Page 137 of A Very Merry Mistake

I pull out Claire’s chair for her, and she sits, then I slide in next to her.

“Can I sit by her?” Colby asks Hudson, who looks at Claire.

“I would love that,” she tells Colby. Hudson puts a booster seat in the chair and helps Colby. Then he sits next to him.

I rest my hand on Claire’s thigh, and she meets my gaze, smirking as Lucas and my cousins help carry the food to the table.“Wow,” Claire whispers. “This looks incredible.”

“Remember to save some room for dessert,” Mawmaw tells her. “I still wanna know what your favorite pie is after you taste them all.”

Lucas chuckles. “Y’all are gonna scare her away.”

“Nah,” I say. “CeCe ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

“Taste them all?” CeCe gulps.

“Yes, sweetie,” Mawmaw says with a wink.

We eat family style, with all the food in the middle. The sound of chatter and forks clanking against plates fills the room, along with smiles. I wrap my arm around my girl, and my heart is so fucking full I can’t stop smiling. She’s here with me, and she’s mine.

After dinner, she eats a bite of every pie, and Mawmaw forces her to choose. She decides on the chocolate one with the fluffy whipped cream topping.Then we play Monopoly until everyone’s worn out and make our way back to the house.

Before we step off the porch, Claire grabs me and pulls me into a kiss. I look up and don’t see any mistletoe. She laughs. “That one was just because.”

I take her hand, guide her off the porch, and box her in against the truck with my arms as I slide my tongue into her mouth. We’re insatiable for one another. When I pull away, she’s breathless. “That one was just because,” I repeat.

“Get a room!” Hudson yells.

“I’ve got a whole house,” I tell him as Claire climbs into the truck and I shut the door.

When I climb inside, I glance over at her. “Want me to take you home?”

“With you,” she clarifies, and I smirk as I crank the engine.

“My Little Miss Christmas Miracle.”

“My Little Mr. Make Me Come Three Times in a Row.”

I burst into laughter. “Tonight, we might have to make it four.”

CHAPTER 39

CLAIRE

FIVE DAYS LATER

“You good?” I lean over and whisper into Jake’s ear as the plane takes off.

“As long as you’re with me, yes,” he admits with his eyes closed as he breathes.

I told him that we could drive to New York if he’d prefer. My lawyer called me and said I had to return to the city immediately to review some paperwork my father sent him. He refused to give me any information.

Driving would’ve taken nearly three days to get there and three days back. Plus, driving in the snow wasn’t something either of us wanted to do, so we decided to fly.

When the plane finally lands, we grab our bags, and I spot one of my drivers holding an iPad with my alias on it.

Jake gives me a look, lifting his brow at me with a sexy-as-fuck smirk. “After you, Claire Chester.”

Seeing paparazzi by my car doesn’t faze me, but Jake puts his arm around my shoulders, protecting me. They scream my name and his, and when we get in the car, he smiles at me.

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