Page 47 of Deck the Halls with Cowboys
Fuckin’ fuck.
Merry Christmas. I was going to die.
Chapter Fourteen
Diana
“The ham is on fire!” my best friend screamed from the kitchen.
My neck twisted so fast I was sure it was close to snapping. “What?” I gasped as Mags rose from the couch, grumbling something about getting his gun. The rest of the house rushed into the kitchen, all of them shouting, demanding answers. I reached up and snagged the tail end of his flannel. “Mags, don’t.”
He looked down at me, eyes dark as night, a muscle jumping in his cheek. Then his eyes moved to my hand, then back to my face as he stroked his beard. He looked to the ceiling as if seeking patience, mercy, or a little bit of both. “Firefly, he fucked up my ham.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh as the rest of the girls yelled in the kitchen. “That’s not your ham, Mags. Besides, we can find something else to eat, I’m sure—” I was cut off when he grabbed my jaw and leaned down into my space.
“Two things, gorgeous. Number one, you dragged me out here yesterday after telling me I had to share your apple crisp. I only agreed to come because you’re my woman and this is our first Christmas together. Number two,” he pointed toward the kitchen, “I told that fucker I was going to kill him if he fucked up the ham. I don’t break my promises. You of all people should know that.”
My cheeks heated. “You can’t kill anyone on Christmas,” I whispered. “Someone would sue.”
“Baby, I’m a man. I need food. You’re pregnant with my child. You also need food, and judging by the amount of snow on the ground, we’re going to be here at least two more nights.”
This, I already knew. Val and I had a conversation when I came upstairs this morning. I found her alone, humming “Blue Christmas” by Elvis as she put the cinnamon rolls in the oven. Said cinnamon rolls were gone by the time everyone got settled in the living room to open presents. Mason and Harmony said they still had one more gift to give, but for some reason, they were making everyone wait.
“We’ll get you food. Just don’t kill the poor bastard,” I sighed as he released me, his head snapping up to focus on what was happening behind the couch.
His eyes narrowed. “What the fuck are you smiling for?”
I turned around, grabbing the back of the couch, my eyes landing on a very smug Mason as everyone skirted around him to come back into the living room. Denver remained by the door, shaking his head. Valerie looked flustered beside him, both hands in her hair as she stared at the back of Mason’s head with bewilderment. Beau and Abbie plopped back down on the opposite couch, and the twins took their places on the floor on either side of NJ, who was too engrossed in playing with her new toys to care about anything that was going on. Jigs chuckled as he took his seat next to me, swiping up his steaming mug of coffee from the coffee table. “You all keep me young,” he notedproudly.
“Everything’s all right,” Mason announced, a cocky grin on his face. “That was just a test ham. The real ham is on the smoker now and should be done around seven. We got nothing to worry about.”
I glanced at my cowboy, finding his glare still ice cold and his arms folded over his chest. “You bought and prepped two hams because you knew you would fuck up. Is that what I’m hearing?” he asked.
“Mase, just let Denver take over the ham,” Beau groaned.
“My brother has a lot on his plate,” Mason argued. “I can handle it.”
“Looks like I’m only going to have sides on my plate with the way this shit is going,” Denver mumbled.
Valerie came up to Mason’s side. “Look at me,” she demanded. When he did, she stuck a finger in his face. “If you ruin my Christmas dinner, I’m suing you, and Diana will do everything in her power to make sure you land behind bars.”
Mason raised a brow. “Behind bars? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ve been planning this for months, and for you to burn another ham would be a crime.”
I cleared my throat. “Uh, Val. That’s not the way…” I trailed off, spotting Harmony talking to Denver in the foyer. His brow was furrowed, mouth set, eyes hard…
Oh no.
I knew that look.
Something was wrong.
Valerie followed my gaze, but strangely, Mason looked out the window, inhaling a deep breath through his nose. Harmony put her hand on Denver’s arm for a moment before breaking away and coming into the living room. Denver followed, only to pull Valerie away from his brother, backing up until he was sitting on the arm of the couch by Beau with Valerie between his legs.
“What’s going on?” Abbie asked, leaning forward and breaking the silence.
Harmony grabbed her husband’s hand, looking up at him, her blue eyes shining with uncertainty. He nodded, bending his neck to murmur something in her ear. When he pulled back, she gave him a smile before turning her attention to all of us.
