Page 31 of Merry Kissmas

The conversation continues as they all talk about plans and when to hit the slopes.

Mom pulls out the ingredients for pancakes, eggs, and bacon.She’s obviously going to make a big breakfast.

Pierce goes to the coffee pot at the beverage station, takes two mugs, and pours coffee, then goes about doctoring them.“Gwen, I’d be happy to make breakfast,” he says, sliding a cup my way.

Mom watches him, trying to hide her smile.

I stare at the cup, and my breath hitches.Pierce doesn’t say anything.He doesn’t remark about the fact that he made it just how I take it.That six years have passed, and he still remembers I like a little bit of cream… and cinnamon, ever since he introduced me to it.

Mom bends forward over the island, staring into my cup.She falls back onto her heels and raises her eyebrows.“Is that the English way of drinking coffee?”

“The cinnamon?”he asks before sipping his cup.

“I was surprised when Brynn returned from London insisting she couldn’t drink coffee without cinnamon in it.”She leans her hip on the counter.“I mean, people here drink it too, but is it more common there?”

“I don’t think so.”

“But you drink it with cinnamon too?”my mom asks.

“Cinnamon?I’ve never tried it like that.”Kenzie comes over and looks into my cup.“You both take your coffee the same way?”

Kenzie glances at Tessa, and they exchange a look.

“It’s fairly common.They have cinnamon available in all the cafés for a reason.”I roll my eyes, sipping my coffee that somehow tastes better since he made it.

“I don’t know anyone else who does that, do you, Tessa?”Kenzie asks.

I grind my teeth together.

“Nope.”Tessa shakes her head, both of them looking at me.

“I do.My boss drinks it that way,” Faith says.“And she’s really picky about the brand.”

Tessa and Kenzie glance in her direction as though she doesn’t get what they’re saying.

“It’s very sweet and kind of like kismet that you both drink it the same way, but my question is how does Pierce know you like cinnamon in your coffee?”Mom asks.

My gut twists.

The room quiets.Even Nolan and Ryah stop babbling to one another.

I glare at Pierce because he better fix this.I am not interested in spending my entire holiday with my family in setup mode.

“I can do the pancakes,” Pierce says, dodging the question.

Thankfully, Ryah takes it upon herself to scream at that exact moment, and everyone turns back to them to see what the problem is.But I know my family.These questions aren’t going to go away until they get the answers they want.

ChapterThirteen

Pierce

She thinks I don’t see the way she looks at me, but I keep catching glimpses when she thinks I’m not looking.

I took a chance on her coffee, hoping like hell she didn’t strip cinnamon from her coffee because of me.Gwen confirmed it though—Brynn has drunk cinnamon in her coffee ever since she got back from London.

Everyone has eaten, and I really want to go shower, but Gwen and Abe stop Carter and Faith when they’re about to leave, saying we have business to attend to.I’m not sure what that means, but all three of their biological kids groan, then sigh dramatically.Kenzie, however, straightens in her chair and claps.

Andrew comes alongside me, holding his coffee mug.“Get ready for this.”

---