God, she’s beautiful.I'll never get over the effect her presence has on me, like my entire body is attuned to hers on a cellular level. She’s wearing white for me again—a silk, corseted midi dress with fur trim around her calves. With her blonde hair and minimal makeup worn for the play, she truly looks like my personal angel.Which she is. Legally. Forever.She’s also wearing a white faux-fur coat that I recognize as my mother’s, and they’re chatting animatedly as they finally approach.
“Darling, it looks better on you than it ever did on me. And since you two skipped all the usual parties and events associated with a wedding, it’s my right to continue with all my little gifts. Isn’t that right, Ledger?”
Smiling, I pull Sloane into me and kiss the top of her forehead, determined to have skin-on-skin contact for the rest of the evening. “Whatever my wife wants, Mom.”
With a wistful sigh, Mom winks at me and moves toward the church entrance. “Are the Johnsons riding with you?”
“We’ve got to figure that out. Either way, you’ll all probably beat us there. Just use your codes for the gate and door. Call me if you have any problems.”
“Alright, dear. See you soon.” With a kiss on the cheek, Mom leaves us alone to try to find Sloane’s parents in the hustle and bustle.
“You were wonderful tonight, Angel. I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” I say, nuzzling into her neck and wondering if we have time for a bathroom quickie before we leave. Knowing that everyone will be at the house all evening has me feeling like a whiny child with my favorite toy just out of reach.
“You were a pretty handsome devil, yourself.” Sloane giggles. “Maybe we should re-enact our scene later but with fewer clothes and a spicier ending.”
“That’s it, you little temptress, we’re not going home tonight. I’m going to find the most isolated cabin I can, and we’re not coming up for air until…”
A throat clearing startles both of us, and we look up to find Scott Johnson watching me fondle his little girl in the vestibule of a church on Christmas Eve. Well. I’ve never claimed to be an angel, so I’m not sure what anyone expects.
“Hi, Dad,” Sloane says, giving him a stiff side hug.
“Mr. Johnson, it’s very nice to see you again. Merry Christmas Eve. If Mrs. Johnson is ready, I can pull the car around, and we can head to the house.”
Shaking my hand, Scott seems less testy with me than before. Maybe he’s thinking about my brother. Can’t wait to see his reaction when Henry arrives for our familysoiree tonight.
“She had an errand to run. I’ll ride with you both, if that’s alright.”
Sloane frowns, and like her, I wonder what Janice could possibly have to do on Christmas Eve.
“Of course, I’ll bring the car around, and we can head out. Sloane, make sure your mom has the address, please.”
I’m a little surprised that we arrive home without any major drama in the car, although Janice’s absence likely accounts for that. The only tense moment occurred when Scott assumed he would be sitting in the passenger seat beside me, and I had to remind him that Sloane gets carsick and would therefore be in the front. I’m also surprised to see that we’re the first three back to the house, and my mother hasn’t arrived yet with any of my family.
“Home sweet home,” I say, giving the back of Sloane’s hand a kiss and coming around to open her door for her as Scott stares up at the house. I’ve parked in the circular drive in front, and with the landscaping and Christmas lights we’ve added, it truly is a place I’m proud to bring my wife home to.
“Quite the place you’ve got here,” he says, noting the security system and the large garage around back.
“Thank you, sir. I’ve had it for a few years, but I’ve just finished some fairly extensive renovations. This one here”—I chuckle, giving Sloane a little squeeze—“has quite the refined taste. My bachelor decor wasn’t to her liking, so we’ve changed almost everything.”
This earns me a thoughtful glance from Scott, like he’s confused as to why I would go to all the trouble, but I’m saved from my initial desire to punch him in the face by my mother pulling up behind us.
Scott immediately notices Henry, and I breathe out a tense breath of air I hadn’t realized I was holding.Sorry, Henry, but you’re going to be babysitting him all night, if only to take some pressure off Sloane.
“Darlings! We had to make a little pit stop. I hope you don’t mind that we didn’t beat you here,” Mother says, coming straight to Sloane and hugging her like we didn’t see each other less than an hour ago at the church.
“You’re fine, Mom. We only beat you by about thirty seconds. This is Sloane’s dad, Scott Johnson.” I make quick introductions all around between Margot, Jack, Henry, my mom, and Scott. Once we’re all acquainted, I usher everyone inside out of the cold.
Luckily, everything was already set up to host, including a spread for way too many people. Sloane and I were fortunate to have our housekeeper, Mrs. Smith, recommended by my mother. We still cook together, but having meals prepped and not having to worry about cleaning the house has given us more time together fornewlywedactivities. She’s also discreet, and after an unfortunate incident involving her finding us naked in the foyer, whenever the security system alerts her to our arrival, she makes herself scarce.“Just for the honeymoon phase, dear,”she said when I was mortified that Sloane and I couldn’t control ourselves. But it’s worked out in my favor.
With Henry and Scott deep in discussion about football seasons past—I really owe him one for this—andMargot, Jack, and my mom discussing the play, I nurse my spiked eggnog and feel surprisingly sentimental. With the huge tree in the living room, all the Christmas decorations, and the delicious smell of food wafting from the kitchen, I feel more at peace than I ever have.
A knock on the door reminds me of exactly who hasn’t arrived yet, and just like that, my peace shatters.
“I’ll get it!” My mother is already moving to the front door, likely still convinced thatshe’llbe able to charm Janice Johnson and be best friends with her future co-grandmother. She hasn’t quite gotten the full picture of why I’m certain that will never happen…but I have a bad feeling she’s about to.
“Sloane’s darling mother has arrived, everyone, and she brought a surprise! One of Sloane’s very best childhood friends!”
I glance up to see who the fuck is in my house and feel goose bumps rise on my skin.Fucking Dean Christensen.Inmyfucking house. Why is he in my fucking house?
