Page 27 of All I Want for Christmas

Chapter 9

Control came easily to Mac—or at least it had for the past seven years. He used all the control at his disposal to keep his foul mood and bubbling temper from the boys.

They were so excited about her coming, he thought bitterly. Wanted to make certain all the lights were lit, the cookies were out, the decorative bell was hung on Zark’s collar.

They were in love with her, too, he realized. And that made it a hell of a mess.

He should have known better. Hehadknown better. Somehow he’d let it happen anyway. Let himself slip, let himself fall. And he’d dragged his kids along with him.

Well, he’d have to fix it, wouldn’t he? Mac got himself a beer, tipped the bottle back. He was good at fixing things.

“Ladies like wine,” Zack informed him. “Like Aunt Mira does.”

He remembered Nell had sipped white wine at Mira’s party. “I don’t have any,” he muttered.

Because his father looked unhappy, Zack hugged Mac’s leg. “You can buy some before she comes over next time.”

Reaching down, Mac cupped his son’s upturned face. The love was so strong, so vital, Mac could all but feel it grip him by the throat. “Always got an answer, don’t you, pal?”

“You like her, don’t you, Dad?”

“Yeah, she’s nice.”

“And she likes us, too, right?”

“Hey, who wouldn’t like the Taylor guys?” He sat at the kitchen table, pulled Zack into his lap. He’d discovered when his sons were infants that there was nothing more magical than holding your own child. “Most of the timeIeven like you.”

That made Zack giggle and cuddle closer. “She has to live all by herself, though.” Zack began to play with the buttons of his father’s shirt. A sure sign, Mac knew, that he was leading up to something.

“Lots of people live alone.”

“We’ve got a big house, and two whole rooms nobody sleeps in except when Grandma and Pop come to visit.”

His radar was humming. Mac tugged on his son’s ear. “Zack, what are you getting at?”

“Nothing.” Lip poked out, Zack toyed with another button. “I was just wondering what it would be like if she came and lived here.” He peeked up under his lashes. “So she wouldn’t be lonely.”

“Nobody said she was lonely,” Mac pointed out. “And I think you should—”

The doorbell rang, sending the dog into a fit of excited barking and jingling. Zeke flew into the kitchen, dancing from foot to foot. “She’s here! She’s here!”

“I got the picture.” Mac ruffled Zack’s hair, set him on his feet. “Well, let her in. It’s cold out.”

“I’ll do it!”

“I’lldo it!”

The twins had a fierce race through the house to the front door. They hit it together, fought over the knob, then all but dragged Nell over the threshold once they’d yanked the door open.

“You took so long,” Zeke complained. “We’ve been waiting forever. I put on Christmas music. Hear? And we’ve got the tree lit and everything.”

“So I see.” It was a lovely room, one she tried not to resent having only now been invited into.

She knew Mac had built most of the house himself. He’d told her that much. He’d created an open, homey space, with lots of wood, a glass-fronted fireplace where stockings were already hung. The tree, a six-foot blue spruce, was wildly decorated and placed with pride in front of the wide front window.

“It’s terrific.” Letting the boys pull her along, Nell crossed over to give the tree a closer look. “Really wonderful. It makes the little one in my apartment look scrawny.”

“You can share ours.” Zack looked up at her, his heart in his eyes. “We can get you a stocking and everything, and have your name put on it.”

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