Page 23 of Santa Baby

Nic narrows his eyes, but I speak up before things get too…strained. Well, more strained than they already seem to be. “She’s not his.”

“The hell she isn’t.” His vehemence takes me back and captures my whole attention.

“Chris, Talia is trying to adopt Noelle who was a friend’s baby, but the friend passed away. She and Nic are hoping to be married before the case goes to court, dear.”

“So…you are taking care of a baby that isn’t even yours?” He turns to me and addresses me directly even though I can feel Nic bristle at him even looking over at me. “And you, what? Honey trapped Nic into helping you?”

“You son of a…”

Nic tries to go for his brother, but I step in front of him with Noelle in my arms. His hands fall to my shoulders, and I half expect him to set me out of the way so he can keep going after his brother.

“Nic is helping me with Noelle.” It’s close to the truth. Unfortunately, his is a little closer explanation except Nic isn’t really getting the honey out of the situation.

“Talia and Noelle belong to me.” Nic wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him.

Instead of being cowed, Chris takes the three of us in and narrows his eyes, “Interesting.”

Chris dismisses the threat emanating from Nic and flops back on the couch.

“This proves to be a very interesting couple of weeks. And here I thought I was going to die of boredom, but I think I’ll be just fine spending the next couple of weeks yanking your chain and coming up with ways to torture you, big brother.”

“I’m not here for your entertainment, Chris. If you want something to do, why don’t you try to work for a change.”

“I would, dear brother, but it turns out you aren’t the only one prepping for a wedding.”

“Christopher Cornelius Bell! You did not just drop news that you are engaged while in an argument with your brother?! I know you wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell me important news like that while you are trying to rile your brother up.”

Everyone -even Noelle- turns to look at Anita. Her cheeks are flushed, and she looks like she’s about to murder Chris who no longer looks smug, distant, or mysterious. Now all he looks is apologetic.

“I…was going to tell you, mom. I really was. I just…didn’t know how and then Nic gave me such an easy distraction. You know I can’t stay focused when Nic sets himself up so neatly, just waiting for me to knock his smug as…backside down a peg or two.”

“Well, where is she? Who is she? Am I going to get to meet her before you say I do or are you going to do that without me too?”

Chapter Eighteen

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Nic

“Mother,” I interrupt my mom who is in full rant mode at the moment, “even though I am loving the ass-chewing Chris is getting, Talia needs some rest and I want to make sure she actually has some peace during her rest so if you can…will you watch Noelle for us for a couple of hours?”

My mom’s whole demeanor changes, her eyes start shining, she starts smiling and I can’t help but think Noelle just saved Chris’s life, “Of course, I will. Give me that yummy little Christmas cookie. You’re this Nana’s Christmas cookie, aren’t you? Aren’t you, little angel?”

“Wh…what now? I don’t...,” She starts but I interrupt her.

“Yes, you do.” I bend and scoop her up over my shoulder so I can more easily make it through the rooms and the doors I have to go through before I make it to our room.

“Nic! What are you doing?”

“Angel, you still have the look in your eyes, and I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.” I spot her confused look and go back over my words. I see how they could be about my brother’s impromptu return, “I don’t like the woman who put it there, and I don’t like the situation that put it there, and I am a man who is very good at fixing big problems. So, I’m fixing that look.”

I dump her on the bed and disappear into the bathroom looking for what I need. It doesn’t take me long to find it. I was the one that packed and unpacked it and Talia didn’t even know about it.

When we came in I made sure to lock the door and when I come out it’s to find her looking at it with a crinkled frown on her cute-as-fuck face.

“Why did you…? What is that?”

“One question at a time, baby. One question at a time.” I drop a quick kiss on her head and work my way around to the other side of the bed.

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