Page 7 of Merry Little Christmas
Even if Jesse didn’t live at the bottom of a hill, I wouldn’t be arguing. I’d do anything for those McKauleys… especially Peyton. Grabbing my keys, I slipped into my Carhartt jacket and stepped onto the porch, remote-starting my truck to get the heat going. “I’m on my way.” I threw open my front door…
And smashed right into a Peyton-sized shape on my frontporch. They collapsed onto my chest in body-shaking sobs, clinging to me for dear life. The Daddy in me kicked in instantly.
“Shh,” I soothed, guiding them inside. “It’s okay, baby. Get inside; it’s freezing.”
Snow was coming down steadily, and the bitter wind rendered my covered porch useless. Peyton cried, dropping their bag to the floor and wrapping their arms tight around my middle. We stood there in the entryway, my hands combing through their snow-dampened hair and rubbing their back in an attempt to soothe them. They sobbed until I was certain they were about to be sick, and I was prepared for the worst. With one final choke-slash-sob-slash-cough, they inhaled a deep breath, and took a step away from me. “I’m sorry,” they whispered.
“Don’t be; look at me.” They did, and my thumbs made a pathetic attempt at cleaning them up. Makeup ran down their pink cheeks in black rivers. Their eyes, red and irritated, still watered. “Come on. Let’s get you changed and I’ll make you something warm to drink.”
After making them kick out of their shoes, I removed their wet socks and led them by the hand into my ensuite bathroom, which was big enough for both of us to be comfortable. Peyton didn’t argue when I pointed to the closed toilet seat and ordered them to sit. Once they were settled, I removed the pack of makeup wipes from beneath my sink—they were notorious for falling asleep without washing their face.
As I pulled one from the pack and offered it to them, I found them watching me with watery eyes. “You don’t wear makeup,” they blubbered. I guess they’d been too sick before to register what they were.
“But you do.” They accepted the wipe and scrubbed at their cheeks. “Now what happened?”
“A tree branch decided to visit for Christmas.” Peyton sniffled and wiped at their nose, wincing when they caught the hoop through their septum. “Now it’s snowing in my living room.”
I paused to recruit someone to tarp Peyton’s house. I texted him Peyton’s address, and promised to pay him double if he could get it covered before the weather got any worse. “Are you hurt?” I asked them, pocketing my phone again.
“Not from the tree, but I twisted my ankle as I was packing.”
With their foot in my hand, I tested the joint. Peyton grimaced, but didn’t cry out our pull away, so I felt it was safe to assume it was nothing more than irritated. “Once you’re warmed up, I’ll give you some ice for it. Did you bring clothes with you?”
They nodded. “In my bag.”
“Okay, now that the important stuff is out of the way: What the hell were you doing driving in this weather?” Color bloomed over Peyton’s cheeks. It was the “Daddy” voice. I didn’t do it on purpose. It just happened—especially when Peyton was being a little shit… which happened a lot. “Even I wouldn’t have made that drive and I can drive in the snow blindfolded.”
Forget the fact that I was going to do just that in order to get to them.
“I wouldn’t recommend that, it’s dangerous.”
“Peyton…”
Their adorable mouth twitched before they sobered. “I just needed to get out. I couldn’t wait any longer for someone to get to me and with Jesse snowed in…”
They hiccuped, and I dropped the subject. They had made it here safely, after all, and I wasn’t going to let them out of my sight until the snow melted. “Let me get your clothes.”
Once Peyton said I could enter, I set the bag on the counter. Without moving from their spot, they tugged a lounge set free—and the entire bag tumbled to the floor. Peyton flinched at the noise. “It’s okay,” I told them. “I’ve got it.”
Though when I grabbed the bag to set it upright, something small and blue fell out of the side pocket—their pacifier. I looked from Peyton, to the soother and back again. Theflush on their cheeks deepened. “That’s the main reason I came to you instead of Jesse.”
I picked it up, and my heart raced. “Why, Peyton?”
“I need a Daddy.”
Chapter Five
Peyton
I’d been determinedwhen I made the drive over here: I was going to getmyDaddy whether the universe liked it or not. I was sick of waiting, and the unwanted guest in my house was the icing on the cake that was a shitty week.
My hand itched to snatch the soother from him. I knew that Cole wouldn’t have batted an eye if I wanted it, but a snotty nose made it hard to breathe, so I had to pick my battles on the drive over.
Built like a fucking linebacker, no one messed with Cole Davis and in turn, no one messed with me. I also happened to be one of the few who knew he was a total teddy bear, and the kindness in those deep green eyes only confirmed it. Dark hair curled beneath the brim of his Davis Construction cap, teasing at the thick locks that I’d love to run my hands through. They matched the well-manicured beard that I’d spent countless nights fantasizing about feeling against my skin. His lips curled into the crooked grin I’d been in love with for years.
Cheeks on fire, I ducked my gaze to my lap. “You don’t have to.”
“Oh, sweetheart, believe me: I want to. But this needs to bewashed before it goes anywhere near your mouth.” He tossed my pacifier into the sink and hooked a finger under my chin, tipping my gaze to his. “Second, I think we need to have a conversation, don’t you? This is more than me taking care of you when you’re sick.”
