Page 99 of A Ryan Recollection

I can’t help laughing as her cheeks flush bright pink now. “Busted,” I say to her with a wink. “We didn’t fuck though. I mean I was about five seconds away from bending our wife over the nearest thing I could find and doing that, but we didn’t.”

Shane takes a deep breath as though the thought of doing that is distracting him from what he actually came in for.

“Did you need something?” Jessie asks him, trying to change the subject before one of us bends her over something.

He blinks at her. “I think Finn and Ella are about to crash after all that sugar. Their baths have wiped them out. I was gonna get them some milk and put them down a little early tonight.”

“Yes, and then the adults Christmas Eve activities begin,” I say with a grin.

“And they are presents, eggnog, hot chocolate andA Christmas Carol,” Jessie says, shooting me a warning look.

“I know, Red.”

“I’ll come help with the twins,” she says to Shane.

He arches an eyebrow at her. “We got it. Besides, I think you two need a shower.”

A wicked grin spreads across my face.

“Separately,” Shane adds.

“You are such a fucking buzzkill sometimes,” I say to him.

He knows I’m joking but it doesn’t stop him from slapping me across the back of my head.

“We’ll finish up here, say goodnight to the twins and shower. Then we can all meet in the den in half an hour?” Jessie says excitedly.

God, I love how much this woman loves Christmas. She’s like a shiny, sexy little elf.

“You think you can manage that?” Shane says to me.

I roll my eyes. “Like you wouldn’t be buried in Jessie right now if it had been you two left on your own here?”

He sucks on his top lip as though he’s deep in thought. “No. I would have taken her to my office instead where no-one would walk in on us,” he finally says with a shrug.

“I’m standing right here, you know,” Jessie protests.

“Don’t pretend that you don’t fucking love it, sweetheart,” he says to her and her face breaks into another smile.

* * *

When I’m showered,I pick up the Christmas pajamas Jessie has chosen for us. I suppose they’re not that bad. The bottoms are red and white stripes and the top is like a Santa suit. I’m sure our kids will love them when we all wear them tomorrow, but for tonight I toss the t-shirt onto the bed and just pull on the pants. When I walk into the bedroom we all share, I see my brothers have had the same idea and are only wearing the bottoms too.

“Where is Jessie?” I ask.

“Just checking on the babies,” Liam replies.

A few seconds later she walks into the room behind me and I spin around to see her dressed in a head to toe Mrs. Claus onesie with a hood.

“Where are your pajamas?” she asks us.

“Um. Wearing em,” I say, pointing down at the ridiculous pants.

“You’re supposed to wear the whole ensemble,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “Now you don’t look like Santa, just…” she chews on her lip as her eyes roam over the four of us.

“Just what, angel?” Conor asks.

“Just four super hot…” She waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. I can work with it,” she adds with a soft sigh.

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