Ellie laughed. “I think they’re comfortable and cute. I can’t wait to see how you get the guys into theirs, Maisie.”
When they walked into the living room, with its high ceiling and crackling fire, Maisie felt like she was on display at a middle school talent show with her crush in the audience. The embarrassment actually had wings. They were flapping in her chest, making her want to turn and run. Nick stood by the fireplace, an arm resting on the wood-beam mantel, in the same jeans and T-shirt from earlier, his hair a perfect kind of messy, those eyes locking on her even as his grin widened. He was the emotional equivalent of a nesting doll. Every time she uncovered one thing about him, he showed another layer; another piece of himself buried down inside.
Jacob’s laugh rang out first. Colton and Kyle’s followed. Asher jumped off the couch and came running toward the four women.
“You’re reindeer!” He sprinted around them in a circle then stopped in front of Ellie. “I can play Santa and you can be the reindeers.”
Kyle pulled Natalie into a hug and said something against her ear that made her tip her head back and laugh.
Ellie crouched in front of Asher. “Maisie brought you one, if you want to be a reindeer, too.”
When she glanced down, Maisie caught the little boy’s expression and laughed. His mouth dropped open and his eyes widened like he was looking at a real reindeer. “Can I?”
Her gaze bounced up and landed on Nick’s then moved to his sexy, smirky smile and the memory of his words.I’m not ruling anything out.She bit her lower lip, saw his eyes narrow, his jaw tighten.
Maisie smiled, crouched down like Ellie, holding Nick’s gaze a few seconds longer. Lines creased Nick’s forehead like he could read her plan. Read her.
“Of course you can,” Maisie said, looking at Asher. “You know what would be the absolute coolest thing ever?”
She turned her head, looked at Ellie, and jutted her chin toward her brother.
“What?” Asher bounced excitedly in front of them.
Ellie looked at her little boy, clearly having caught on. “If you and Uncle Nicky matched. It would be the best Christmas present in the world.” Her tone was dreamy, her words drawn out like a sigh.
“Ellie.” Nick’s tone was more of a growl.
Ellie ignored him, keeping her laughter in check with more success than Maisie.
Asher ran over to his uncle and grabbed his hand, pulled him over to where Maisie now stood beside a standing Ellie.
“Can Uncle Nicky have his pajamas even though we winned?”
“Won, sweetie,” Ellie said around her giggles.
Maisie nodded, eyes locked with Nick’s. “He sure can. I’ll go getthem. Maybe everyone should just wear them.” She glanced at the other guys who were now cluing in to what was happening. “I’ll leave them in your rooms. Reconvene in a half hour?”
Jacob shook his head. “You’re such a sore loser.”
Colton slipped an arm around his shoulder. “She already knows that. It runs in the family where the three of you are concerned.”
Natalie, Maisie, and Jacob said, “Hey,” at the same time, making everyone laugh.
Kyle reached for Natalie’s hand. “I know better than to try and argue my way out of it.”
Natalie kissed his cheek and led him away. “That’s right. Save that energy for something else.”
While their mom and Ellie went to the couch to sit down, Colton and Jacob left the room, whispering.
Asher clapped his hands and tugged on Nick’s arm. “Let’s go, Uncle Nick.”
Following his nephew’s lead, he slowed as he passed Maisie, making Asher go ahead. Nick leaned down, his lips grazing her ear.
“There’s easier ways to get me out of my clothes, Smart,” he whispered so low there was no way her mom or Ellie could hear him. But if they looked at her, they’d probably see the way her face went pink at his words.
“Trust me,” she whispered back, “If I were trying to get you out of your clothes, it wouldn’t be to put on reindeer pajamas.”
Nick’s bark of laughter startled her and caught her mom and Ellie’s attention.
