Page 51 of Stolen Holidays
“That’s wonderful news,” Karen shouts, snapping me out of my spiral. I watch as the matriarch of the Miller family pulls the happy couple into a hug.
“Don’t you think you’re moving a little fast there, baby bro?” Everyone freezes at Eli’s comment, waiting.
Cam bowls over with laughter. “Funny, E. I deserve that one. By the way, I’m going to need you to do your magic for me like you did for Mason.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eli says. He looks away from the group.
Liar.
My eyes bounce between Jace and Eli. Both brothers silently scream at Cam to shut up. Even I can see Mason glare daggers at Cam, willing him to stop talking.
“Yeah, you do. Remember? You pulled strings to get the hotel for him,” he continues, putting his foot in his mouth.
“Cam, shut up,” Jace groans.
“What?” Cam shrugs. He stares at all his brothers in confusion.
“What’s this about the hotel?” Cam’s eyes widen at Emery’s question, the pieces falling into place for him and the rest of us. She looks between her husband and his brothers.
“She didn’t know?” I whisper to Rylann.
Rylann speaks low for me to hear. “I didn’t even know. We thought it was fate.”
“More like the spider of Hollywood pulling in favors,” I joke about Eli’s reputation. Rylann bites back a laugh as we watch everything unravel.
“Mason?” Emery whispers.
“It’s nothing, Baby Doll. Cam doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Mason sneers at Cam, and if I wasn’t so curious, I’d laugh because it looks like a brotherly fight is about to break out.
“Was the hotel not available?” Emery asks.
The four brothers look away with guilty faces.
“It wasn’t, was it?” She pushes.
Mason’s shoulders slump. “No. It wasn’t.”
Emery turns to Eli. “But you made it happen?”
Eli pulls at the neck of his hoodie like it’s choking him to answer. He bobs his head as we all wait to see how Emery reacts.
A smile spreads across her face. “I knew there was no way the hotel was available. It’s booked years in advance.” She walks over and wraps Eli in a bear hug, belly bumping him. “Thank you for making it happen. You’re the best.”
“You’re welcome, sis. I’d do anything for you.” He pats her back and kisses the top of her head. Mason growls, and Eli throws his head back and laughs as he and Emery separate. He points at Mason. “Hey now, be mad at Cam, not me. I kept my mouth shut. As for me being the best? We all know that to be a fact.”
My damn eyes get misty again as I watch the love this family has for each other. This time, it’s not the pregnancy hormones; it’s watching the way this family, these men, would do anything for each other. For their family. For me. Jace, Mason, and Cameron had my back when Eli couldn’t, and I will forever be in their debt. Not because I feel like I own them, but because these men, this family, deserve the same loyalty.
Eli catches my eye and heads my way. He wraps his arms around me. “Why are you crying, Princess?”
Because I’m having your baby, and our little nugget is going to be so loved.
A laugh bubbles out of me at the thought. “I’m just feeling really lucky to have you Millers in my life. Especially you, Elijiah.”
“Pretty sure I’m the lucky one, Calliope.” He pulls out a bundle of mistletoe tied with a red bow and dangles it over my head.
“Where did you get that from?” I ask. This man is full of surprises.
“Nuh-uh. I’m not giving away my secrets. Now pucker up.” Eli grips my neck and dips me back as my arms wrap around his neck.
