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“Trisha wins,” Paris declared with a grin as I made my grand entrance. “Sorry, little man. The snowman is cute, but her pajamas rock.”
I gave them all a playful twirl, showing off the reindeer playing various sports on my pajamas. “See? Basketball, baseball, football...” I caught Patrick’s eye. “Both kinds of football,” I added with a wink.
Patrick laughed, giving me this approving nod. “She’s quicker on the uptake than you lot,” he said to his family, his smile easy and warm.
Then Blaze walked in, and I swear, my heart must’ve skipped a beat or two. “Morning,” I managed, feeling this goofy smile spread across my face. “Merry Christmas.”
He smiled, returned the greeting, and gestured to the table laden with food. “Let’s eat before this lot clears it out.”
Xander, piling his plate with scrambled eggs, chimed in. “Like we’d ever let that happen. Mom cooks for an army.”
“Don’t pretend that you won’t be sneaking down here at midnight to finish off the bacon,” Paris pointed a fork at him.
“One time!” he protested. “I only did that one time.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“It was Sean all those other times.”
“Sean is Xander’s identical twin,” Paris explained as I took the seat between her and Blaze. “Half the time, even we can’t tell them apart, and they enjoy using that to their advantage.”
“Like you wouldn’t do the same thing if you had a twin,” Xander said, snatching a piece of bacon from Paris’s plate.
“Mom!”
“Xander McCrae, you stop that,” Theresa scolded, a twinkle in her eye and amusement in her voice. “The next batch is almost ready. Eat your eggs.”
The chitchat flew back and forth, light and easy, and I soaked it all in, happily munching on Theresa’s heavenly cinnamon rolls. Watching and listening to them was like being inside a warm, loving whirlwind. Blaze, especially, seemed different here, more open and relaxed. I couldn’t decide what was more distracting—his infectious laugh or how his t-shirt clung just right.
But then Theresa’s voice cut through the chatter, bringing us back to the present. “Dishes in the dishwasher, everyone. We’ve got more family coming soon.”
Right, more people. This already bustling, lively group was just the tip of the iceberg.
Paris and I retreated to the kitchen. “You good with clothes for today?” she asked, her tone casual but caring.
I nodded. “I am, thanks. And thank you for lending me the dress last night.”
“You’re welcome.” Paris’s smile was warm. “Blaze seemed to like it.”
Heat flooded my face. “Paris, it’s not like–”
“I know,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “You both say you’re not involved. But I see the way you two look at each other. Those aren’t the looks of people who’re just random travel buddies.”
Paris was right; Blaze and I had an undeniable chemistry, even if neither of us dared put a label on it. Back in my room, her words lingered in my mind as I swapped my reindeer pajamas for black jeans and a soft green sweater. I carefully ran my fingers through my curls, trying to tame them into something presentable, then dabbed on just enough makeup to look fresh. I kept telling myself it was all in the spirit of Christmas, not because I wanted to catch Blaze’s eye. But deep down, I knew better.
As I descended the stairs, the sound of the front door opening and the buzz of unfamiliar voices pulled me towards the entrance. A towering man stood, easily over six feet tall, with golden blond hair that seemed to capture the room’s light. He was embracing London warmly, his presence commanding yet gentle. Beside him stood a dark-haired girl with strikingly bright blue eyes, her gaze fixed affectionately on the baby.
Two more figures entered - one woman, exuding a maternal warmth as she hugged Theresa, and a teenage girl, who seemed slightly withdrawn, perhaps unsure of her place in this sprawling family scene.
I knew that feeling all too well.
Before I could process more, Blaze was by my side, his presence instantly comforting. He began making introductions. “This is Alec McCrae, his wife Lumen, and their daughters, Soleil and Evanne.”
My head spun as the house filled with more people and introductions. Some names I recognized from Blaze’s stories, others were new. The McCrae family gathering was like a kaleidoscope of personalities and stories, each one more fascinating than the last.
Xander’s twin, Sean, the motivational speaker with a magnetic presence, walked in, followed by the whisky maker Brody McCrae and his wife, Freedom, alongside their child. Eoin McCrae and his wife, Aline, Freedom’s sister, added to the eclectic mix.
Then there was Blaze’s brother, Fury, arriving alongside Cory McCrae, known for their success in Palo Alto’s financial sector. Cory’s twin brother, Carson McCrae, appeared with his fiancé, Vix Teal. Their names were familiar, especially after Carson’s headline-making fashion show.
