Page 219 of Screwged for Christmas

Rich and savory tendrils of chocolate-infused steam wafted up as she poured them each a mug from the brew she’s put one five minutes ago. “I switched up the recipe a little from what Damon had written on the paper beside the machine. Hope he doesn’t mind.” She propped a hip against the counter and eyed Ethan over the rim of her cup with a smile of anticipation. “Whatcha think?”

His eyes rolled back after one long sip. “Mmm.” He took several more, the next one bigger than the last. “Damn, woman! Where did you get this recipe? It’s like Mrs. Marty’s double-dipped chocolate fudge brownies only in liquid form. Every man’s wet dream in a cup. You didn’t melt down her recipe, did you? Because wow, you could open a hot cocoa shop and have everyone in the state flipping for your brew.” He rolled his eyes in an exaggerated manner and the way he licked his lips made her heart swell with pride at making someone happy.

Ethan slapped a hand over his heart. “I love you.” He sat his cup down heavier than needed and motioned for a refill. “If I wasn’t married already to Remy, I would scoop you up and never let you leave my home.”

Her mouth twitched into a grin. “Mr. Romeo, how ye melt me with thy words!” she teased, fluttering her lashes dramatically. “I get the same reaction from every patient I deliver pain meds to, by the way. So the competition would be stiff.”

“Sugar, pain meds. One in the same in my book!”

“What does Remy say about your sweet tooth?”

Ethan grinned wickedly and wiggled his brow and she nearly choked on her own sip of warm chocolate milk from the innuendo.

“You’re bad. Please tell me the rest of the Savage men have a bit more of a filter.”

“Nope. We’re all rugged badasses that don’t know any better than a mountain goat about how to behave in public.”

“Badasses! Ha.”

Ivy jumped at the loud bark of laughter. “You still shiver when your mama calls you by your full name, boy.” A door to the side of the bar swung open and the Savage senior graced the doorway with a smirk hinged high and a beefy hand closing the door behind him. “You boys give your mama wicked heartburn five times a week.”

“Now that is the truth. Never piss off Mama Bear.”

She believed the older Savage.

Ivy kept quiet, sipping her warm milk around a big smile.

Damon’s father placed his warm hand on her shoulder and it encompassed the entire width of her smaller frame with a soft chuckle that lit the soft amber of his eyes. “Sorry, girlie.” He winked.

Dressed in black jeans and a blue and black flannel shirt, she got the fast impression the Savage men shared more than a facial expression. Their fashion choices were right up there with Paul Bunyan. The only thing they were missing were the suspenders and wasn’t that a shame. Well and the blue bull, but who knew what was hiding in these mountains really. But the suspenders, she took a second and imagined what the accessory would look like on Damon.

“Didn’t mean to startle you.” An easy grin played on his lips and she didn’t miss the mischievous spark in his eyes either.

She waved him off. “No worries. I didn’t realize you were in the back.”

“Mrs. Savage likes to kick me out every once in a while, so I come here and help out with the books from time to time.”

Ethan laughed. “You got into her pecan pies again, didn’t you, Pop?”

“Well, damn, boy, she didn’t say they were for dinner.” The Savage elder gave her a couple more pats on the back before greeting his son with a hug and then joined them at the bar.

“Speaking of siblings,” Ethan broke in. “You see Damon anywhere today?”

“This morning with a teenage boy in the back alley and then again about an hour ago. He got into the truck with the white-haired man from last night.”

Both of their brows pinched in confusion.

Okaaaay. “He’s this tall.” She reached above her head about a foot and a half. “White hair and whiter eyes. He has an oddly cold yet easy smile and spoke slow and with intent.”

“Reaper.” Again they reacted in unison.

“What the hell is he doing with him?” Ethan asked his dad.

She looked between them both. “I take it that’s not a common occurrence?”

“About as common as spotting Santa’s eight tiny reindeer.” Ethan quipped, turning on his stool. “Then again, Reaper did say things were changing. That he and his family would be shedding their reclusive ways and rejoining society more.”

Her brows pinched in question.

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