Page 92 of The Very Naughty List

“Wow, Nick.” He chuckles. “If you ever get sick of being a firefighter, I could see pastry chef as a viable alternative career.”

“Let me see.” Hailey leans over, and her jaw drops. She spins the tray around to give Iris a better look. “See that? Isn’t it so pretty?”

Iris’s eyes get big. “Iloveit. Uncle Nick, you’re so good at this!”

Even though it’s just a dumb cookie, I feel a flush of pride in my chest, and when Hailey looks up at me, she gives me a secret little smile.

“All right,” I announce, stepping back and clearing my throat. “We should get these in the oven now so they have time to cook before we have to head to the parade.”

“Good thinking.” Hailey nods. “Iris, do you want to help me?”

Iris hops off the stool and traipses over to the oven with Hailey, who makes sure the exuberant little girl stands well clear before she opens the oven door. Hailey explains to her how the heat will make the sugar crystals melt a bit, and I gaze at them as Sebastian and Reid start filling up the sink and dumping used cookie cutters in to clean them. I should help too, but I can’t seem to move.

I can’t look away.

Normally, I like to keep things well-organized and under control. I don’t like flying by the seat of my pants like Sebastian does or putting myself out there like Reid. But with Hailey, I feel like I’m drawn to her unbridled desire to just live life with everything she’s got.

I always had a crush on theideaof her when we were younger, and I never told anyone about my secret obsession with her. But even though I watched her back then too, always aware of her anytime we were in a room together, I never got a chance to experience this side of Hailey. The adult, impassioned, and unequivocally gorgeous version of the girl that I secretly held a torch for all those years ago.

But this? The real thing? This messy, lively woman making cookies with Iris and filling the house with joy and moving comfortably around our space as if she belongs here? This iseven better. The real Hailey Bennett is so much better than the version of her that I thought I already adored.

I don’t even realize that I’m lost in thought and have been staring at Hailey until Sebastian walks up beside me and nudges my shoulder. I jerk a little in surprise, and when I glance over at him, he smirks.

“I know,” he says in a low voice.

Almost at the same time, we both turn our heads to look back at Hailey, and a sudden realization falls over me, as quick and certain as dusk coating the evening sky.

I’m not the only one who feels this way.

I don’t know if either of my brothers used to pine over Hailey the way I did, but I can tell they’re both fucking enamored with her now.

Reid turns to watch her too, crouched in front of the oven with Iris as they watch the cookies slowly start to puff up, and she glances over at us, probably feeling the weight of our gazes on her.

“What?” She frowns, swiping at her face and accidentally leaving a streak of flour on her forehead. “Do I have something on my face?”

“Nowyou do.” Reid chuckles, standing up and gesturing for her to join him at the sink. “Come here. I’ll get it.”

He dusts the flour off her forehead, and we finish cleaning up while the cookies bake. By the time they’re done, we have to hurry out of the house to make it to the parade on time. We have to get there early, since we’re going to be on a float—something I still can’t quite believe I agreed to.

The annual Christmas parade is a big event in Chestnut Hill. A lot of people look forward to it every winter, dressing up and gathering by the side of the road to watch the procession go by.

My brothers and I rarely go though, and we’vedefinitelynever volunteered to ride on a float.

“Are you sure we can’t back out of this?” Reid grumbles as we make our way to the coffee shop where we promised to meet up with Addison to deliver Iris. “I think maybe running around in the snow the other day gave me a cold.”

Hailey calls his bluff immediately. “Oh no, are you getting sick?” She gives an exaggerated sigh. “I guess that means you won’t be able to join the rest of us in anyactivitiesfor a few days. Bummer.”

Reid picks up on her insinuation and changes his tune. “Nah, I’ll be fine.”

Sebastian chuckles, punching him in the arm.

Addison is waiting for us outside Deja Brew, and she waves as we approach. She’s got a few bags with her, which means her Christmas shopping must have been successful.

“How’d it go?” she asks, and Iris beams.

“I madesooomany cookies.”

“And ate so many too, I bet.” Addison chuckles, shifting her gaze from her daughter to us. Her gaze flicks over Hailey where she stands between Reid and Sebastian, a look of curiosity crossing her face, but she doesn’t comment. Instead, she just gives us all hugs, thanking us again.

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