Tears welled in Maisie’s eyes. She leaned her head on Nat’s. “Thanks.”
“Thank me by sharing some spicy details about the hot hockey player,” Nat whispered.
Maisie pulled away with a laugh just as Jake walked in. “Look who I found.”
Their dad walked in behind Jacob, followed by their mom, Colt, and Kyle.
Excitement filled the room as Nat hugged her dad first and then he wrapped his arms around Maisie.
“There’s my other girl. How are you, honey?” Her dad pulledaway, keeping his hands on her shoulders while he gave her an assessing once-over.
“I’m good, Dad. You look great. I’m so glad you’re here but I thought you were going to be at least another day.” Maisie leaned back in for another hug.
He rubbed a hand up and down her back. “Me too. We were able to wrap things up early though so I took the next flight I could find.”
The next little bit was a whirlwind as their dad, Peter, was introduced to Ellie, Asher, and Nick and they all spent some time chatting and catching up.
Nick kept finding reasons to stand close to her and it kept Maisie’s senses on high alert.
Asher grew impatient, wanting to start decorating the cookies so they could move on to eating them.
The plan was, once they finished, Maisie and her family would open gifts while Nick took his sister and Asher to town to share some of the cookies with local businesses. The next morning, they’d all agreed Asher should be the focus, so they’d get up, watch him revel in what Santa left, and then have breakfast.
A perfect, storybook Christmas.
Gathering the group, they all settled around the table with piles of cookies in front of them, icing in various colors, toppings, warm drinks, and music playing in the background.
It was like a scene from a freaking Hallmark movie and Maisie knew she ought to grab her camera and commemorate the moment. But instead, she tried to just soak up every second of sitting next to Nick, hearing him laugh, watching her brother and Colton tease each other. She stared as Kyle checked on Natalie, asking if she was sure she was comfortable and could he get her anything. Ellie stroked Asher’s hair back from his face, kissed his cheek. Maisie’s mom showed her dad the cookie she’d decorated and her dad laughed and took a bite of it.
She was so busy taking it all in, trying to pack the memories into her brain so she wouldn’t feel lonely when she said goodbye to her family, she didn’t realize Nick had leaned in until she felt his breath on her ear.
“Mine looks weird,” he whispered. He held up a cookie with what she guessed was supposed to be a reindeer. She’d shown them all how to use outlines and the various tips on the icing bags.
“Why does he have five legs?” She narrowed her gaze.
“That’s his tail,” Nick said, sounding somewhat put out.
Maisie met his gaze, ignoring the flash of heat. “It appears to bebetweenhis legs.”
Nick looked at it again, studying it quietly. “It’s a long tail.”
“I’ll say,” Maisie muttered.
Nick laughed loudly and the others looked their way.
“Uh-oh. Did you make something X-rated?” Ellie leaned across Asher to check.
“Not on purpose. It’s a reindeer. Maisie’s the one making it inappropriate,” Nick said.
The others laughed when he showed them his reindeer cookie. Maisie swung her leg sideways and kicked his calf with her foot.
“I like it, Uncle Nicky. It’s okay if he has five legs. Bob has a three-legged cat.”
“Who’s Bob?” her dad asked.
“The tree boss,” Colton said.
“Maybe that one stays in the keeper pile,” her dad suggested.
