Page 40 of Merry Kissmas

I’m pretty sure when it comes to overprotective brothers, Tre is the bigger concern.But Carter probably thinks I’m doing this to get Kacey to go find her family and to not let her think she has a shot with me.

“Pierce,” Brynn says, but she doesn’t move off my lap.

“I’m sorry,” Kacey says, and the tension in Brynn’s body lessens with the vulnerable tone in Kacey’s voice.“I didn’t mean… I’m just lonely.You know, it’s the holidays, and it’s like a big billboard-sized reminder that you don’t have someone special to share it with.And…”

“We get it, Kacey.”Faith smiles at her.

“How about I loan you Pierce for a little bit while I go snowboarding?”Brynn jumps off my lap, but I follow her, reaching for my wallet and tossing down money.

“I’m going to join you, honey.I missed you this morning.”

“Oh, sweetie, you’ll never keep up with me.”She gives me a saccharine smile.

I turn to Kacey.“She’s kind of competitive.”

“Kind of?Just wait.”Carter rolls his eyes.

“See you guys later.”I wave, but Brynn is already halfway through the lodge by the time I catch up to her.

“You owe me,” she says once we’re outside.

“For what?”

“For getting you out of an afternoon with Kacey.”

“Are you sure you didn’t enjoy it a little bit?”

She crosses her arms.“Enjoy what?”

“You were a little bit jealous.”I put my fingers in the air with some space between my thumb and forefinger.

“Please.”She pretends to laugh as if it’s an absurd idea.

“Come on.Tell me.”

Her fingers wrap around mine, and she shrinks the open space, pressing my thumb and finger closer together.“Maybe that amount.”

“I knew it.”

She turns and walks toward the slopes.

I laugh, following her.I’m thankful I read that one right, otherwise it would have been terribly embarrassing.

She’s warming up to me, and that’s all I need.

ChapterSixteen

Pierce

After we all finish dinner, and Nolan and Ryah are in their pajamas and ready for bed, the Russells start the competition.

“Everyone has a tree in their villa.And a box of craft supplies.You have a half hour to figure out what your plan is, and two hours to execute and decorate your trees.Themes are encouraged.At two hours, pictures will be taken and posted for people to vote.”Gwen is so hyped up, I’m surprised she doesn’t have a whistle and stopwatch.

“Who is voting?”I ask, and everyone laughs.

“Mom’s Facebook friends,” Tre says.

“Pretty much the whole town of Climax Cove,” Carter adds.

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