But hey, I did wrap it.” When my face falls, she holds up a placating hand. “I want you to think of it as a present for you just as much as Harry. Lis, you look incredible in those photos and you’re going to love them, just as he will too.”
I pull her in for a hug and she squeezes me back with love. “You’re my favourite sister-in-law.”
She laughs. “I’m your only sister-in-law.”
“Yeah, but if I had a thousand, you’d still be my favourite.”
“You’re my favourite too. Although Rhiannon told me we’re basically sisters-in-law, too, so I may have to review annually.”
“Fair.”
We pull away and smile at each other. I’m kind of wondering if I can run upstairs quickly and tease the paper open so I can peek before I give it to Harry tonight. “And before you think of cheating, there’s three layers of tissue paper as well as the wrapping,” Nel says with pursed lips.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say haughtily, turning on my heel and joining everyone on the lounge to the sound of her laughter behind me.
When the boys join us after they’ve tidied up, Lucas and Oscar look at the huge pile of presents under the tree that everyone has added to the heap. Freddie and Margot are alsolooking a little too closely at all the goodies waiting to be ripped open and enjoyed. I’m just about to suggest a game to distract them when Harry swoops me up from the armchair I’m sitting on. I squeal at the sudden movement, clinging around his neck for the second time this morning. He settles back in the seat with me neatly on his lap and I look up to see everyone looking at us with various levels of amusement.
Jake leans in to whisper something in Nel’s ear and her eyes go wide, her mouth dropping open as she looks at us.Bastard.He looks back at me with a mischievous grin as I send daggers his way with my eyes. This only seems to make him laugh. Harry’s hands stroke over my legs, my hip, and come to my stomach. I flinch, unable to hide the anxiety at him feeling what I now have that wasn’t there before. He notices, of course, and splays his fingers so his hand covers my abdomen, pulling me closer to him and kissing my shoulder all too tenderly. I look over that shoulder into the deepest depths of his seafoam-green eyes and the love that swims in them.
You’re beautiful, he tells me without words.
I’m scared, I admit.
His hand comes up to cup my jaw and gently eases my face to his, taking my lips in a painfully sweet kiss. Everything that isn’t us melts away, the chatter and laughter of our friends and family fades into nothingness as Harry rests his forehead against mine.
You’re perfect.
