by D. A. Young
“And how is Mrs. Sullivan? Still as beautiful as ever I’m sure,” Guy said slyly, as he plucked Ruby out of her Daddy’s arms and twirled her around. While she laughed with joy, he gave Jack an innocent smile. One of his favorite ways to pass time was to give his friends shit. Jack was such an easy target, due to his intense feelings for his wife, that Guy just couldn’t help himself. Unfortunately, neither could Jack. From the moment that Jack first saw Noelle, he was a goner. It’d taken a long time for them to get to where they were now, and in the process, he’d almost lost her. So Jack didn’t take anything with her for granted. Nor did he take kindly to other men looking at her.
“Mrs. Sullivan is heavily pregnant. The same as she was when you last saw her two days ago,” Jack said coolly to Guy, who predicting his next words, had the good sense to cover Ruby’s ears. “And I’ll thank you kindly to keep her name out of your goddam-”
“Hey now, whoa!” Alexei intervened with a chuckle. Jack gave Guy a stare that promised a painful retribution, and he laughed uproariously; soon the rest of the men joined in. Ian just shook his head, but inside he was filled with happiness for the love Jack had for his goddaughter.
“You make it so easy for them to tease you, Jackson,” Ian scolded gently, waving his hand at the men taking turns playing with a giggling Ruby. “Stop taking the bait. These men are your family and would die before betraying you. Surely you must know that?”
Jack frowned. Yeah, he knew that shit, but it still didn’t stop the way he felt about it. One part of him was proud that he was husband to such a smart, accomplished, and lovely woman. The other part was annoyed that men were picturing what it was like to be with said woman; which he could attest was pretty fucking amazing. Noelle was funny, caring, kind, and a great mom.
She burned in the kitchen as well as in the bedroom. And the sex…Jesus, the sex was phenomenal. It got better and better each time they were together— blazing hot, spontaneous, and addicting. Even now at six months pregnant, she was insatiable, with no signs of tiring in sight. Yup, he was a lucky bastard.
“Of course I know that, Ian. I also know how blessed I am to have her, so of course I’m going to let family, friends, and foes know that shit ain’t happenin’,” Jack replied evenly, before turning back to the group.
“All right, y’all!” Jack said to the guys. “This is Ruby’s first, real Christmas tree! Let’s find her a good one. It needs to be big. I like a good ol’ Douglas fir, but Noelle likes a Balsam. So we gotta find a nice compromise that’ll make my woman happy.”
“You should get a Fraser fir then,” Holt said. “The Douglas is too bulky, and the Balsam will drop needles too easily, which you don’t need the little one picking up and putting in her mouth. The Fraser has strong limbs and the ability to retain its short, soft needles, long after cutting. I buy one for the cabin and my folks every year, but this year we’ll be in Gothenburg, Sweden, so I didn’t purchase them.”
Alexei turned and assessed him shrewdly for several long moments. Holt had the feeling the big Russian knew his thoughts regarding his precious daughter, especially the dirty ones. Despite the cold, his neck felt damp with sweat as he nervously waited for the older man to speak. Beside him, Guy chuckled evilly into Ruby’s jumper, while Ian looked on in amusement. From his peripherals, Holt saw Darby, Casey, and Jack, watching him like a pack of velociraptors, waiting for “Indominous” Lex’s command.
Although they were all great friends, that didn’t necessarily mean the brothers approved of his feelings for Katerina. Fuck, he didn’t even know how to define his feelings for her, which was why he was hesitant to do more than just look and flirt. One minute she was the kid sister of some of his best friends tagging along behind them. And now she was this sex kitten that he couldn’t stop thinking about. Kat’s sparkling, brown eyes in a heart-shaped face, her bright, red, bow-shaped lips held him captivated; and he loved how they complemented her smooth, peanut butter complexion. Her dazzling smile and musical laughter brightened up his day, like nothing else could. The only thing Holt was certain of was that he wanted her —underneath him, over him, from behind…
Finally, Alexei nodded his head in agreement. “I think I’ll get one also. Your reasoning is sound, Holton. What I really like is that you did your homework, instead of rushing into something blindly. For instance, you could have made an impulsive move without doing your homework, and it could have ended in disaster for all involved. A man who acts before thinking will always suffer extreme consequences.”
Alexei’s meaning was clear to everyone, and it became just a tad bit awkward as the two men locked eyes. Message received, loud and clear. Holt understood his warning, but wanted to make sure that Alexei understood his also, that contrary to popular belief, silence didn’t mean meekness or weakness.
“I agree, sir. I’m a firm believer in doing my research before making a decision. When I do go after something, it’s because I want it above all else and refuse to let anything stand in my way. I’m not a rash man, nor am I one to be intimidated because of my decisions,” Holt said firmly, continuing to hold the older man’s gaze.
Alexei murmured approvingly. “Good. As long as we’re clear, da?”
“Da,” Holt agreed, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“Think I’ll get one too,” Darby said cheerfully, as he reached for Ruby. The little girl launched herself towards her uncle, and he caught her, “Ginger was just complaining about the lack of holiday décor at Hooligans.”
