Page 28 of Naughty Santa Daddy

My cheeks hurt from laughing so much as Granny—a name she insisted I call her—regales us with stories of Braxton’s childhood. According to her, Braxton was a hellion growing up and kept her and her husband on their toes.

“That’s okay, though.” She reaches across the table and pats the top of my hand. “I’m pretty sure we got him back for all the stress he caused us over the years when he walked intothe kitchen one day and saw his grandpa feasting on something other than the lunch I made him.”

I choke on the sip of tea I just took at the same time there’s a loud clunk of silverware hitting glass. I lift my napkin and hack half a lung into it, trying to clear my throat and catch my breath. My cheeks are flaming red, not only because of what she just said, but also because not thirty minutes ago she caught Braxton and me in a similar situation. Thankfully, that wasn’t mentioned when we came downstairs. In fact, Granny acted like it never happened.

I feel a hand on my back, rubbing around in circles, and I move tear-filled eyes to Braxton, who’s sitting beside me. His brows are dipped in concern.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod and croak out, “Yes.”

“I’m sorry, honey,” Granny says, her grandmotherly voice sounding sincere. “I didn’t mean to startle you so much. I just figured you’d appreciate the irony, given the situation I walked in on a bit ago.”

My eyes bug out, and I feel the heat in my cheeks grow hotter. So much for that horrible incident never being mentioned.

“Granny, really?” Braxton asks in exasperation.

“Wait,” Drake interrupts. “What situation? What did I miss?”

“Oh,” Granny waves her hand in the air. “Just that I caught Braxton and this sweet girl humping like jackrabbits upstairs. Seemed kind of a waste of water to shower before sex since you’d just get dirty again.”

“Oh my God. Just kill me now,” I groan, dropping my face into my hands. I am absolutely mortified.

I hear Drake laugh, and if I were brave enough to show my face, I’d smack his.

“Where in the hell have you been hiding this utterly amazing lady, Goliath?” Drake says, laughter still in his voice. “She ain’t your Granny anymore. I’m claiming her as mine.”

“Alright, that’s enough,” I hear Braxton grate out. “You two behave, or I’ll take my woman where our company is more appreciated.”

I lift my head at the use of the termmy woman. Why does hearing that leave his lips sound so good? It’s not the first time a guy has called mehisbefore, but hearing it from Braxton seems… I don’t know, more intimate? More permanent? Like whatever we have going is more than just a temporary thing.

“You’ll do no such thing.” Granny’s firm tone pulls my attention away from Braxton. I swivel my head around and look at her. “Your butt stays in that chair until your plate is clean.”

My lips twitch, and I fight back a smile. She sounds like a mom scolding her child.

“And wipe that dirty look off your face,” she continues. “You know I’m just joking with you two.”

“It ain’t a joke if you’re making someone feel uncomfortable.”

She turns her gaze to me. “Are you uncomfortable, dear?”

I open my mouth, then snap it closed, unsure what to say. Of course, I’m uncomfortable with her bringing up that she caught her grandson and me in bed together. Surely, she knows that.

“Sex is a natural occurrence between a man and a woman. Me and his grandpa, Lord rest his soul, had sex at least three times a day before we took Braxton in. My Gerald used to call Braxton a cockblocker behind his back because we had to cut it down to only once a day.”

My eyes bug out at the too-much-information spiel.

“Jesus Christ,” Braxton mutters. He tosses his napkin down on the table and gets to his feet, his chair scraping across the floor. He grabs my hand and pulls me up beside him. “We’re going to my room.”

He tugs me away from the table, and I’ve never been so happy to exit a room. Drake’s booming laughter and Granny’s cackles follow us out.

Just before Braxton’s bedroom door closes, we hear Granny shout, “Make use of the lock on the door this time!”

Instead of closing the door quietly, in response to Granny’s advice, he slams it shut. I hear the snick of the lock sliding in place. I turn around to face him and find him glaring at the door with his hands on his hips. He looks adorably frustrated.

As embarrassing as lunch was, I can’t help the bubble of laughter that leaves my mouth. I laugh so hard I wrap an arm around my stomach. Tears appear in my eyes and my ab muscles start to hurt. I try to muffle it with my hand, but it does shit all to dampen the sound.

When I finally manage to get control of my mirth, I stand straight. Braxton is facing me, his eyes narrowed with his lips pressed into a firm line.

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