Page 51 of Under the Mistletoe
Logan motioned the next child forward. It was Tyce from the Barlows’ house. The boy ran up and jumped on Logan’s knee. Logan bit back a groan. He was definitely going to have bruises on his thighs tomorrow. “And what do you want to tell Santa?”
The kid pulled out a roughly folded piece of paper from his pocket and drew a deep breath. “I want a squirt gun, remote control car, the new Xbox, a horse, and a ride on the next rocket that goes to space.”
Well, that escalated quickly.
But before Logan could respond, Tyce jumped down and ran off as if his job was done.
Okay then.
Easton was next in line, and Logan motioned him forward. The kid walked up with his hands in his pockets and stared at Logan. Then raised one eyebrow. “Really?”
Logan shrugged and lowered his voice. “The little ones like it.”
Easton glanced back at Alani, who was next, then at Logan. “I’m not sitting on your lap.”
“Good.” Logan laughed as he pointed to the bench next to him. “That’s what that’s for.”
Easton sat down, then leaned close, lowering his voice. “It’s probably better that it’s you anyway. Maybe you can actually help.”
What did he mean by help?
“I want a home for us.” The kid’s voice cracked, and the sound nearly broke Logan.
“What about the Barlows? I thought they were in the process of adoption.”
“I’m not stupid. They haven’t talked about it in weeks. They’re always whispering and exchanging looks. I think we’re too much. It’s like all of a sudden we’re in their way. I don’t blame them. No one wants to take on three kids at once.”
He turned his head away as if trying to gain his composure, then looked back, his eyes slightly redder. “I know we can be a lot. I could be more helpful, Tyce is a spaz, and Alani is quiet. But I just”—he twisted his hands in his lap—“I want a bedroom I can put up a poster in. I want a permanent mom and dad. I want to play Little League this spring and know I’ll get to finish the season and not get moved halfway through. And I just have this gut feeling we’re going to be moving again soon. New town. New friends.” Easton watched his sister a moment, then ducked his head to hide tears as he wiped them away. “I want it for all of us.”
What was Logan supposed to say to that? But evidently, Easton didn’t need an answer, because he stood and walked away. Before Logan could even blink, Alani stood in front of him, her eyes wide. She pointed to his leg and then turned so he could lift her.
As soon as Logan settled her on his leg, she rested her back against him, tucking her head into his shoulder. Everything in him cracked open. Suddenly, he wanted everything Easton had listed for them too. But what could he do? He was a single guy who lived in a remote cabin.
He glanced up and met Devin’s eyes across the room. And he truly understood what she had meant when she said it wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it. After a moment, he set Alani down, and she ran off to join her brothers.
But something felt wrong, like part of him had run away with her. He shook off the feeling. He wasn’t ready for kids yet. First, he needed the girl. And that started with a date.
Devin stood over by the door, grinning from ear to ear. He followed her line of sight, and all his breath whooshed out of him. He rubbed his chest as his brain struggled to catch up with his eyes. What was Liam doing here?
His brother strode in, first hugging his mom, then offering hugs and high fives to half the room. When he finally reached Devin, Liam caught her up around the waist and spun her around once before setting her down.
Everything inside Logan nearly erupted, and Santa had to bite back a few less-than-jolly words. Then his stupid, adventurous, too-charming brother grabbed her face in both hands and kissed her. Not on the lips, but first one cheek then the next. Very European of him. It took every ounce of his self-control to keep the Santa facade up and not march straight across the room. Because ho ho holy cow, he wanted to murder his brother.
No. No, he didn’t. He loved Liam. He. Loved. Liam. He needed to remember that. And yeah, maybe Devin didn’t actually belong to him in any sense of the word, but things had happened between them last night. Things that meant something. Things that Liam couldn’t possibly come between, right?
“Hey, Santa. It’s my turn.” The last kid, a grumpy boy with blond hair, crossed his arms with a pout. Logan motioned him forward, but his gaze kept darting to Liam and Devin. But wait. Where had they gone? Where they had been standing, his mom was now boxing up the leftover cookies.
“Are you going to get it for me or not?” The kid snapped his beard.
“I’ll see what the elves can do.” It had been his standard line all night. He offered the best jolly wave he could handle, then hurried back to the dressing room, tugging at the oversized suit as he went. Now the zipper was stuck.
By the time he got all the pieces off and back out to the main room, his hair was a sweaty mess and most of the kids were gone. He scanned the room for Devin but still came up empty.
Fallon stood by the register, still dressed as Mrs. Claus. “Well, that’s strange.”
“What’s that?” His mom stepped toward her, a box of cookies in her hand.
“The baby Jesus is missing from the Nativity. I’ll have to order a replacement.”
