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Midnight and Mistletoe

Page 125

by Ana Ashley

“Okay.”

I glance up.

Fox is leaning against the wall by the snack table with his arms crossed and a bottle of water in his hand, watching us.

He looks away when he catches my eye, takes a sip of water, and sets the bottle down.

Then he peels his shirt off.

Oh, come on. Warn a guy.

The sweat-soaked shirt clears his head and he drops it in the laundry bin by the couch before snagging a white towel to wipe the sweat off his ridiculously fit torso. He then grabs a clean shirt from the folded stack. It’s unfair how the man putting a T-shirt on can be sexier than him taking it off.

“Uncle Fi,” Kay says, grabbing my attention back.

“Sorry, sweetheart. What?”

“I don’t want to go to bed.”

“That’s okay, pumpkin. I’m sure Daddy and Pauline will let you stay up all night.”

“Yay!” This is followed by a yawn. I catch Pauline chuckling in the corner. Yeah, this little girl is going to be out very soon.

Around the room, the guys are also changing. I’ve been to these gigs often enough that I know they still need to do some press stuff before they go, especially since this is the last US date before the European tour.

“Guys,” Stone says, “you know I love the press. They always make me look good on camera, but if I don’t have dinner I am going to become a very unpleasant version of myself.”

“Fifteen minutes,” Nikko says without looking up. “Two questions each, one photo, then we’re out. The hotel gave us a private room, and they’re keeping the kitchen open for you. They’ll be ready when we arrive.”

Mik crosses to me and holds his arms out for Kay.

“Come here, monster. Dad time.”

Kay whines and burrows into my neck.

“No. I stay with Uncle Fi.”

“Uncle Fi is her favorite,” Stone says. “This is now a fact. Someone put it on the tour merch.”

Mik gives me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Finn.”

“Don’t be. I’ve got her. Look, I can take her back to the hotel with Pauline. I’ll get her ready for bed. You guys do the press thing, and I’ll meet you after.”

Mik’s whole face relaxes. “Thank you, man.”

“She’s my favorite girl in the entire world. Trust me, this isn’t a hardship.”

I turn to my brother. “That okay with you?”

“Yeah. Just don’t lose the four-year-old.”

“I’ll try.”

I shift Kay’s weight higher on my hip. She’s already half-asleep. Pauline appears at my side with Kay’s little coat and stuffed rabbit in one hand and Kay’s bag over the other shoulder. She gives me a small, grateful smile.

I help her get Kay’s coat on and start toward the door.

Fox is beside me before I’ve taken three steps.