Page 55 of Tangled up in You

"You have more of Jake in you than you’d like to admit."

"I don’t think so. But let’s go get him."

"What’s going on," Josh all but whispered as they made the short trek to Jake’s room. "And what are you wearing. I thought you were…"

Jonah knew exactly where Josh was going with that line of thought.

"We did." He smiled at that. "And I’m wearing this because we need to take care of something."

"In the middle of the night?" Josh’s incredulous question came at him from behind as he opened Jake’s door.

"Yes," he replied, just as the lamp beside Jake’s bed came on, light flooding the room and pooling over his scowling brother sitting up in the middle of his bed.

"You two know you don’t do stealthy worth a damn, right?"

"Yes, we do. You just have big ears." Jake’s scowled deepened as Jonah eyed his brothers. "You both need to get dressed."

"Why?" Jake and Josh said in unison.

A slow grin spread over Jonah’s face.

"We’re getting a Christmas tree."

CHAPTER 9

"Alyssa…"

"Mmm…" Alyssa ignored the pull of the voice calling out to her and snuggled into her pillow.

"Wake up, baby…"

"Come on, Lyssa…"

The other voices, she could also ignore. But the touching—an ass pat here and breast squeeze there through the blanket, then a light brush of lips over her neck—not so much. After a deep breath that in no way doused her awakening arousal, she rolled onto her back and opened her eyes to…

"It’s still dark." She frowned at the shadowy figures hovering over her in the bed. "What time is it?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"About five-fifteen."

She squinted at Jake.

"Five-fifteen? Why so early?"

"It’s Christmas morning," Josh answered.

"And your birthday," Jonah added. "And we’ve got a present for you."

"A present? Wait…" She couldn’t see him clearly, but somehow she had the distinct impression Jonah was smiling. Big. "How did you know it was my birthday?"

"Me," Jake whispered, his lips taking hers in a tender kiss. "I pay attention to things at the bar. Especially where you’re concerned."

He must have overheard her and Becca talking about meeting…

Becca.

"How is it outside?" If the snow had?—

"Still snowing," Jonah grumbled. "And damned cold."

---