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“Lies.” Garrett settles back in what seems like a nonchalant pose, but what I know from watching him spar with Barrow, is actually a fighting stance.
“Boys,” Barrow growls.
“Oh, loosen up Jude.” Garrett punches him lightly in the shoulder.
Jude grabs Garrett’s wrist and tries to get him into some sort of hold, but Garrett spins. Jude counters by dropping and kicking out to trip Garrett.
Barrow grabs both of them by the backs of their sweaters. “Guys, take it outside!”
I point to the tree with the now-wobbling ornaments. “If you knock over Aunt Clover’s Christmas tree, she might have Charles wipe both of you off the map.”
That seems to bring them back to reality.
“Come on, pansy-ass, let’s go see if Leonard’s hungry.” Jude hooks his arm around Garrett’s neck, and they head off toward the courtyard.
I shake my head. “Boys.”
Barrow shrugs. “That’s how they are. Fighting one minute, best friends the next.”
“Well, it doesn’t help that they’re all trained to do damage.”
“That’s what makes parenting fun.” Barrow pulls me into his arms and sinks onto the big couch in the living room. “Settle in, beautiful.”
“I should go wrap presents,” I whisper. “Now, while the kids are busy.”
“You aren’t going anywhere.” He arranges me at the end of the couch by the fire.
His manhandling ways still make me hot.
“You’re giving me that look.” He smiles and sits at my feet, then draws them into his lap.
“What look?” I moan as he starts rubbing my arches.
“This was supposed to be a PG foot rub, but if you keep making those sounds …” He trails off and licks his lips.
“I can’t help it.” I lean back and just enjoy. I enjoy Barrow, the tree, our kids, and the friends that are all around us, making this lodge a home.
“Vivian really is a badass.” Barrow says thoughtfully as the fire crackles behind me.
“She’s going to break hearts.” I nod. “And bones.”
“I just hope none of them are Garrett’s.” He sighs.
I doze off with him rubbing my feet, the scent of Aurora’s famous cake in the oven, and the sounds of children all through the house. This lodge is magical, always has been.
Christmas 20 Years Later
Daphne
“I still can’t believe we got stranded in the snow and rescued by mountain men. I mean, what were we living in, a Hallmark movie?” Aurora tucks a lock of hair behind her ear as she stirs her icing.
“Well, we thought they were mountain men. Turns out they were actually … Well, you know.” Bells draws her thumb across her throat dramatically.
“Trained killers.” Clover nods.
“With delicious bodies and filthy minds,” Aurora sighs.
“And a mafia god who I’mstillobsessed with.” I rest my chin on my hands.
