Page 100 of Perfectly Wedded

“Die Hardis the best Christmas movie ever!” Leo shouts from the hallway where he’s trying to figure out who our mystery guest is.

“Die Hardis not a Christmas movie,” Tate fires back.

“It has Christmas in it—that makes it a Christmas movie,” Leo argues.

Dad chuckles, then looks at me, and I offer him a smile that says I’m glad he’s here. I’m working on feeling excited about having him in my life again, rather than being nervous about what the future might hold. This is only his second visit since the wedding, and we’re still figuring out how to be a family again. He’s not a completely different person, but it seems like he’s trying. We all are.

There’s a thud in the hallway as Leo shouts a muffled “What in the...” before I realize what’shappened.

“Drop a suitcase on your foot?” I ask, lining one of Granny’s Christmas trays with the fresh bread knots.

Vale laughs, then wraps an arm around my waist, tugging me closer. “He deserves it for being a Grinch during our holiday party.”

Leo limps into the kitchen, his brow knitted in frustration. “Who’s responsible for the pink suitcases? I’m pretty sure the small one is packed with bricks.”

I hand Vale the tray before turning to Leo. “I’ll give you three hints. She’s prettier than you, skates well, and her apartment has water everywhere.”

Leo huffs out a frustrated growl, his eyes pure fire. “It’s Victoria’s stuff, isn’t it? Please tell me she’s making a donation to the needy and not staying here.”

“Oh she’s staying,” I confirm. “And not just for one night.”

“You can’t let her stay here,” he argues.

“Why not?” Vale asks, still holding the tray of Christmas rolls while wearing Granny’s Christmas apron that looks adorably out of place on his stellar body.

“Because she’s . . .” Leo searches for the word.

“Annoyingly pretty?” I ask.

“Inconveniently immune to your charms?” Vale adds.

“I was going to say unpleasant,” Leo corrects us.

“Maybe you should try being nice to her,” Vale suggests, as he steals one of the Christmas knots, inhaling it before I can swat his hand away.

“I have tried, but she’s impossible.”

“And you’re so easy to live with?” I arch an eyebrow.

He doesn’t deny this, but he can’t stand that he’s met his match—fire colliding with fire.

“You’ll survive,” I tell Leo unsympathetically. “Her pipes burst in her apartment due to the cold snap. She got the water turned off, but it’s a disaster. And with it being the holidays, she has to wait for someone to fix the damage. In thisweather, I’m not turning down someone who needs our help over the holidays.”

He drags a hand through his hair and exhales loudly. “Well, she’s not staying upstairs... or using my bathroom. The last thing I need is her bath gel hoarding space in my shower.”

“You don’t want to smell like Japanese cherry blossoms?” I ask with a smirk.

Vale leans against the counter. “My old room is the only one we have, unless you want to volunteer yours?”

He scoffs. “I’d rather sleep next to Tate before I give that woman anything of mine. As long as she’s here, I’m going to lock myself in my room. Pretend she doesn’t exist.”

“Let me know how that works out for you,” Vale says with a wink. “By the way, she’s coming to the party any minute.”

His eyebrows fly up. “Tonight?”

“Rourke invited her.” I point my spatula at him. “Which means you need to be nice.”

Leo smirks. “During the holidays, there are only two choices—naughty or nice. And I think we both know which one I’m leaning toward.”

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