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Boo? Is that a city thing?
“How’d all those presents get under the tree then, boo?” he quipped, tickling her ribs. “C’mon now.”
The dog jumped up on the bed. Tail wagging a mile a minute, Sunday joined the cause, licking her face.
“Okay,” she shrieked, trying to catch her breath and laughing all at once. “Okay.”
He and Arien were the first ones downstairs. The tree, laden with presents, twinkled beside the cold hearth. “I’ll get a fire going. Why don’t you make us some coffee?”
“Yeah, sure. Everyone’s still asleep.” She swatted his bottom. “I didn’t have to get up so early.”
“Kellan and Dad got up a long time ago.”
“Well, where are they then?”
“I’d guess Kellan’s still cleanin’ up from chores, and my dad is wakin’ up your mama.” The way I wish I could’ve woken you. Tanner winked, swatting her back. “Coffee, girly, and make it strong. Don’t think I got more than three hours of sleep.”
He went left, toward the fireplace.
She went right, into the kitchen.
Hunkered down in front of the hearth, he’d just lit the kindling when Arien came tapping him on the shoulder. “Uh, it’s not there.”
“What’s not there?”
“The coffee pot. It’s gone.”
Chuckling, he hitched his thumb behind him. “You walked right past it.” Then under his breath, he added, “Merry Christmas.”
Her squeal was loud enough to wake the dead.
He and Kellan had built her a hutch, for a coffee bar, that fit in the alcove between the living room and kitchen. Jennifer gave them advice on what to put in it. An espresso machine, milk frother, and one of those fancy-ass Nespresso machines. A variety of syrups—including the pumpkin spice one she loved so much.
Tanner might have been the one to come up with the idea, but it was his brother who ran wild with it. Kellan custom-fitted the drawers with pullouts to organize the pods of coffee and accessories. He even tucked a mini glass-front fridge between the two lower cabinets for water, creamers, and cans of soda.
Arien had his brother wrapped around her little finger and she didn’t even know it. He’d never known Kellan to do stuff like picking out new coffee mugs or chopping down a Christmas tree. But he’d done it. For her.
A card was attached to the espresso machine with a big red bow. Tanner walked toward her as she read it. And then with a running leap, Arien was in his arms. Oof. Her legs encircling his waist, hands clasped around his neck, he held onto her bottom.
“I can’t believe you and Kellan did all this for me.” Bouncing on him there, she kissed his cheek over and over, repeating, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Fucking hell, you’re killin’ me here, girly.
He heard Kellan’s amused chuckle from across the room. Arien must’ve heard it too. She slithered down his chest and made a mad dash for his brother. Flinging herself at him, she about knocked him on his ass.
She smacked a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “You do like me.”
“Maybe a little bit.” He smirked, lifting her up.
Giggling, her fingertips stroked his cheek. “You look ridiculous in reindeer.”
“Oh, yeah?” Kellan squeezed her butt, his gaze slowly traveling down her pajama top. “I think they look damn fine.”
Sandwiching Arien between them, Tanner wrapped his arms around her middle. He kissed on one side of her neck. His brother kissed the other.
And her breath hitched.
See, pretty girl? See how good we are together?
