Page 107

A heartfelt Christmas gift is the least I could do.

"Mom?" I glance up at her, heart racing. "Help."

"Oh, sweetie." She giggles, then quickly strides out of the room. "Jamie? You come down here and take over the gift baskets. Brooke and I are going shopping."

Chapter 40

Brooke

Kieran's leg keeps bouncing as I pull into the driveway of my parents' farm, the gravel crunching under the wheels.

"Why are you nervous?" I ask in a whisper and put my hand on his knee and give it a reassuring squeeze. "You’ve met them, and they adore you."

"The last time I met your parents, I wasn't a content creator on the internet,” he points out with a shaky voice, the bouncing intensifying. I swear his damn knee is shaking the entire car.

"If it's any consolation, my mom doesn't even know the internet well enough to understand what any of that means." I let go of his knee to slide my fingers through his hair and twirl a strand of it around my finger. Even if she knew he hip-thrusts the air half-naked, I’m sure she’d be amused more than anything. "You will be alright. You might get some shit from my brothers, but you have my full permission to give it back as good as you get it."

At least if they get into a fight, I can forget about the deadline I will miss in two days.

"Very reassuring." He sucks in a shaky breath and squares his shoulders.

"And I'll be there the whole time. It will be okay."

It’s scary how I can watch him turn on his fake persona. The one who hides his real emotions behind sarcasm and flirting. Slowly he turns his head to me, features softening for the fraction of a second, the real Kieran shining through.

"Okay." He rubs his palm over his face and takes another deep breath. "Let's do this."

We climb out of the car, and as soon as he's close enough, I lace my fingers with his and pull him close.

Dick gets to hang out with Kylie and Abby today. As much as he'd, without a doubt, enjoy the attention he'd get at this holiday party, Kieran wasn’t comfortable taking him along to such a big event after two days at a busy Christmas market.

"Am I underdressed?" he asks, plucking at his black faux leather jacket, peering at all the people we pass. “Because I feel underdressed.”

"You're fine. The party has no dress code, and I'm wearing an oversized hoodie covered from top to bottom with dog hair for fuck's sake." Okay, maybe I’m a little nervous about him hanging out with my family.

"And you’re rocking it," he declares, kissing the side of my head, then clears his throat as I pull the barn door open. "Well, here goes nothing."

"Kieran!" Mom is the first to spot him. Which is not hard, considering he’s giant, and the barn is only sparsely filled yet. She is in the middle of a conversation with one of our distributors, but quickly excuses herself and approaches us with her arms wide open.

"Gosh, Kieran, it's been too long. How are you?" He lets go of my hand and steps into her arms.

Every muscle in his body tenses. Until he experiences the magic of my mom's hugs. Three seconds in, he slowly relaxes.

"It's good to see you, Emily." By the time she lets him go, even my dad has spotted him. Contrary to Mom, he greets him with a firm handshake and a pat on his shoulder.

"Kieran, you look alright. Happy even, it’s good to see."

"How could I not?" He casts a grin my way, and my cheeks decide to rival the Santa costume Jamie is sporting.

"Attaboy." Dad laughs and clasps Kieran's shoulder again, then lets him go. "That is the correct answer."

Instead of reaching for Kieran’s hand again, I hug his arm to my chest and try to hide my burning cheeks in it.

Evan spots us, but Jamie and Sam are quicker.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kieran." They build themselves up in front of him, arms crossed over their chests and chins lifted. Which is a hilarious image, considering Jamie’s Santa costume and I think Sam’s is supposed to be a reindeer?

Probably fearing the potential conflict of Kieran meeting my brothers again, Mom and Dad excuse themselves to greet more of the arriving guests.