“Thank you,” I say, with zero shame.
“How’d it feel telling the parents and grandfathers?” Drew asks.
Jordan shifts on the bench. “It was a little nerve racking, but it’s good to have it out in the open.”
“You were very matter-of-fact about it,” Nina says.
“I was trying to be clear.”
“You were sweating,” Reed adds.
Jordan points at him. “The dining room was overly warm from all your hot air.”
“It was seventy degrees,” Drew chimes in. “And you were sweating.”
Jordan mutters something that sounds suspiciously like “I hate you all,” but he’s smiling. Feeling my gaze on him, he turns his head and hits me with the full force of his brown eyes. He squeezes my thigh, his thumb brushing slow circles that send a warm buzz spiraling through me.
“Stop being so hot,” I whisper.
He lifts an eyebrow. “What am I doing?”
“Breathing. Existing.” There isn’t a single moment he’s not attractive to me. Even when I was irritated with him, I always had a soft spot for him. Now he’s taken over my whole heart.
Willow clears her throat loudly. “Okay, enough, you two. My black heart can’t take watching anymore.”
“Yeah, no lovey-dovey shit allowed within ten feet of me,” Reed says.
“You’re three feet away,” I remind him.
He immediately scoots farther down the bench. “And I’m moving.” He nearly slides off the end, but Willow shoves him back.
“Sit your ass back down before you fall into the flames.”
Reed eyes the fire. “Would that improve my ass? I’m asking for research purposes.”
“No,” Drew says. “Besides, Willow already declared me the winner.”
Willow raises her mug toward Drew. “The buns don’t lie.”
Jordan’s breath warms my ear. “For the record, you have the best ass here.”
I inhale sharply. Nina glances over and raises a single brow. I bite my lip, trying and failing to hide a smile.
“You can’t say things like that in public,” I whisper back.
He smirks. “We’re in my brother’s backyard.”
“Even worse,” I hiss. “Family.”
He chuckles under his breath. “Fair point.”
Eventually Nina herds us inside the house to exchange gifts. Drew plays Santa, handing out packages until wrapping paper is flying everywhere.
“Aww, Ginger, I love this,” Nina says, lifting the ornament that says “Our First Christmas Together.”
I smile. “I couldn’t resist.”
Willow eyes Reed. “So where’s this amazing gift you promised me?”
