Page 3 of Christmas With A Billionaire

I’d chosen my navy suit carefully, knowing she’d notice the details - the perfect tailoring, the silver cufflinks she’d given me last Christmas. “Ready to make an entrance?”

“Yes,” she grabbed her clutch from the entry table. “Let’s go.”

The drive to her parents’ house in Beverly gave me too much time to notice how her dress rose slightly when she crossed her legs and tapped her fingers against her knee to the rhythm of the soft jazz playing through my speakers.

“You’re quiet tonight,” she said.

“Just thinking about your father’s face when he sees how many people showed up to celebrate him.”

“He hates being the center of attention.”

“And yet you convinced him to let Diana throw this party.”

She grinned. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”

We pulled up to the Williams family home - a stunning Victorian James had restored himself over the years. Cars lined both sides of the street, and light spilled from every window.

Inside,the house buzzed with energy. Diana had transformed the space with elegant silver and blue decorations. The scent of her famous gumbo mixed with laughter and music.

“There’s my girl!” James’s voice boomed across the room. He wrapped Autumn in a bear hug before turning to me. “And my second favorite troublemaker.”

I handed him the gift box. “Happy retirement, Uncle James.”

His eyes lit up at the bourbon. “Now, this is why you’re my favorite almost-son.”

“I thought Michael was your favorite almost-son,” Diana appeared, classy in a silver dress that matched her decorations.

“Michaelishis son,” I pointed out. “I had to earn my spot.”

“Through bribery, apparently.” Autumn bumped my shoulder with hers.

“Through loyalty,” James corrected his hand heavy on my shoulder. “Twenty years of it.”

Diana pulled Autumn away to greet other guests, leaving me with James. He studied the crowd with satisfaction.

“Every time I see you two, my mind drifts back to when you thought you could sneak out of this house without me knowing,” he said.

“We never actually made it past the creaky step.”

“Neither did Michael, but at least he tried alone. You two were always in it together.” He gave me a sideways look. “Still are.”

“Some things don’t change.”

“And some things should.” He took a sip of his new bourbon. “You’re not kids anymore, son.”

Before I could respond, Michael’s twins attacked my legs. “Uncle Ty!”

I scooped them both up, their small arms wrapping around my neck. “There are my favorite monsters!”

“Are you gonna marry Aunt Autumn?” Madison asked with all the directness of a seven-year-old.

James choked on his bourbon.

“Why would you ask that, princess?” I set them down carefully.

“Because Mommy said?—”

“Madison!” Angela appeared, shooting me an apologetic look. “Time for cake.”

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