Page 216 of Filthy Rich Santas

“Merry Christmas!” I exclaim, hugging each of them. “Come in, come in!”

“Is Uncle Beckett here?” Oliver asks eagerly, trying to peer around my legs.

Vivian ruffles his hair with a laugh. “I think you meant to say ‘thank you for having us, Auntie Lana,’ isn’t that right?”

He nods enthusiastically, mumbling the required greeting, then races past me to throw himself at Beckett.

Beckett’s face softens in that private way that still gets me every time, and scoops the little boy into his arms for a quick hug. It ends with Beckett dangling my nephew upside down and making him giggle like a maniac.

He sets him down and points him toward the plate of gingerbread cookies I set out earlier as Vivian, James, and I enter the room, their luggage in tow.

All three of my men instantly straighten up, their gazes zeroing in on James as their smiles drop away and they go into protective older brother mode.

I bite back a laugh, exchanging a look with Vivian.

“Oh boy,” she murmurs. “They’re not going to?—”

“So, James,” Beckett rumbles, crossing his arms. “What are your intentions with Vivian?”

James looks startled, and Vivian rolls her eyes.

“Oh lord, they are,” she whispers.

I laugh. “They love you too, you know. You’re family.”

Her cheeks turn pink, but she still puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head at them. “Really, guys? He’s not some teenager picking me up for prom. Back off.”

They grumble, but relax and come over to welcome James with handshakes and smiles just as the doorbell rings again.

“I’ll get it,” I call out, leaving them to get to know Vivian’s new man.

When I open the front door, I’m greeted by Caleb’s broad grin and Grandma Meg’s kind smile. Baldwin yaps excitedly from her arms, his festive hand-knit sweater making him look like a tiny, adorable reindeer.

“Merry Christmas!” I exclaim, pulling Caleb into a bear hug before turning to Meg. “Thank you so much for coming. How was your flight?”

“It was just lovely, dear. I can’t thank you enough for upgrading my ticket to first class.”

“As if we’d let you fly any other way,” I tell her, hugging her tightly after she sets Baldwin down.

He dances around our feet, and I scoop him up, laughing as he showers me with puppy kisses.

I’m happy to see that the guys have quit giving James a hard time when we join the others in the living room. Everyone looks happy and relaxed, the atmosphere warm and inviting and everything I’ve always wished for Christmas to be.

Caleb immediately starts teasing Ryder about his ugly Christmas sweater, while Tristan greets his grandmother warmly and settles her into a plush armchair we all picked out specifically with her visit in mind. Oliver chases after Baldwin excitedly, while Meg accepts a mug of hot chocolate from Beckett with a fond smile.

After we help our guests get settled, I find myself sandwiched between Caleb and Vivian on the couch, and as we chat and laugh together, I’m struck by how different this Christmas feels from any other. Not just because of my men, but because of how close I feel to my siblings now, and how full of happiness and love my home feels for the holiday.

Caleb chuckles, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “I sure didn’t see it coming. But I’ve got to admit, sis, you’ve put together one hell of a family here.”

I look around the room, smiling so widely that my cheeks hurt. The room is filled with laughter, love, and the perfect amount of chaotic energy. Leaning into Caleb’s side, I rest my head on his shoulder as I watch my three fiancés interact with the people who mean the most to me.

“You’re right,” I tell him softly. “I really have.”

As if sensing my gaze, Tristan, Ryder, and Beckett all look up, their eyes finding mine across the room. The love I see reflected there makes my heart expand like a balloon.

Ryder adjusts his flopping Santa hat, Tristan pushes his glasses higher on his nose with a smile, and Beckett taps his heart right over his new ink and mouths, “Merry Christmas.”

I mouth it back as I play with the interlocking rings on my finger, taking a moment to appreciate just how lucky I am.

This is home. This is family. This is where I belong.

And now it’s mine forever.

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