Page 159 of The Holiday Fakers
“How do I know what’s right or wrong if you just keep laughing?”
“Sorry, sweetheart,” I manage.
She throws her hands in the air. “Is he a mighty fine piece of tush?”
Hudson chooses that moment to weave through the crowd behind Mia. For a second, his gaze burns hot as it flicks down and back up Mia’s body. Then the fire disappears as if it was never there, and he pulls a face at me.
“You look like you’re auditioning for the circus,” he says as he approaches.
“That’s whatIthought, Uncle Hudson,” Martha says. “They look like clowns.”
Hudson chuckles deeply, and Mia takes a step back.
“But you look like a mighty fine piece of?—”
“Martha!” Mia, Brody, and I interrupt quickly.
Hudson has a wicked glint in his eye as he slowly rotates like he’s on stage at a bachelor auction.
Yes, he’s my brother, so automatically gross, but I know he’s handsome, and tonight, in a tux, he looks like a Navy SEAL turned model.
“What do you think, Mia?” he asks. “The finest piece of butt in the room?”
“Butthead, more like,” Mia mutters, her eyes on her camera as she fiddles with it.
“Want to put your name down for a dance later?” Hudson continues. “My card is almost full, but I can save a space for you.”
Mia doesn’t reply, and something subtle shifts in the air between them. But before I can question it, a handkerchief appears in my face.
“Oh, honey, the two of you need to save all that for snuggle time!” Mom exclaims as she dabs around my mouth.
“Mom!”
She grabs Brody by the ear like a schoolboy and tugs him down. “Come here, young man.”
The corner of his mouth twitches as he lets her wipe lipstick from his face, then she lets him go.
“There, much better. Now, how about some food? John and Harper have saved us a table. Come on, everyone.”
She takes Martha’s hand, and we follow them across the floor to the buffet.
“When do you want to tell them?” Brody asks me.
“Tomorrow. At the Christmas Eve dinner, when everyone’s there. I just want to keep it between us tonight.”
“It still hasn’t really sunk in.”
“I know. I can’t believe it!”
He stops to kiss me softly. “I can’t wait to get you alone,” he murmurs.
An excited shiver ripples through me. “Can we leave early?”
He nods. “Food, one dance, then back for snuggle time?”
I grin. “And would you like a surprise gift as well?”
An eyebrow arches. “What is it?”
