Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Kit was waiting for me by the tree in the living room, and he was so fucking cute I couldn’t describe it. He was going all out with nice pants, shoes he’d shined himself, white shirt, suspenders, and a dark green bow tie.
“Daddy said we’re gonna take a picture by the tree,” he told me. He bobbed his head to the Christmas music playing. “He’s getting the stand thingy for the camera.”
“Copy that.” I left the little rope boxes on the coffee table before I joined him. “Our dashin’ baby boy. You look exquisite.” I adjusted his bow tie so it sat straight.
He beamed up at me. “So do you, Daddy. Oh! You have your Texas tie on!” That was his name for a bolo tie. “Lucas really loves it when we dress up.”
I tapped his nose. “That’s why we do it.” Mostly, anyway. Had it not been for Luke, I would’ve been satisfied with slacks and one of my nicer pullovers. I wasn’t a fan of button-downs unless they came in flannel. But for Luke, I could suck it up with a black shirt and Luke-approved leather shoes. “It’s also why we drink.”
The boy cracked up hard. “Oh yeah! Can I also get tipsy tonight?”
“Absolutely. I start slingin’ cocktails in…” I checked my watch. An hour till five. “One hour.”
But first, pictures. Luke joined us with his camera and tripod, lookin’ fine as fuck too. He had no issues donning suits.
“My, my, look at you two.” He smiled, satisfied, and set up the camera.
I folded up the sleeves of my shirt and did a quick scan of the living room and dining room. All we had left was the food that needed to be reheated. Rosa had left strict instructions before she’d gone home.
“By the way, will I have time to meet up with Vincent before Christmas?” Kit wondered. “He invited me over to check out his new office, and then we wanna do lunch.”
“Of course, sweetheart. That sounds fun,” Luke replied.
I inclined my head. “You don’t have anythin’ planned tomorrow or the day after.”
“Suh-weet! I’ll text him later. I gotta pick up candy too,” Kit said. “Just because he’s the head of security now does not mean he won’t need lollipops and Reese’s.”
I grinned and shook my head. Maybe Vincent had enjoyed being Kit’s overprotective driver before, but the man was thriving at Kit’s old man’s corporation now. Plus, he and Kit had a much better relationship, and it was fun watching Kit mothering Vincent a little, making sure the man “got enough sugar.”
“All right, my loves.” Luke was finally ready. “Three pictures in three-second intervals for sixty seconds.”
Jesus. “What happened to two shots?”
“Humor me,” he said. “In front of the tree, everyone. Kit, you’ll stand in front of Daddy and me. Alexa, play ‘The Christmas Song’ by Thomas Rhett. Colt, no funny business. I truly want a nice family photo out of this.”
“Yes, sir—no bunny ears behind Kit’s back,” I confirmed.
Kit swung an incredulous look my way, before he narrowed his eyes accusingly.
“I said I wouldn’t,” I insisted.
“Yeah, but I don’t believe you!”
“That ain’t my problem, son,” I laughed. “Now, turn around. Let’s get these pictures for Daddy so he’s happy all night.”
He huffed but obeyed, and I threw an arm around Luke’s shoulders and kissed his cheek by the first sound of the shutter.
For several seconds, everything went off without a hitch. I was certain Luke was getting his family photo. We smiled for the camera; we showed all the lovey-dovey behavior we had in us, and we complied with every position change Luke demanded. But, then, he’d chosen to spend the rest of his life with a Sadist and a brat. That was his informed decision.
In my defense, Kit started it.
“Alexa, play ‘Lit This Year’ by Florida Georgia Line!” he called.
“Yee-haw.” I nudged Luke and grinned when he sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Aw, come on, darlin’. We gotta have some fun too, don’t we?” I couldn’t stand his li’l scowl, even less so when Kit began twerking for the camera, so I started moving to the beat and pulled Luke in for a quick twirl. “Wipe that frown off your face and dance with me.”
“Yee-haw!” Kit echoed. “We’re gonna have so much fun tonight! And my Daddies are gonna kiss all the other Daddies. They promised!”
Had we? I had no recollection of that.
I rumbled a chuckle and nipped playfully at Luke’s jaw. He was thawing out—he couldn’t help himself. I bobbed my head and sang about Santa getting lit this year, which finally coaxed a sexy grin onto his face.
“Hey, beautiful.” I brushed my lips to his. “You know this is how we’ll get the best pictures, yeah?”
He offered another sigh, but this one wasn’t revealing how insufferable he found us. “Perhaps you’re right.”