Page 73 of Wrapped Up with the Three Scrooges

I grinned at the ceiling, remembering Emery’s creative use of a candy cane. That woman was going to be the death of me, and what a way to go.

Rolling out of bed, I grabbed my flannel pajama pants off the floor and pulled them on. Something sparkly caught my eye and yup, that was definitely glitter in places glitter had no business being. Damn Emery and her craft supplies. Though the ornament making had been worth it, even if I was probably going to be finding evidence of it until next Christmas.

The house was quiet as I padded down the hallway, but not the tense silence I remembered from childhood Christmases. No sounds of my mother’s passive-aggressive comments about my father’s infidelities, or my father’s increasingly desperate attempts to maintain holiday cheer while they sniped at each other.

Instead, soft laughter drifted from the kitchen, along with the smell of coffee and something sweet. I paused in the doorway, taking in the scene before me.

Emery was wearing one of Max’s t-shirts that hung to mid-thigh, her hair a mess as she measured something into a bowl. Max stood behind her, chin resting on her head as he helped, which mostly seemed to involve running his hands along her sides. Ronan was making coffee while sneaking glances at the other two with a soft expression I never thought I’d see on his face.

“If you’re trying to be subtle about feeling her up, you’re failing spectacularly,” I announced, making Emery jump and splash vanilla extract everywhere.

“Like you’re one to talk about subtlety.” Max didn’t move his hands from Emery’s waist. “I seem to recall someone trying to convince us all that body shots were a traditional Christmas Eve activity.”

“Hey, that almost worked!” I crossed to the island, stretching as I went.

“Only because Emery was already three glasses of wine in.” Ronan turned to hand me a mug of coffee.

“I maintain it was a brilliant idea.” I took a grateful sip. “Though maybe next time we skip the actual shot glasses and just-”

“Do not finish that sentence.” Emery pointed her whisk covered in icing at me threateningly. “There are cinnamon rollsthat need to go in the oven, and if you get everyone distracted, they’ll burn.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we burned something.” I waggled my eyebrows at her.

She laughed. “Behave or you don’t get any rolls.”

“That’s not what you said last night.” Three groans met my terrible pun, but I caught Emery biting her lip to hold back a smile as she slid the pan into the oven.

“Twenty minutes until the rolls are ready,” Emery announced, setting a timer.

“Perfect amount of time to open your gift!” I rubbed my hands together excitedly.

“We agreed no gifts.” Emery looked over at the tree.

I snorted. “Like I listen.” I went over to the tree and pulled out a bag I’d stashed behind it the night before when no one was paying attention.

“You didn’t...” Emery started, but then Max walked over and pulled out a similar bag from behind a chair.

Ronan sighed heavily, but reached into a drawer and produced an envelope. “We’re all terrible at following rules, apparently.”

I watched as Emery’s eyes filled with tears, her bottom lip trembling. “But I didn’t... I couldn’t afford...” She wrapped her arms around herself, looking impossibly small in Max’s oversized shirt.

“Hey, none of that.” I crossed to the kitchen in three strides, pulling her into my arms. “You’ve given us more than you realize, Christmas Spirit.”

“He’s right.” Max ran his hand down her back. “You turned this house into a home.”

Ronan set his gift on the counter and joined our little huddle. “Before you, we were just three guys sharing space. Now we’re...”

“A family.” I pressed a kiss to the top of Emery’s head. “Though a very non-traditional, definitely not family-friendly kind of family.”

That got a watery laugh out of her. “Still...”

“Still nothing.” I cupped her cheek. “It’s just something small. If you want, you can gift me a blow job later.”

She pushed me away and rolled her eyes. “I’ll just have to make up for the illegal gift giving on Valentine’s Day.”

Ronan groaned. “Oh, God, what have we signed up for?”

She playfully swatted his ass before following Max to the living room.

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