Page 9 of Stolen Holidays
Rylann notices us first. “Hey, what are you guys doing here?”
“That’s no way to greet your husband, Sunshine.” Jace makes his way to his wife, but I only have one thing on my mind.
The moment her eyes find mine, the rest of the world melts away. She hits me with that brilliant smile—the one that makes my heart skip a beat while simultaneously putting my body at ease—and I’m done for. I make my way towards her in three long strides.
“Princess,” I greet. My voice is unintentionally low and gritty. Hungry. It’s unavoidable. This is what Callie does to me. She makes me feel alive, loved, and always needy for her. I don’t miss the way her cheeks turn pink at my sultry tone.
Without another word, I lift her off her seat and place her sideways on my lap, where she belongs. She wraps her arms around my shoulders as I bury one hand in her hair, cup her cheek with the other, tilt her head to the side, and kiss her. Hard and deep.
Her tongue tangles with mine as we lose ourselves in each other, neither of us caring that we’re surrounded by my family. Callie gives as good as she gets as our mouths move in sync. I poureverything I feel into her, refusing to let her forget, for even a second, how much she means to me.
When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers and breathe in her sweet floral scent. “Fuck, I missed you.”
“It’s only been a few hours.” She snorts, and it’s so fucking cute my chest squeezes.
How on earth did I go for years without her by my side? “A few hours too many.”
“Aren’t you just the sweetest?” Callie cups my jaw in her hands and kisses my lips. “I missed you too, handsome.”
“I’m back!” Scarlett sings as she enters the dining room with a brown paper bag in her hand. Her hands and the bag fall to her side. “What the fuck are you guys doing here?” She looks around the room, and her face twists into a scowl. “And where the hell is my husband?”
“Oh shit. Jace, you left your bestie behind,” Cam jokes as Talia, who is sitting on his lap and looks as thoroughly plump-lipped as Callie, swats him on the shoulder.
“Relax. Levi’s on his way,” Jace says.
Scarlett’s scowl turns back into a grin as she takes the empty seat beside Jace and Rylann. “Okay then. But you still haven’t answered my question. What the hell are you guys doing here?”
“Cam was hungry.” Mason rubs his hand over Emery’s pregnant stomach.
A tinge of jealousy hits me, but I push it away.Soon,I remind myself again.
“Of course he was.” Talia rolls her eyes.
“Hey now. I’ll eat you for dinner if you’re not careful, Itty Bitty.”
Talia blushes, and Cam growls as he buries his face in her neck.
Before, a display like this would have had me losing my appetite, but as I look around the room now and notice that, like me, each of my brothers has his woman on his lap—definitely a Miller thing—I get it. This is the way it was alwayssupposed to be. My brothers and I, with the loves of our lives, spending time together, laughing and sharing meals together.
Our family.
Callie rests her head on my shoulder as I weave my fingers through her hair. Over her head, I glance in Emery’s direction, and she gives me a subtle thumbs-up.
Mason scowls at me. Emery is in her last month of pregnancy, and Mason is not thrilled she’s been helping me plan my wedding. I suggested hiring someone else, but Emery refused to let anyone but her plan the surprise. I sure as hell wasn’t about to turn down my sisters-in-law’s help. She is an amazing event planner, and if she can pull off even a tenth of what she did for Jace and Rylann’s wedding, it will be the most unforgettable day for Callie. Which is all I want.
I would do anything to make Callie happy. That includes turning Christmas Day into the most unforgettable day she could imagine. Our wedding day.
“What have I missed?” Levi asks as he struts into the room and makes a beeline for his wife. He pulls her out of her chair, dips her back, and kisses her full on. The room erupts in catcalls, and they break apart with a laugh. A memory of them all loved up in Hawaii for their wedding takes me back, and I glance over at Rylann and Jace.
So much has changed since then. Hawaii happened before the whole drama with Hudson’s dad went down. Back then, I was carefree, flirty, and having fun sleeping around. Then after it all, I went to the other extreme: closing myself off to relationships, switching into serious mode, and throwing myself into work. Now, it feels like I’ve come full circle. I’m lighter and laugh more. I don’t have the weight of my work holding me back, keeping me from connecting. Keeping me from Callie.
My throat tightens with emotion. Of course, my girl catches it. She misses nothing. Callie always knows what I’m thinking or how I’m feeling.
“Are you okay?” Her dark eyes search mine.
“I’m perfect.” I frame her jaw in my palm and kiss her.
“You like being here with them.”
