Page 31 of Tinsel in Telluride

Well, shit.

Bash looks over his shoulder, his lips painted up in a smart-ass smirk.

He knows exactly what he’s doing. Giving me just enough that I’m practically salivating over every bit of information I can get about Luca, and then withholding the good stuff.

I lift my chin and pretend I’m not completely annoyed. “I see. Then can you at least tell me what Bucket List Christmas is?”

Bash raises a brow as if to say,now you’re asking the right questionand offers me a wicked grin.

“That, I can do.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

LEIGH

“There’s no fucking way.”

“No, seriously, I’ve never seen someone singSanta Babywhile decorating a tree better than Luca in a string bikini.”

“I can corroborate the story,” Holt adds, crossing his finger in an X over his heart—a solemn promise. It’s an almost laughable sight coming from the-wall-of-muscle of an ex-hockey player. He joined us about halfway through Bash’s explanation of Bucket List Christmas and was all too eager to dish the dirt on Luca, claiming he shouldn’t have hidden me from them because I’m cool as shit.

His words, not mine.

Where Bash is a solid wall of muscles and Luca and Enzo are lean and defined, Holt is somewhere in the middle. His red hair and pale, freckled skin are absolutely the standout in the otherwise dark featured group, but it suits him as the hotheaded teeth collector of the group.

“And this was in Bali?” I clarify, mentally taking notes of all the places Bash and Holt have mentioned spending Christmas with Luca and Enzo.

So far there’s been: Belize, Bali, Dubai, Arizona, Thailand, Sydney and Iceland.

Holt nods and snatches a piece of bacon from the plate in the middle of the island. “The first time, yes.”

“There was more than once?” I choke, the visual of Luca in a string bikini both making me laugh and forcing me to clench my thighs at the same time.

I know what he’s packing, and that outfit would absolutely leave little to the imagination.

“What can I say?” Bash shrugs and delivers another three pancakes from the griddle to Holt’s plate. “Tequila makes that man’s clothes fall off. It also entices him to make rather interesting bets. You can’t blame us for taking advantage.”

It amazes me the four of them have been doing this every Christmas for the last seven years. New locations and new adventures, each of them juggling professional careers while Enzo managed their portfolios. It’s mind blowing.

Then again, as someone who doesn’t have any immediate family to celebrate with, it sounds ideal. Especially now that Willow has Bishop and his eleven brothers and sisters to celebrate with. And Indie is generally gone, shooting whatever movie she’s appearing in next. I foresee many Christmases that will be just Zach and me.

And maybe Luca.

I push the ghost of a thought away and focus on the two men in front of me. I can’t help but wonder if their families miss them. Notably the Donatis, who never miss the chance to show off their perfect family.

My stomach flips when I think of Luca and Enzo’s mother, Isabella Donati, and her lips pursed and judgmental stare. Thereis no way she’s ever going to accept Zach. Not when I’m his mother.

So much for the dream of family Christmases.

“You’re thinking too hard again,” Bash chastises, pushing the plate of bacon in my direction. “This trip is about relaxing, not working.”

Unease runs through me and a sarcastic laugh bubbles from the back of my throat. “Well, I was brought here under false pretenses, then.”

And I’m definitely not one to slow down and relax. Nowadays, the one time a year I let myself let loose is for Willow’s Birthday Palooza. Even then, the last one ended up being far less relaxing than anticipated.

“I still can’t believe he lied to all of us.” Holt leans over to check the monitor where Zach is still sleeping soundly.

At least one of us is making the most out of this vacation. The flight, plus fighting bedtime, must have really tired him out because usually he’s up before the sun. Not that I’m complaining. It’s nice getting more than five minutes of uninterrupted adult time. And I’m learning so much about Luca that I’m sure he’d never let slip.

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