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“Ah, but have you really?” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows. “Come on, it’ll be fun. We can ask Santa for matching ugly Christmas sweaters.”
“Fine,” I relented with a laugh, shaking my head. “But what if I have something better to ask for?”
I slowly drifted my gaze down his body, lowering all the way to the counter, which blocked the finest part of him. The low rumble from his chest, which sounded like a warning and a promise, centered in my core.
“Deal.” He chuckled and turned his attention back to the stove.
Teresa hastened into the kitchen, her arms laden with an assortment of colorful candy decorations. Kensi trailed behind her, her eyes wide with excitement as she took in the sweets. She set some chocolate treats on the counter for Kensi, who hopped onto the stool and began sorting through the goodies.
“Do you need help with those?” I asked Teresa.
“Sure. Thank you.”
I left Kensi with James in the kitchen and joined Teresa in hanging chocolate bonbons all around the Christmas tree.
“Christmas is always a production when my boys are working. And don’t get me started on Hunter and those two girls. He’s on a break with Grace. She’s not here this Christmas, but you’d like her.”
“They seem to follow the chart well.” I nodded to the fireplace where Hunter and Tristan were setting up space for something... I wasn’t sure what it was, but it included a stage, lots of lights and poinsettias, and an enormous red chair, trimmed in gold rope.
“True. If there was no chart, there would be no Christmas.” Her eyes widened, and her smile grew comical.
“And this bonbon tradition?” I asked.
“That comes from our grandparents. When I was young, we hung apples, walnuts, cookies and oranges. Then times got better and one day my grandfather brought home a bag of chocolate bonbons to add to the Christmas tree. It’s been a tradition ever since. To better times.”
We each unwrapped a bonbon and popped them in our mouths. The velvety taste of rum and raisins overpowered the chocolate with an aromatic flavor that lingered on the tongue. It started off sweet, then slowly transitioned into a hint of smokiness from the dark rum, finishing with a slight tartness from the raisins.
“These are delicious.” I left some coco on my tongue to cherish the taste longer. Teresa picked up an oval sweet.
“The chocolate barrels have alcohol. Hang those up high so the kids can’t reach.”
I stepped up on a stool and followed her direction.
“James mentioned he was with someone new, but I didn’t realize it was you,” she said.
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“It’s a good thing. He’s never been lucky in love, and Hunter’s not helping by hiring the escorts.” She carefully spaced out the chocolates hanging on the tree, then moved onto the cookies.
Love?
“Oh, we’re just friends.” I said.
Teresa froze in the middle of lifting her arm and lowered her hands on her hips. She scanned me over from top to bottom and gave me a pointed look.
“Don’t give me that ‘just friends’ talk, Ms. Young. Cindy and Karl Young would call my son a great catch.”.
She caught me off guard.
“You know my parents?” I asked.
She smiled.
“Your father saved my husband’s life. He’s an incredible surgeon.”
“Thank you,” I replied, removing the items from the cart. “He is.”
I didn’t know my dad operated on Mr. Silver, but then again, my father never mentioned his patients.
