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“Everything is fixable,” Eli commented, holding his arm out as Callie skipped over, a sprig of mistletoe in her hand. “Van, did you need a word with Mack? We can go hang the thing on the tree.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
Callie waved at Mack. She wore a giant round ball made of… wool? Cotton? Something fluffy and incredibly white. “I’m a snowball!”
Ah, that explained it. Some of it, anyway. “Oh, I see. And a pretty snowball you are.”
“Thank you!” She held the mistletoe up to Evander, barely reaching his throat. “Kiss it for good luck, Daddy Vander.”
He snorted and picked her up by the waist so she could hold it over his head. Kissing her slowly, thoroughly, until her arms went limp. “There. Go put it on the tree before the luck runs out.”
She hummed, licking her lips, and quietly took Eli’s hand. They headed for the massive Christmas tree in the corner by the fire, decorated in so many lights, the damn thing looked like a solar system gone mad.
“Mistletoeonthe tree?” Mack asked dubiously.
“Little logic. We don’t argue, we just go with it.” Grinning, Evander slid into the opposite seat. “I’m not going to take up a lot of time discussing business, not tonight. Just wanted to make sure you were still doing okay with the changes you’re implementing.”
“I’m excited, actually. It’s completely different to anything we’ve worked on before, certainly safer for mankind. Adult video games, sex toys, and VR units,” he said with a laugh, still astonished. “Who’d have thought it?”
“You’ll build an empire,” Evander told him.
“Wewill, partner. I think half the team are spending their holidays designing systems and programs. The ones who’ve stayed are certainly enthusiastic.”
“As are we.” Evander’s attention veered toward the doors, then he tapped his hand on the table. “She’s a vision, Mack. Congratulations.”
Mack followed his line of sight, sitting up straighter as Liam escorted their girl into the party. She was positively glowing, even though he could tell from here she’d been crying.
The candy cane costume she’d had on when he left was no more—evidently some things were not fixable—but the dress he and Liam had bought her in case of such an emergency turned her into a Christmas princess.
Red material covered her arms, hiding the psoriasis outbreak she was suffering through right now, dipping down to exposethe barest hint of cleavage. It shaped her upper body, tapered down to her waist, then flared out to stop a few inches above her ankles.
From her hips down, the skirt was adorned with a myriad of different sized snowflakes, along with a snowman on one side and a red-nosed Rudolph on the other.
While it was perfectly suited for a Little, it was just as fitting for an adult with a playful side.
The kitten heels they’d got at the same time lifted her an inch or two, matching the color of the dress, and all that wonderful hair was curled into ringlets, scattered through with pretty, glittery snowflakes.
How the hell had he gotten so lucky?
Mack rose, giving Evander a nod as his friend went to join his family, and stepped out to meet his own. Nothing felt as right as having her in his arms, feeling Liam’s come around them both. “Pixie, you take my breath away.”
She smiled shyly, tipping her face back to watch his eyes. There were tear tracks, faint but there, on her cheeks, and her eyes were slightly swollen and irritated. “I feel pretty.”
Now that was a rare statement. Shooting Liam a stunned look, he cupped her face, gently wiping away the trace of her earlier upset. “Sierra, you’re the most beautiful woman here tonight. Maybe we should hide you from Master Merrick, he might not be able to contain himself.”
A brilliant flush conveyed her pleasure at the compliment. “We saw him outside. Daddy Liam said he could look but not touch.”
“I bet that went down well.” Kissing her sweetly, he met Liam’s eyes again, silently seeking confirmation. When he got a nod, he relaxed slightly. Using the code they’d worked out earlier, he asked, “Are we dancing now or later?”
Liam studied the room. “I think now is a good time. Everyone’s here.”
Everyone who mattered, aside from their friends at Avalon. Mack knew it didn’t sit well with Liam that their family from Phoenix weren’t there, but arrangements were already being made for a trip home the following week.
They both took a step back, and Liam reached into his pocket.
Mack held his hand out, feeling the ring slide onto his palm. The metal was warm from Liam’s body heat, and he closed his fingers around the symbol of his future.
When he’d learned Liam already had plans to propose, ring included, before Mack came into their lives, he’d fully expected to tag along with what Liam already had in mind. Instead, they’d worked together over the past few weeks to create a proposal that suited both of them and their love for Sierra.
