Page 83 of Her Holiday Heartthrobs

“What did you guys do?” When I pull back, I’m damp too. And cold. I shiver as the snow blankets my hair and bare collarbones.

“Penny. Grab your sister’s jacket. Would you?”

“Sure, Dad.”

I turn to peer at him at the side of the porch, plugging something in. Electricity pops behind me, and I spin around. Sixhands keeping me steady as the trees in front of the cabin glow around the giant one in the middle. The perfect Christmas tree with big blue lights and bright white stars that reach the top.

Which one of them climbed that thing?

But in front of the tree is a Santa bag—red velvet lined with white. It’s big and half-full.

“What is all this?” I ask breathlessly. It’s beautiful.

“It’s for you.” Jake squeezes me around the middle, dragging me back against his chest.

Paxton comes running out of the cabin, tumbling down the stairs and straight into the snow. His giggles fill the night sky as he pops up. “Did Santa come early?”

“And for him.” Henry caresses my cheek, those small changes I saw in him—and the massive ones—when he confronted me about Paxton remain in his gaze. “I can’t wait to spoil him.”

“Me too.” Eli reaches around me and smiles. “Penelope.”

“Elijah.” Penny hands him my jacket, and soon, I’m smothered in down and warmth. Jake has me encircled again, like he can’t stand the thought of letting me go.

“Can I open presents now?”

Henry throws Paxton on his shoulders and walks out to the bag. “We have to wait until the morning, Bub. We promised Santa.”

“You promised?”

“Yup. And we can’t break our promises, right? Or Santa might be upset.”

“No upset Santa.”

“That’s right.”

God, my heart is breaking open from too much joy as they go to retrieve the presents together.

The soft rumble of Eli’s voice fills my ear. “I want a lot of those little people, like the one you’ve got there.”

Shivering, it’s not from the cold.

“Me too,” Jake says behind me. “The more the merrier.”

“Alright. Alright. It’s all pretty and romantic, but it’s freezing. So get your rumps inside before someone catches a chill. Namely, my sister.” Penny claps her hands three times, using her ranger voice—or as I knew it first, I’m-older-than-you-and-you’ll-do-as-I-say voice. “Let’s go.”

I laugh, and we’re all ushered inside. Penny has Paxton help her unload the presents, but Dad lingers for just a second.

He points at his three best friends. “You know my policy. It’s not a threat. Don’t make it a reality.”

I can’t help it, I have to ask Dad “So, you’re okay with this?”

He shakes his head but doesn’t seem disappointed. “You don’t think I haven’t noticed how happy you’ve been? Why would I not be okay with that?”

I grin, hug him, and let him retreat to join Penny and Paxton.

The guys lure me toward that back room. “You guys really need some dry clothes. And maybe a hot shower.”

All of their eyes brighten with dirty thoughts and I cross my arms.

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