“It’swaypast time for you to settle down. You know that, right?” A mischievous smile stretched across her full lips. “And give Eli somecousinsto play with.”
Micah reached out and gently patted her belly. “He’s got a playmate on the way.”
“It’s going to be a while before this one is big enough to play with him,” she pointed out. “And by then, he probably won’t want his little brother or sister tagging along after him.”
“He has friends,” Micah countered.
“But not anycousins.”Wendy grinned. “Everyone needs cousins…and another uncle…”
Micah laughed softly. “You two are relentless.” As soon as Nick and Wendy tied the knot, they’d immediately made it their mission to get Micah hitched as well. Five years and one-and-a-half kids into their marriage—the mission continued.
“You know it, sweetie.” Wendy winked and kissed Nick, pressing against him. Micah envied them, he couldn’t deny it. Their marriage, their friendship, their unshakeable love—and their growing family. He wanted all the same things more than he admitted to them. He just didn’t know how to acquire what they had. Settling for anything less than the real thing wasn’t an option. And the real thing didn’t seem to be out there.
How would you know? You don’t give it a chance to find you.
“I appreciate the effort,” Micah offered with a sincere smile, “but maybe I’m just not meant to be a family man.”
“What a bunch of poo-poo,” Nick chided. Micah chuckled—the man had greatly adjusted his speech since Eli came along. Not that Nick had much of a foul mouth before then, but what profanity he’d once used had been censored by Wendy and his own conscience as a parent.
“Ditto.” Wendy detached from Nick and stepped over to Micah, linking arms with him. “By the way, a friend of ours has this friend…”
Micah ducked his head and grinned. “Stop right there.”
“Oh, come on, Micah. He’s a nice guy, attractive, employed.” She wriggled her eyebrows. “Kind of sexy from what I hear.” She patted his arm. “And look at you—this is too much hot man flesh to waste. You’re the classic tall, dark, and handsome dreamboat that fantasies are made of. You are depriving some lucky man of all thisfantasticness.That isn’t nice or fair.”
He gazed down at her, affection warming his eyes. He couldn’t love her more if she were his flesh and blood sister. “Youreallywant Eli to have a cousin, don’t you?” he chuckled.
“Yes,” she admitted and laughed lightly. “But it isn’t just about that.” Her tone turned sincere. “You truly are a wonderful man, Micah. You have a beautiful soul and a heart of gold. You were created far too special not to be meant for another special someone. But if you don’t open yourself up, you might miss out on him.” She squeezed his arm and smiled. “Let us set you up on a date. If you say yes…” her eyes twinkled. “…I might just let you opentwopresents tonight.”
Micah sighed and kissed Wendy on top of the head. “That’s a tempting offer, but…”
“No buts,” Wendy insisted.
“Well, maybe onebutt…if he says yes.” Nick grinned, his implication written across his face. “And like she said, from what we hear…it’s asexybutt.”
Micah shook his head slowly, emitting a soft laugh. “Again,tempting.Maybe next Christmas I’ll let you fix me up.”
“Hopefully by then,” Wendy said, “we won’t need to.”
Micah had his doubts that he would be settled down by then—not that the thought if it didn’t appeal to him. But he was almost thirty and it hadn’t happened yet. Hadn’t even come close to happening. He didn’t anticipate much of anything changing in the upcoming year.
∞∞∞
“Can we open them now? Can we! Can we!” Eli hopped up and down beside Wendy. “Please-please-please!” He went skating across the kitchen floor, the feet of his pajamas slick on the tile.
“In a minute,” Wendy promised and picked up the meat thermometer. “Let me check on dinner. We don’t want a dry, overcooked roast, do we?”
“No.” Eli scooted back her way and started hopping again.
From the kitchen doorway, Micah smiled at the boy’s enthusiasm.Enviedit, to be honest.
“Come on, hop-a-long.” Nick scooped Eli into his arms. “Let’s not bug mom or she might not let us openanypresents.” He winked at his wife as she cast him a grateful smile. “How about we go back into the living room and convince your Uncle Micah he needs a boyfriend for Christmas.”
“Hey,” Micah scowled. “No ganging up on me. I date…sometimes.”
Nick cast him a doubtful look as the three of them ventured into the other room. “When was your last date?” Nick set Eli down and the boy scurried over to the Christmas tree.
Micah scratched his temple, a sheepish grin forming. “A little while back.”
