Page 65 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

“I should stay here.” Megan hesitated in the middle of the foyer. She’d changed from pajamas to an old pair of sweats and left her hair in a knotted mess. It was so different fromher usual attire that I raised a brow at Arthur. Whatever conversation they’d had did something. Something good. The cursing, screaming Megan had been replaced with a much softer version.

“You’re coming with us.” I made a hurry up motion. “Hannah might need a woman around. You’re close enough.”

“Wow. Was that supposed to be a compliment?” Megan covered her mouth with one hand, a pretend gasp echoing in the foyer.

“For fuck’s sake. Forget it.” I turned my back on her. “Get in the damned car before I haul your body out the door and throw you in.”

“Geez. Calm down.” Megan squeezed past me and dug into the closet. She came up with a pair of brown Uggs and yanked them on over her fuzzy socks. “You’re so bossy when you’re pissed.”

“Damned fucking right. No one messes with Hannah. Especially not some immature punk who thinks she’ll just roll over for him because they share a past.” I refused to say that they shared a daughter. He may have contributed the sperm that helped create Liddy but it ended there. I spewed another rush of curses. “Is everyone finally the fuck ready? You have five seconds or I’m going alone.”

Arthur stomped over and held out his hand. “Keys.”

“Right here.” I waved them in his face.

“No. Give me the keys. You’re not driving.” He had that protective stance and locked jaw that I knew better than to protest against. He was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to hand over the keys and take a step back. “Now we can go.” Arthur shoved open the front door.

Deena poked her head out from the library. “Anything I can do?”

“If you have the ingredients for it, can you fix Hannah’s favorite dinner? Maybe have some tea ready? I’ll text you when we’re close.”

Deena made her way across the foyer. “Of course. Text me if she asks for anything else.”

Bright light reflected off the snow, forcing me to shield my eyes. The black SUV sat at the end of the curved drive. Arthur pressed the button and the engine roared to life.

“Ryland in the back with Scott. Megan and I will take the front.” Arthur opened the door for Megan, then rounded the hood after he closed it behind her. Megan neither argued nor put up a fuss of any kind.

Maybe hell had frozen over and Arthur got his Christmas miracle after all.

Three doors slammed in unison and we peeled out of the driveway. Arthur handled the SUV in his typical careful fashion. I leaned in between the seats. “That pedal on the right will make this go faster.”

“And it could also make us end up in the ditch with Hannah waiting on us,” Arthur shot back without taking his eyes from the road.

“Bastard,” I muttered.

“Nag,” Arthur shot back.

Megan rolled her lips together, her shoulders shaking with repressed laughter. Even Ryland snorted.

“God, you three are awful.”

“Hey, I didn’t say anything.” Ryland held up his hands in surrender. “This is all those two.”

The distraction almost worked. Almost. But the anger remained in full force.

The town unraveled around us. A decorated shop sent reflections of Christmas lights spiraling out across the road as a breeze ruffled some garland draped over the doors and windows.

“Where is she?” Arthur leaned forward and squinted.

“Across from the ice cream shop.” I peered out my window, searching for any sign of Hannah and Liddy. “I told her to stay put.”

“Think she listened?” Megan asked.

My growl was her answer and she wilted in her seat. Regret pummeled hard and fast. “Sorry. It’s not you, Megan. I’m piss-poor company right now.”

“Preaching to the choir.” One side of her mouth hitched up. “You’re a pretty scary dude when you’re pissed. But it’s kind of nice to see you so riled up over Hannah. Never known you to care about a woman before.”

That shut me the fuck up. She’d fileted me with nothing more than a handful of words. Truthful ones.

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