Page 30 of Christmas Promises

“Max, honestly, do you have to compete with a seven-year-old?” Grace said, shaking her head.

“You’re the one who made this a contest, Mother,” Max said, eyes twinkling. “I’m only going along with your twisted rules.”

Grace turned to pull yet another batch of cookies out of the oven and set it on the counter to cool. In the meantime, Laney showed the kids how to do the piping with more precision. “You need to add just a little more pressure, like this.”

Lily’s brow wrinkled in concentration as she tried to pipe bulbs onto a Christmas tree. They turned out to be more like misshapen hats than bulbs. “I can’t do it.”

“Looks good to me.” Max reached across the counter to snatch up the cookie. “And now I’m going to eat it.”

“No, Max!” Lily squealed, grabbing for the cookie as everyone laughed. “It’s not time. Gigi will get mad.”

“Gigi’s not the boss of me.” Max shoved the entire cookie into his mouth.

“Are you trying to eliminate the competition?” Abby asked. “Because looking at your contributions, Max—and I don’t mean to kill your dreams—but you’re not going to win.”

Laney stifled a laugh as she took in the cookies that Max had decorated. They looked as if he’d tried to imitate a Jackson Pollock painting with the sprinkles. They occupied every millimeter of his cookies.

“He’s going for an abstract vibe,” Laney said.

“Yes, that’s it,” Max said, laughing. “Finally, someone who understands my artistic vision.”

Laney glanced around the kitchen, feeling the love among them all. Next to her, Nolan, whispered once again into her ear. “I told you they’d love you.”

She met his gaze and said softly, hoping no one else could hear, “Thank you for bringing me. This is a blast.”

“You’re welcome here anytime,” Nolan said, a look in his eyes that held promises for a future together. As outlandish as it sounded, Laney was starting to believe they might just have one.

This was what a big, messy, loving family felt like. She couldn’t help but compare it to the quiet holidays she’d had at home with her parents. There hadn’t been anything wrong with them. Her mother had always made everything beautiful and special. Yet this was extra nice. Heartwarming and wholesome. Just what she needed right now after the sordid situation created by Josh and Dahlia.

And really, who cared about them? Not her. Not now, with the gorgeous Nolan Hayes beside her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

8

NOLAN

After a dinner of his mother’s delicious chili and helping with the dishes, Nolan convinced Laney to come out to the firepit for a drink. The rest of the family had gathered around the television to watch one of their favorite Christmas movies, leaving them with some time alone. He loved his family, but having Laney to himself was what he really wanted.

“It’s no wonder you’re so great,” Laney said, accepting a glass of wine from his outstretched hand. “Your family’s delightful in every way.”

“Logan can be kind of intense,” Nolan said. “He promised to be on his best behavior tonight, so he doesn’t upset Mom. Sometimes he causes problems, even though that’s not his intention. He’s extremely loyal and protective of his family. Sometimes he puts his foot in it. He’s been known to be rude to some of the girlfriends we’ve brought to dinner over the years. But you need someone in a crisis—he’s your man.”

Laney had noticed he was the most assertive of the Hayes brothers but not in a bad way. He was simply passionate about his family. “I like every single one of your family members. And the kids are sweet as can be. I never want to leave.”

“Yeah, they’ve all been through some stuff too. I consider it a miracle how everything worked out for them,” Nolan said.

Laney’s eyes stung at the thought of those poor children losing their mother. “That must have been so hard for them.”

“It was. I didn’t know if they were going to make it through, but Abby really stepped up.”

“I’d have never known she wasn’t their real mother. Or Lily’s either.”

“My mom helped Luke raise Lily from the time she was two weeks old until last year when Abby dropped into our lives like a guardian angel.”

“People surprise me all the time—with how decent they can be. How generous.”

“Some can be. And some are the opposite,” Nolan said.

“What happened between you and your fiancée?”

---