Page 21 of Loving the Legend
I crack the window, eager to inhale the sea breeze. When we arrive at a tall gate, Leslie hovers a fob over a pad, and the gate opens. We drive up a windy path, and tall hedges conceal the view of the house.
“Wow!” I gasp when the house comes into view.
Leslie chuckles. Twinkling Christmas lights cover the hedges and facade of the house. Candy cane lights frame the windows, and two illuminated gigantic leaping stag reindeer line the entryway. Snow that has to be fake covers the lawn. A large green wreath with pinecones, holly berries, and a red bow mounts the door. Two marble columns frame the doorway, with the largest poinsettias I’ve ever seen sitting on top. My mom would have gasped if she saw their size. She loved them.
I’m so engrossed in Sid’s decorations that I don’t register climbing out of the car. Leslie refuses my help to carry my bags as we make our way to the front door. It’s only when I am a few feet from the door that I see a tall gold and metallic nutcracker hidden between two tall hedges.
My jaw hangs. “Seriously!”
Leslie chuckles. “Mr. King is a big kid when it comes to Christmas. Don’t let the man’s ferocity on the court fool you.” He gestures to the nutcracker. “It’s made of polyresin and fiberglass, with over 200 LED lights. It’s hand-painted. Imported from some far-off place.”
“Wow, Sid’s imagination is on Willy Wonka’s level. This—all of this—is like something out of a catalog.”
I spin around, taking it all in. In the far corner of the garden are a half dozen twinkling gingerbread decorations with green and white peppermint smocks, frosting hair, and a mix of crimson ties and bows. They’re lined up along the exit path like they’re waiting to bid guests farewell. I shake my head. Sid definitely has layers.
Leslie attempts to punch in a code to the door when it suddenly opens from the inside. An exquisite cologne permeates my senses as we peer up at a beaming Sid, looking merry in a Santa hat.
“You made it in good time!” Sid says, pulling me into a bear hug.
Yup, hugging Sid feels like what I imagined—being swaddled.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I reply as we release each other. Slow-release hugs could easily become our thing.
“Pardon me, sir.” Leslie brushes past us with my bags.
Sid slides out of his way. “Thanks, Leslie!”
I eye his sweater. I wouldn’t say it’s ugly, but it is very festive. He beams when he catches me staring.
“Peep this.” He clicks a button under the sweater, and the embroidered tree lights up. “Dope! Right?”
An adorable smile supplants his raw sexiness. How does a single face have such range?
“Very cool.”
“Glad you like it. I have one for you.”
I chuckle. “Of course you do. Man, your yard is like something out of a magazine or a storybook.”
“Christmas is legit my favorite holiday. You know I’ve never lost a Christmas game? It’s like ol’ St. Nick has my back or something. Come in, come in.” He steps to the side, allowing me entry.
I’m met with the sweet aroma of cinnamon and baked dough. “Wow…what’s that?” I ask, sniffing the air.
He grins. “The pies just came out of the oven.”
“Ah!” I pat my rumbling stomach. “Smells like a bakery in here.”
“I can’t take credit. My mom made a spread before she left. It’s actually weird that she bounced. We think she might have a date or something. She usually stays over, but this year she made some excuse about wanting to sleep in her bed. We’re not buying it.”
“She’s always private about her dates?”
He smirks. “She’s Fort Knox with it. The woman has more secrets than the Pentagon.”
I chuckle.
“So tonight, it’s just us and my cousin Kieran and his best friend—who is also our childhood friend—Tommy.”
Tension seeps out of my shoulders. I’m not big on being around large groups of people I don't know.
