Page 20 of Take Me Home for Christmas

“Yes, he is.” I smiled at him in a way that said,And he knows it too.

He must’ve heard, because he looked pleased, grinning so that one of his dimples showed.

Yes, he had dimples. The man had zero unattractive features, okay?

Brax smiled at me and gave an easy, nonchalant shrug that seemed to say,Can I help that I’m so hot?

Before I could parry him, my brothers bear-hugged me, and then my dad gathered me in. I squeezed him hard, wordlessly acknowledging all he’d gone through with my mom.

“I’m so happy to see you!” Dina said. She wore a beige cowl-neck sweater—cashmere—and black leggings, looking as put-together as always. Dina was in fashion merchandising, and her sense of color and style extended to, well…just about everything. Emma, in her arms, had her light brown hair in pigtails with one red and one green scrunchie. She wore a bright pink sweater, Barbie leggings, a pink tutu, and red and green fuzzy socks. And lest I forget, a little pink rhinestone crown hanging at a lopsided tilt on her head.

“Auntie Me-Me,” my very bright and intelligent and beautiful niece said, “are you going to color with me?”

That was our special activity that we always did together even though she was more creative than I was with crayons. “As soon as possible, my precious. I can’t wait.” I hugged Dina, then kissed Emma on the cheek and gave her foot a little shake. “Nice socks.”

“Great to see you, sis.” Liam smiled and gave me another giant hug, then gave his daughter’s right pigtail a playful tug. When he was single, he wore brown cords and sneakers every day, an ode to his job, as Mr. Smarty Pants was a brainiac software engineer for Epic in Madison. But thanks to Dina, he wore a smart-looking sweater and tapered tan pants, looking shockingly stylish.

Liam was four years older than I was, and he’d dated Dina in high school, so I’d known her for a long time. She’d always been like an older sister to me and was a born nurturer. If it hadn’t been for her, I’m not sure how I would have made it through the Charlie-and-Erin thing.

My dad, less exuberant than my mom and clearly the calming influence in our family, shook Brax’s hand solidly. Caleb, whowas two years younger than Liam and two years older than me, clapped Brax sturdily on the back. “So, Brax, my man, what are your intentions?” Great. He’d wasted zero time putting Brax on the spot. “Toward our baby sister, that is.” His gaze drifted over to me.

Like a true baby sister, I punched him in the arm. He had so much muscle, he didn’t even flinch, just grinned and made a face likeDid a fly just land on me? I thought I felt something.

It was jerky of Caleb to try to make Brax flinch. But that was how Caleb showed love. He was as protective and brash as Liam was quiet and thoughtful. Brothers. I loved both of them to death.

There was a sudden hush as everyone seemed to hold their breath for Brax’s answer. Even the dog stopped barking.

Brax stood his ground. As the two men stood toe to toe, they seemed to be sizing each other up. Then Brax looked me straight in the eye. “I love Mia,” he said smoothly, with feeling. “I’ll do anything to make her happy.”

My poor, lonely heart quivered. Like a droopy flower hungry for water, I soaked all that sap right up. For just a few seconds, I felt those words. Felt what it must be like to have someone really, truly love you.Someday, I promised myself. Someday, I wanted to hear them for real.

Then the guilt set in. I was lying to my family. I’d never done that before, and it didn’t feel great.

It got even worse. “That’s the most precious thing I’ve ever heard!” My mom clapped her hands in glee. “Steven, isn’t that the best?”

My dad gave a slight nod to be polite, but I knew he was reserving judgment for when he really got to know Brax.

Oh, except he wouldn’t really get to know him, would he? I’d just caught myself getting swept up in my own fantasy.

“Well, all righty, then,” Liam said. “Welcome to Casa D’Angelo.”

Just then, Dina met my gaze. She smiled and gave me a tiny flicker of a look that I took to meanWe need to talk later.

Emma held out her arms to me, so I took her from Dina. She slid off her crown and put it on my head. I twirled her around until we were both dizzy. Then she took my cheeks in her little chubby hands. “Is that your boyfriend?” she asked—loudly, I might add.

“This is Brax,” I said, replacing her crown. “Brax, meet my super-smart, super-kind, super-pretty niece, Emma.”

“I’m this many fingers,” she said, suddenly ducking her head shyly into my shoulder.

“Wait a minute,” I said, realizing she was holding up five fingers. “You’rethismany fingers.” I held up four. Apparently, she thought that was the funniest joke ever.

Brax bent his head to say hi. “Nice to meet you. I’m Brax.”

“Mia’s my favorite aunt,” Emma said, unducking her head. “You could be my favorite uncle.Maybe.”

Thank you, girlfriend.

“I sure hope so,” Brax said, his gaze sliding over to mine, his full lips tilted up into the slightest smile. Like we shared a secret. Like he was up to the challenge of being her favorite uncle. Or was he just hamming it up in front of my family? I was completely caught off guard. How would I ever know which of his reactions were real and which were fake?

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