Jack turned to Guy. “What about you, Pip?”
Guy shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t think so. I’m not really feelin’ it this year.”
“How are you not feelin’ Christmas?” Jack asked incredulously. Guy turned red, as everyone turned to look at him in shock. If you knew nothing else about Guiles Keetoowah-Marquez, you knew that he was a great carpenter who was proud of his Spanish and Cherokee lineage, and that he loved Christmas. Every year he decorated his house for the holidays, complete with at least four Polar Express trains running through it, and he also wore novelty, Christmas pajamas for the entire month of December.
“Nah, figured I’d take off this year. Go visit my folks in Florida. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon after,” he said quietly. How could he explain to them that as long as his sister-in-law Fern was hiding along with his two nephews, it didn’t feel like Christmas to him? Christmas was a fun and festive holiday that you celebrated with your loved ones. But how could he celebrate when they were out there, on the run? Inwardly he cursed his deceased older brother Miguel, then immediately regretted it. It wasn’t his brother’s fault that he had suffered from PTSD.
“Guiles.” When Jack said his government name quietly, he braced himself. His good friend always referred to him as Pip or Pippy. “We’d miss you somethin’ fierce around here, but would understand. Right, fellas?”
Jack walked over and gave him a bear hug with Casey, Holt, Darby, and Ruby joining in, as Alexei and Ian watched approvingly.
***
After they purchased the trees, the guys stood in the long line for hot chocolate and funnel cake.
“Noelle and Avery have been hard at work, transforming the ballroom and gardens into a festive holiday wonderland. They hired fifty extras to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. It’s gonna be perfect,” Jack stated confidently. “This event is just the beginning for the foundation. Eventually, we’ll tackle all sorts of problems that affect us as human beings. Take a look at these pics she sent. I’m gonna have to swear everybody to secrecy. She’d wring my neck if she knew I showed them before she was done.”
He handed the phone to Darby, and they all crowded around him as he started sliding through the pictures. Jack couldn’t help but notice how his middle brother seemed to linger on the ones that featured Avery just a tad bit longer than necessary. “I’m so excited to see what comes from this event. The generous support and donations we’ve received have been amazing. I, for one, can’t wait to start hel
ping where it’s needed.”
Despite already being very busy with the public relations firm and Americana Traditions, Jack had big ideas for the foundation and was working tirelessly to make sure they would come to fruition. His goal was to shed light on other issues women and children were affected by such as: hunger, lack of clean water, and human and drug trafficking. Now that he had a child, the fierce protector in him wanted to make sure nothing bad ever happened to her, especially after what happened between Noelle and her ex.
He and Noelle often discussed the nude photos that Remy Dumont tried to blackmail her with, and they had both come to the conclusion that she had been drugged. Casey’s friends in Interpol had looked long and hard in every crack of Dumont’s background to verify if he had ever done anything like that prior to Noelle, but nothing had turned up. When they went to clear his apartment, the only drugs found were a bottle of Quaaludes in the bathroom cabinet. Noelle confirmed that in the past, the fucker had problems sleeping. It was the only thing that disturbed Jack about the man’s death, that he was gone before he could beat a confession out of him. Because even if Dumont would have readily admitted to his wrong doing; Jack had still planned to beat his ass on principal alone.
Sometimes Jack woke up in a cold sweat, thinking of how sideways shit could have gone for Noelle. What if he’d sold her and then she was auctioned off, like the girl in that movie Taken? It enraged him to the point of wanting to fly to France, dig up the fucking body, and pump it full of lead, just to reassure himself. It was also the reason that Darby’s security firm kept a detail on her, Sidra, and Avery. They also ran background checks on everyone the women came into contact with. The reports went directly to Jack, with his brother’s permission of course. Speaking of which, there was something that he’d been meaning to discuss with his little brother.
“Hey Case, I think Ruby wants to see Santa again. Mind walking with me?” he asked casually.
“No problem, bro. D, make sure to order Ruby’s cake!” Casey yelled over his shoulder as he strolled with Jack to Santa’s Station and they joined the line.
“I’m real glad you made it down, before the snow got heavier,” Jack said warmly, regarding his little brother fondly. “How’ve you been?”
“Good, just busy at work trying to wrap up loose ends before the New Year. What about you? Ready for the new baby?” Casey grinned, watching the biggest smile light up his older brother’s face. After everything they’d been through, no one deserved it more than Jack. Doc’s voice floated into his head.
“I’ll ask the two most important questions. One, why are you wasting your time with this person? Two, what scares you from going after what you want?”
“I’m so ready for him or her. It feels like I hit the lottery for the third time, ya know? I want everyone to know this feeling, especially my family. What about you? Seein’ anybody new?” Jack asked casually. He watched as Ruby gave a big yawn and then settled down in her uncle’s arms. His heart felt like it would burst with all the love inside of him, whenever he looked at the two ladies in his life.
“Nah, I ain’t got time for that right now,” Casey stated flatly. Big fat liar, you’ve got nuthin’ but time. You just don’t have the girl.
