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Fuck.She was going to kill me before the day was over.
Me: Behave!
Peyton repliedwith a collection of winking and laughing emojis, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Even under all the pain and trauma, she found the strength to smile. I was in complete awe of her.
Dragging myself out of bed, I made quick work of getting a shower and dressing. I had numerous other messages from Jase, Asher, Avery, and Ashleigh. There was even one from Tash. After texting everyone back, and wolfing down some breakfast, I reluctantly grabbed the bag of gifts stowed by the door and made my way to the Ford’s house.
It had already descended into chaos by the time I arrived.
“Uncle Xander,” Ashleigh opened the door, lit up like a Christmas tree in a garish flashing holiday jumper. “Merry Christmas.” She beamed.
“Merry Christmas, Leigh.” I thrust the bag at her. “I come bearing gifts.”
“Excellent. You may enter then.”
Rolling my eyes, I stepped inside the house, silently ordering my heart to calm the fuck down.
“There he is,” Jase appeared. His holiday jumper wasn’t as awful as Ashleigh’s, but it was still… interesting.
“Nice sweater,” I teased.
“Yeah, well, it seems you didn’t get the memo about the dress code.” He motioned to my plaid shirt.
“I must have missed that one.” My lip twisted with a knowing smirk, and he muttered something under his breath before approaching me.
“Merry Christmas, Xander. We’re glad you’re here.” Jase pulled me in for a guy hug.
“Thanks, you too.”
“Beers are in the refrigerator. Help yourself.”
I gave him an appreciative nod and took off toward the kitchen, spying my brother and Hailee amidst a sea of shredded gift wrap.
He caught my eye. “Xander, get in here and open your—”
“I’ll be right in,” I said and kept walking. Despite the time, I needed a drink first. Something to take the edge off the restless energy zipping through me.
The Ford’s kitchen had been transformed into something out of the holiday spread in Ideal Home magazine. Two tables had been pushed together, enough to seat all fifteen of us. Adorned with holiday centerpieces and coordinating dinnerware. I almost balked at the scene. My nephew Avery was a lucky sonofabitch, choosing to spend the holidays with his fiancée’s family rather than join the festivities with us.
Laughter flitted down the hall, as the kids teased each other about their gifts. I made a beeline for the refrigerator, helping myself to a bottle of beer. Someone approached, and I closed the door, leaning back against the counter, expecting to find my brother or Jase.
I didn’t expect to see Peyton enter the kitchen, dressed in a knee-length black sweater dress that hugged every inch of her curves. My mouth dried instantly as I stood there, gawking at her. I realized then it was peppered with tiny silver-thread snowflakes. Her own interpretation of the dress code apparently.
“Merry Christmas, Xander.” A knowing smile played on her lips as she walked right up to me and moved around me to get to the cabinet above my head. The second her body brushed up against mine, a groan rumbled deep in my chest.
Fuck. Me.
She hadn’t been lying earlier, when she said she would wear something special. I wanted to drag her away from prying eyes and ears and strip her out of the ridiculously tight dress and—
“Whatever you’re thinking,” she whispered. “Stop. Or you’ll get us both into trouble.” Soft laughter coated her words, wrapping around my heart, and my dick, like a fist.
“You look… fuck, Peyton. How the hell am I supposed to survive dinner with you looking like that?”
“Merry Christmas.” Her eyes glittered with amusement and unrestrained lust.
I couldn’t move, entranced by her smile, the scent of that vanilla fucking lip gloss and perfume she loved to wear. But I wasn’t the only one frozen in place. Peyton stared at me with so much intensity, it sucked the air clean from my lungs.
No one had ever looked at me with such lust and longing.
