Page 65 of An Undisputed Christmas
"Connor," she whispered urgently, her dark eyes sparkling like she'd discovered treasure, which in Jax’s home, was probable.
"Get up! The kids are already awake. I heard their doors slam open! We're going to miss everything!"
I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow, but the sound of small feet thundering down the hallway, followed by excited whispers, was impossible to ignore.
"Magic doesn't require my conscious participation, sweet girl. It can happen perfectly well with me sleeping.”
"No, it can't," she insisted, poking me again. "You're part of the magic now. You'll regret it if you miss Leo's face when he sees what Santa brought him."
She was too fucking cute to say no to.
"Fine," I muttered, throwing back the covers with resignation.
Sierra's laugh was like Christmas bells as she bounced out of bed, already reaching for her robe. “Good. Now come on, Grinchy. Time to see some Christmas magic."
Hand in hand, we padded quietly down the hallway toward the grand staircase. The house was already alive with warmth, and the tree lights cast everything in warm colors.
The lingering sweetness of last night's cookies mixed with something new—chestnuts roasting in the oven. It smelled like the Christmas mornings I'd had in the Easton household, wrapped up in one sensory experience.
Leo and Avery were in the living room, faces flushed with excitement and wonder. Leo wore his Christmas pajamas, while Avery had managed to pull her tutu over hers and was apparently wearing every piece of sparkly jewelry she owned.
"SANTA CAME!" Avery shrieked the moment she spotted us, pointing dramatically at the tree where presents that definitely hadn't been there last night now sat perfectly arranged. "HE ATE OUR COOKIES AND LEFT A NOTE!"
"The cookies are almost gone," Leo added seriously, holding up the plate that now contained only crumbs and one sad, half-eaten cookie. "And look—he drank the milk too!"
Sure enough, the glass they had carefully filled last night was now mostly empty except for the telltale white residue around the rim. Wade had been thorough in his Santa performance.
"What does the note say?" Sierra asked, settling onto the couch and immediately being claimed by Toffee, who settled into her lap.
"It says we were very good this year," Avery announced proudly, "and that he's proud of how kind Leo is and how nice I am!”
I caught Adrian lurking in the kitchen doorway, looking overly pleased with himself as he sipped what appeared to be his first of many coffees already.
"Impressive attention to detail," I said quietly as I passed him on my way to assess the breakfast situation.
“He’s a professional," he replied with a grin. "Wait until you see the kids' faces when they open their big presents."
Speaking ofwhich, Leo and Avery were currently seriously debating present-opening protocol.
"We have to wait for everyone," Leo was saying with wisdom that made you forget how small he was. "That's the rule."
"But what if Santa's presents are different from family presents?" Avery asked, bouncing slightly on her toes. "What if we can open Santa presents now and family presents later?"
"I think," Sierra smiled, still petting Toffee, "that Santa presents are special morning presents. Family presents can wait until after breakfast."
The cheer that erupted from both children was deafening, and suddenly the living room became a whirlwind of wrapping paper and excited squeals.
I gravitated toward the kitchen, where Isla was indeed pulling a tray of roasted chestnuts from the oven, the smell rich and nutty.
She'd clearly been up for a while—there were cinnamon rolls cooling on the counter, a fruit salad, and the beginnings of a Christmas morning feast.
"Need help?" I gruffed, reaching for the oversized apron hanging on the hook by the stove.
“Definitely,” she replied with a smile. "I was thinking Christmas morning breakfast, maybe some of that French toast thing you make, and lots of bacon, knowing this family.”
"Consider it done.” I was already pulling ingredients from the refrigerator. "Though Adrian's already suggesting cookies for breakfast."
"Cookies are a very valid breakfast choice on Christmas morning," came Adrian's voice from behind me. "Full of energy, easy to eat while opening presents, and they make everything taste better. It's science."
