Page 15 of Connected By Christmas
“And let you have all the fun? I think I can handle being on my knees for a few minutes. Besides, I was promised dessert earlier after breakfast, so it’s only fair I get a taste, too.” Hertongue comes out to swipe all the way down the length of me, and my last coherent thought is how fucking unbelievably lucky I am.
Chapter Six
Noah and Emma
EMMA
“I don’t think lookingout the window every five minutes will get them here faster,” I hear Noah laugh from the kitchen.
“They should be here by now. I hope they didn’t get lost,” I peer out the window again.
“I sent them the address when they landed. They’ll be here.” He lifts the lid on the stove and stirs the chili. “God, this smells good. Maybe I should try it first before we serve it to our friends.”
“Don’t you dare,” I laugh, coming over to him. “It still needs to simmer for a bit longer, and I still have to add the cream right before it’s served.”
“I can’t believe I’ve never had your white chicken chili before. You’ve been holding out on me,” he grins and puts the lid back on the pot.
“I finally went through all of my mom’s recipes and found it. I’ve been craving it, and with this cold weather, I thought itwould be a perfect dinner for everybody. If you think it looks good now, just wait until you taste it with the cornbread and cilantro.”
“You’re killing me.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me. The sound of a truck pulling up to the cabin has me grinning against his lips.
“They’re here,” I squeal, breaking away and running as fast as my pregnancy waddle can take me. Throwing open the door, a blast of cold hits my face as I see my best friends start to get out of the truck. I spot Bella’s long blond hair first as her blue eyes meet mine. Except for the hair color, she and Noah look so much alike with their beautiful smile and ocean-blue eyes. Grinning, she comes running over to me and is in my arms before I can make it down the front porch steps.
“How are you feeling? Is my niece doing okay with this cold weather?” She places her hands on my belly as she rapid-fires her questions.
“You sound just like your brother,” I laugh. “Everything is good. She’s kicking up a storm in there, and I’m pretty sure the cold weather isn’t getting through these layers I’m wearing.”
“Hey, sis,” Noah comes up behind me and grabs his sister in a hug. “I’m so glad you guys could make it.”
“We wouldn’t have missed it.”
“There’s my favorite pregnant lady,” Maverick says, pulling me into a hug. He’s the same height as Noah at six foot three and towers over my five foot seven frame. His chin-length hair is sticking out of his white beanie, and with his golden streak highlights and tan from the sun, he looks every bit like the surfer he is.
I pull back and study his good looks. “How is it that you can go from the cover of a surfer magazine straight to the cover of a snowboarding magazine just by changing your clothes andenvironment?” I peer at him, and he flashes his dimpled grin my way.
“It’s the hair.”
“Don’t give him a bigger head than he already has,” Noah laughs and hugs his best friend. “Good to see you, man.”
“Good to see you, too.”
I peer around Mav and throw my arms around his sister, Sophia, as soon as she gets up the front steps. Unlike Mav’s lighter hair, Sophia’s jet-black hair is long and wavy down her back. Her beautiful green eyes match his, though, easily telling you they are related.
“I’m so happy you are finally here! Did Max have a good Christmas?” Max was initially one of her students in her kindergarten class she teaches, and they quickly formed a bond. She got the surprise of her life, though, when her hot one-night stand, Travis, ended up being the single father of her favorite student. Things got complicated at first, and they tried to deny their feelings but quickly realized there was no keeping them apart. They married shortly after, and Sophia didn’t hesitate to adopt Max.
“He did. I think Santa gave him everything a seven-year-old could want,” Sophia laughs.
“And who’s fault is that?” Travis laughs, coming up behind her and warming me with another hug. At six foot four with his dark hair and grey eyes, they make a stunning couple. He’s a tattoo artist and ownsInkedin our small Florida town, Crystal Isle. He and his three brothers and sister have quickly become like family to us. We all spent the Fourth of July together at their family beach house and quickly decided to make it a yearly tradition.
“I may have gone overboard,” Sophia laughs. “I can’t help it though. He’s so stinking cute, and it doesn’t help he’s a spitting image of you. It’s hard to deny you two anything.”
“I’m not going to complain about that one,” Travis laughs.
“I should hope not,” Sophia grins and winks at him.
Travis shakes his head and chuckles before they both greet Noah.
“Let’s get you guys inside. I’m sure your Florida asses are freezing just like mine,” Noah laughs and ushers them into the house.
