by Meg Harding
It isn’t till they’re exhausted, limbs heavy and eyelids dragging from being in the sun for so long, that they retreat from the water.
“I’m thinking naps before we get around to making food,” says Brady, the arch of his nose and his cheeks a bright red. Even after all this time living under bright sunshine, Brady still burns rather than tans. He has more freckles than ever, though.
William kisses a salty, burning cheek. “Aloe and then you can nap. You’re not going to be able to move tomorrow.”
Brady groans. “I can’t believe I didn’t think to bring sunscreen.”
William chokes back his laugh.
The kids run ahead, still full of energy that the adults just don’t have. That and they’re not the ones lugging the presents back to the car. Trisha and Ginger split to walk the kids back to the house, while William and Brady go the vehicle route. It’s not a long walk, but if you’re carrying two tons worth of presents it feels like twenty miles.
No, thanks.
The first thing they do when they’re in the car is crank the AC up and aim it right at their faces. They sigh simultaneously, and Brady twines his fingers around William’s, resting their hands on his thigh.
“I used to think Christmas couldn’t be Christmas without snow and nearly freezing to death,” murmurs Brady, his head tilted against the headrest and his eyes closed. A small smile quirks the corners of his lovely mouth.
Because he can, William leans in and kisses the corner closest to him, flicks his tongue out to teasingly prod it. “Do you miss the winter wonderland scene?” If Brady does, next year he’ll take the whole family to Alaska if that’s what Brady wants.
Brady shakes his head. “Nah.” He shifts a little, turning to face William, nipping at the tip of his nose. “I have the one thing I missed. I’m good.”
William goes all soft inside, because he’s a big sap. Even after twenty years of being together, it doesn’t get old. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” he teases.
Brady strokes a finger over his jawline. He smirks. “It’s our line.”
In an athletic move that is no doubt going to leave them sore later, Brady ends up in William’s lap with his hands braced on the seat behind William. From this angle he’s looking down at William, his entire face animated and broadcasting wicked ideas.
“Merry Christmas,” he says, ducking in for a long, slow kiss. They glide their tongues together, rocking their bodies to match the movement of their tongues.
The blaring of the car horn startles them.
Brady’s forehead knocks into William’s nose, and they’re both groaning and laughing, trying to get Brady’s big butt off the steering wheel. William’s eyes are watering, his nose throbbing in time to his heartbeat, but he thinks about the wonderful man in his lap and everything they’ve been through. The years they’ve had and the life they’ve built. How they have more time and so much more they can do together.
It’s funny, he thinks, how a time of year that had once been the constant reminder of the worst thing ever has now become the anniversary of the best thing ever.
Still giggling, he tips his head and swallows Brady’s laughter with his mouth. “Merry Christmas.”
MEG HARDING is a graduate of UCF and is completing a master’s program for publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life, she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.
Blog: megharding.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Cumberstone61
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MegHardingWrites
By Meg Harding
Cursed Miracles
Fixer-Upper
The Last Favor
The Lawyer Under the Tree
Quite the Spectacle
To Arizona
A Trip to Remember
THE CARLISLES
Dinner for One
Will You Be My Escort
Checking It Twice
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cursed Miracles
© 2016 Meg Harding.
Cover Art
© 2016 Catt Ford.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-176-9
Published December 2016
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