“I see.” Jack’s voice was neutral as he peered closer into his brother’s face, watching as his expression changed to one of irritation. “Do you not have time because you’re too busy sneakin’ around with Sidra?”
Casey gritted his teeth in annoyance. He was going to kill Darby. “How do you know about Sidra? Does Noelle know?”
“I know about y’all hooking up because I get the ladies security detail reports every morning. After what happened to Noelle, I wasn’t gonna take the chance of anything bad happening to any of them. Sidra and Avery are now family too,” Jack said seriously. “No, I don’t think Noelle knows yet. She still continues to place you at opposite ends of the dinner table and still gives Sidra her utensils right before we are about to eat. Actually, I’m fairly certain she doesn’t. Her family gathering prayer still includes ‘let no blood be shed on this wonderful meal we are about to receive’.”
Casey bristled with irritation. “How do you know she’s not talking about anybody else? There are a lot of people at our gatherings.”
Jack gave a disbelieving snort that was loud enough to startle Ruby, who quickly settled back down against her uncle as he rubbed gently her back. “True, but only one of them is certifiably homicidal. I don’t know where the two of you are headed, but when it’s all said and done, it’s all about Ruby. Are you hearin’ me?”
Casey stiffened. “Who said we’ll be done? Surely the thought of Sidra and I lasting isn’t that inconceivable is it? Are you the only one who gets to be happy?”
Jack shook his head in exasperation. “I want yours and Darby’s happiness more than anything. What’s inconceivable is that you guys are trying to keep it a secret. Have you learned nothing from one of my biggest mistakes with my wife? Women don’t like secrets. Just be careful.”
Casey replied bitterly. “Now that’s where you’re wrong, brother. Some women like secrets way too much.”
Chapter Four
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
If she heard one more Christmas song, she was going to deck someone, Avery Monroe thought to herself irritably, as she fashioned red, gold and green tartan plaid ribbon into big fat bows. The bows were to be placed between the fragrant puff balls of the tall lemon cypress topiaries set at the entrance to the ballroom of the Miramar Resort. Immediately she felt bad for the Scrooge-like thought that was so unlike her.
Avery absolutely loved this time of the year. If she were back home in New York, her apartment would be completely decorated, every room having a different theme. She hadn’t bothered putting up decorations since she was spending the holidays with Noelle and her family. But even if she had been home, Avery doubted she would have gone all out, especially considering how blue she was feeling since her recent break up with Pierce.
“Ms. Monroe, the gourmet marshmallows have arrived. I checked the invoice against the delivery inventory. All flavors are accounted for: cinnamon, vanilla bean, salted caramel, and peppermint white mocha. Where would you like them to go?” The chipper voice shook Avery out of her reverie. She turned around to see Jenny, a young local they’d hired, staring at her expectantly. With her bubbly personality and big, blonde hair, she reminded Avery of Daryl Hannah’s Steel Magnolias character, Annelle, before she found religion.
“Oh, excellent! What did Mr. Winters say about the arrival of the rest of our order?” Avery asked with a bright smile. Although they had a good-sized budget, she and Noelle decided to use local small businesses to give back to the community. Just Desserts, the town’s bakery/confectionary was providing everything for the chocolate bar. Romankov Industries generously offered the alcohol free of charge, from their distillery and winery. Noelle was partnering with the resort’s executive chef on the menu and wonderland-themed desserts. Darby had suggested sleigh rides and hired Hold Your Horses livery stable. The florist, Bloom Where You’re Planted, was scheduled to arrive the day before New Year’s Eve with poinsettias and more lemon cypress.
“He said that since the rest of the order was perishables, he would be delivering personally the day of; oh, and for me to tell you ‘thank you again for your business’,” Jenny repeated dutifully. Avery smiled to herself. The bakery did quite a bit of business, especially during this time of the year. For Mr. Winters to offer to make the delivery himself was a testament to how badly he wanted to see the ballroom. But he would be sorely disappointed as it was off limits to the public until the event.
Every person hired for the fundraiser had to sign non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, along with submitting to
background checks. Darby’s security firm scanned each employee entering the hall and confiscated all phones until the end of the work day.
“Please tell him we appreciate his generous offer, but I will come by to pick them up myself,” Avery replied to her.
“I sure will,” Jenny said, as she looked around the room. “I can’t believe how fantastic everything looks. It’s just so fun, festive, and totally sophisticated!” She smiled at Avery again. “When I was growing up, we had a small Charlie Brown-like tree in the front yard and would have to sit outside if we wanted to enjoy it.”
Avery frowned slightly. Yesterday, Kat Romankov was just saying how her father Alexei, purchased trees for every family in town who celebrated Christmas, if they couldn’t afford it. She also said he’d been doing it for the last twenty-two years. “Are you from around here, Jenny?”
The blonde shook her head, and her big brown eyes appeared troubled for a moment. She hunched over as if trying to hide herself. Finally, she spoke softly, “No, I’m not. I’m actually from a small town in Mississippi.”
