Page 63 of Bragg's Christmas

I’m totally putting raisins in his pancakes and telling him they’re chocolate chips tomorrow morning.

The gossip gals herd me along until we’re on Main Street.When we reachFall Into A Good Book,they push me toward the door until I’m forced to enter first or fight them.

“You can’t be serious,” Aspen grumbles the second I stumble into the bookstore.

I retreat but I don’t make it two steps before the gossip gals are urging me back inside.

“Be nice, Aspen. I changed your diapers,” Sage says.

Aspen rolls her eyes. “I don’t care, Sage. I don’t want her here.”

My face heats until I’m certain it could be used as a beacon in an airport during a snowstorm. “I’ll … ah…” I point to the exit but the gossip gals step in front of it to block my flight.

Moon stares at me for a long moment. “Maybe she deserves a second chance.”

Aspen crosses her arms over her chest and huffs.

Eden moves to stand next to Moon. “It was over a decade ago.”

Soleil rubs her pregnant belly as she looks between Aspen and me. “Why don’t you two try to get along for the sake of everyone else’s evening?”

Aspen glares at her. “Do you always have to be rational?”

Harmony giggles. “She wasn’t very rational when she found out she was pregnant.”

I pat my chin to check my mouth isn’t gaping open. Are the women of the Bragg brothers actually defending me? After the nasty things they said about me at Thanksgiving? What’s changed?

Damon better not have revealed what happened in ninth grade to his brothers. His brothers who tattle to their girlfriends about everything. I don’t want anyone’s pity. Pity’s the worst.

“Come on.” Moon grabs my hand and leads me toward an easel. “We’re set up over here.”

“Um. What’s happening?”

I must be dreaming. There’s no way I’m in the bookstore in Winter Falls and other women are being nice to me. No one’s nice to me.

For a reason, Love. For a reason.

“It’s paint and sip night.” Moon motions toward the tray with drinks. “Pick your poison.”

“What are we painting?”

“Not a sexy cop,” Sage complains.

“Sage.” Aspen glares at her. “I told you. My husband will not be posing nude for any paint sip night now or in the future.”

Aspen’s husband, Lyric, is the chief of the police. He’s also the reason Aspen hates me. It’s a long story.

“Stop complaining, Sage. There are plenty of other sexy young men in this town,” Cayenne says.

Eden raises her hands. “Don’t blame me. I asked Miller to pose but he refused.”

Harmony giggles. “Did you seriously expect Mr. Grump to say yes?”

“Hey. He’s not as grumpy as he used to be.”

Moon snorts. “You keep telling yourself that.”

“It’s true. He’s sweet and kind and…”

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