Page 14 of A Very Daddy Christmas

Sebastian’s face lights up. “You’ve just made a little boy incredibly happy. We actually ran this by Dario before we came over.”

“I cannot thank you enough,” I say, my voice trembling with bottled-up emotions I’ve been struggling with since yesterday. “You’re saving our livelihood here, and a long-standing family business.”

“We’re just as thankful,” Sebastian replies. “You’re helping us in more ways than one, Cora. I think we’ll emerge happier and wealthier out of this arrangement. All of us.” He leans over the counter and takes my hand in his. “Honestly, thank you, for doing this.”

His touch demolishes whatever reservation I had left about this.

“This is really going to piss Orson off,” I chuckle.

“And I can’t wait to hear his head explode when he gets your escrow payment,” Sebastian replies.

Frankly, I’m quite interested and excited to see what Orson has to say. He’s legally obligated to take our escrow payment. And it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be able to secure a better offerso close to the winter holidays. I’m not saying our victory is guaranteed, but dammit, I can almost taste it. Salvation. I see it on the horizon closer than ever before. I can feel its golden warmth on my fingertips.

I’m about to move in with Sebastian, Waylan, and Riggs. I only need to take care of their foster son for a few months. God, I can fully breathe again.

How the hell am I going to keep my head screwed on straight while sharing a home with three insanely hot, former Marines-turned-business-entrepreneurs?

Maybe I didn’t fully think this through.

Too late.

I’m in.

3

Cora

“Istill think you’re nuts to do this, but I love you so much for it,” Eva says as she drops me off outside Sebastian, Waylan, and Riggs’s house. It is huge and beautiful, dominating the entire block of private luxury residences on the northeastern side of Madison. “Oh, wow.”

“Yeah, it really is something else, huh?” I mumble.

“Oh, look at that, they have magnolia trees. I’ll bet you those look pretty in the spring,” Eva gasps, a huge smile upon her face.

“This has to be serendipity, right?” I ask, stealing another glance at the mansion. “I mean, it’s got to be a Christmas miracle. Meeting them. Getting this job offer. All that money…”

“Maybe,” Eva replies. “Even so, it won’t be a done deal until the escrow expires. Three months from the moment we make that two-hundred- and fifty-thousand-dollar transfer, we’re going to be on the edge of our seats.”

“At least we’ll be closer to victory than we were a couple of days ago, right?”

“Victory,” she laughs bitterly. “What a pompous word.”

“But it would be a victory. Our parents wanted to buy the building for us, but they couldn’t. And here we are, one step closer to fulfilling that dream. Our kids are going to inherit the bakery someday and keep the family legacy going.”

I blink back tears as Eva reaches over and hugs me. “You’re a good soul, Cora. And these guys are a godsend doing this for us.”

“Well, they get their benefits out of it, too. Someone to look after Dario while they get their big fat contract. It’s a win-win.”

“And they also get to piss Orson St. James off.” My sister lets out a satisfied cackle. “My God, I can’t wait ‘til he’s out of our lives.”

“The hypocrite,” I shake my head slowly. “Prances around town, pretending to be a godly man, a charitable man, but he sure enjoyed giving us a two-month notice just before the Christmas holiday.”

“I’m telling you, the universe works in mysterious ways.” Eva pauses as the front door opens, and Sebastian, Waylan, and Riggs come out to greet us. “Plus, all three are so easy on the eyes. You should try to have a little fun while you’re here.”

“Eva Levine-Bronx, get your mind out of the gutter! You’re a married woman and a mother of two!” I faux gasp in outrage. “Have you no shame?”

“You’re not married!” she laughs. “Have at it, sister. You’re young. Who knows, one of them might even make an honest woman out of you.”

I can’t exactly tell her I’ve got the hots for all three.

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