Page 132 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"Anything?" Her eyebrow lifted and the cuteness was gone.
"So wicked, Becca. So wicked."
"Come join us. Get dressed and stop teasing me." She whispered the last bit.
"All right. Be there in a minute." I dropped the call and the towel and found a pair of wind pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt. After pulling my jacket over my shoulders, I stopped by the bathroom and ran my fingers through my hair. I wished I looked a little older, but hopefully I'd get a few greys like my father had. That would help make her feel better about my age, and she was the only one I cared to impress.
"Hey, buddy." Parker walked down the hall toward me with a smile on his face. "You survive last night?"
I wasn't much of a kiss and tell kinda guy. "Meaning?"
"The liquor. I felt like shit at five this morning when I rolled over for the first time." He shrugged and moved up beside me as we made our way to the lobby.
"You got up at five?" I scanned the large foyer in front of us, looking for Becca.
"Yep. That's what old people do." He snorted. "As if thirties are old. I sound like Rebecca."
"I think it's just a habit anyone can get into regardless of age. Get up at five for a few months and you're going to reset your internal clock. Just how we function."
"You make that shit up or what?" He chuckled and patted my back. "We skiing today?"
"I plan on trying. Are you a good skier?"
"Good is pushing it a little. I can stay upright, but that's about it." He pointed toward the breakfast restaurant near the front of the hotel. "There they are. I'd know Rebecca's dark red hair anywhere. It was a little lighter when we were kids, but it's beautiful nevertheless."
I glanced over at him, a little jealous that he knew her when they were younger. I bit my tongue and held back my questions and comments. No need to feel anything other than excited. Parker had her past, but I had her future.
"Here you go, guys." A tall guy near the center of the foyer handed us a flyer. "The Christmas program begins tomorrow night at six on the dot. The kids from the neighborhoods around will be singing for us. You should come. Bring your significant others."
"Thanks." I took the flyer and walked into the restaurant.
"What's that?" Becca moved up beside me, leaning in for a kiss as I stopped by the buffet.
"A Christmas program tomorrow. The guy just handed it to us." I handed her the flyer and pulled her close for another kiss or two.
"I'm not going to that sappy shit." Parker set the flyer on a table near him and walked toward the food. "Kids. No thanks."
I smiled at Becca and offered her my arm. "You already eat?"
"No. I was waiting for you." She slipped her arm into mine and we walked toward the front of the buffet. "You want to go to the Christmas program?"
"I want to do whatever you want to do." I released her and grabbed a plate. "Let me rephrase that. I want to eat and then do whatever you want to do."
I couldn't help but scan the room for my little sister. I hadn't heard from her all night, not that I expected to, but something inside of me churned with the need to make sure she was okay and having a good time.
"She's already on the slopes." Becca moved past me. "I told her we would join them in a little while."
"Perfect." I handed her a plate and moved up behind her to grab the tongs for the bacon. She needed to know now that I loved bacon almost as much as I loved her. Something told me she would understand when she filled half her plate with the greasy stuff.
"Don't judge. I love bacon." She smiled.
"I didn't think I could love you any more than I already do, but it just happened." I chuckled as her cheeks burned red.
I'd go to the sappy Christmas program, down the black diamond slopes, anywhere she wanted to go. As long as she was there... I would be too.
* * *
"Wow. I seriously forgot how hard that was." I pressed my hands to my knees and took in large gulps of air. "And here I thought I was in shape."
