Page 73 of Merry Kissmas

Tessa walks in, freshly showered and appearing as though she’s ready to go somewhere.She spots Brynn at the counter.“Hey, remember I was telling you about that marketing rundown for the bakery business?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I talked to Ava this morning, and she wants to go through with it.Can you get something together when we get back?”

Tre comes over and kisses his wife.“You look beautiful.”

“It’s what happens when you get to sleep in and take more than a minute shower.Thank you.”She kisses him back.

Brynn pushes Tre.“Take your mushy stuff somewhere else.”

“I figured you’d be more accommodating since you’ll be doing mushy stuff too now.”Tre sticks out his tongue and takes his coffee to the table, releasing a huge yawn.

“So?”Tessa asks, turning the conversation back to the marketing for her bakery.

“Yeah.For sure.And we have Pierce too.I’m sure he can help.”

Tessa looks at me.“Okay.Perfect.”She slides off the stool.“Kenzie and I are going shopping.Are you sure you don’t mind babysitting, Gwen?We can bring the kids with us.”

“And get nothing accomplished?Go have a girls’ day.”Gwen waves them off.

“Do you want to go?”I whisper to Brynn, not wanting her to turn down an invitation just to spend time with me.

“I politely declined their invitation because I’d rather shop with you.”

“Me too.”I walk around the counter and kiss her temple.

“K.I.S.S.I.N.G—”

“Carter, stop,” Abe says.

Carter acts exasperated that he’s being told no.“This is too good not to make jokes.”

“You’re not twelve,” Abe says.

Gwen and I put out the food, and everyone sits around the table, eating breakfast.

Afterward, Brynn and I go back to the villa, shower, and get ready to go shopping.We call an Uber, so the rental SUV is available for everyone else.The guys are going to the ski hill, and Gwen and Abe need a car just in case something happens.

I link my hand with Brynn’s in the back of the Uber.She smiles at me, and the feeling of having her with me like this again settles into my chest.

We’re dropped off downtown near the small shops, and the entire street is decorated in a holiday theme.It’s festive, and this is the first time since I was young that the red, white, and green decor makes me cheerful.I was always so indifferent to it after my parents passed away.

As an adult, I’d go to my aunt and uncle’s or some other distant relative’s house for Christmas dinner, where most would ask about my job, if I had a girl, and other superficial level questions.

It’s different with the Russells.They know each other so well.So much so that it’s scary at times.They’re all so invested in each other’s lives and happiness and well-being.Sure, Andrew clearly cares about me, but this is next level.

“It’s so pretty, right?Want to snap a picture together?”Brynn pulls out her phone.

“Sure.”

“Good, I have to show off the man in my life.”She leans into my chest.

I grab the phone from her hand, snapping the picture of the two of us with a winter wonderland in the background.She really amazes me.After giving me the cold shoulder and pushing me away, as soon as she decided to give me a chance, she’s all in.Her blind trust is inspiring.

“So, what are we shopping for?”she asks as I place my hand in hers to lead us down the walkway.

“I have to get your family some gifts.I didn’t have a chance to shop in New York.I went from the interview right to Andrew and Kenzie’s.”

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