A Very Braden Christmas

by Melissa Foster

  “Hugh, relax,” Brianna urged.

  “Fuck that,” Rex said. He looked like he was going to blow smoke out of his ears, which was exactly how Hugh felt. “We need to intervene.”

  “I’m in,” Dane said.

  Treat narrowed his eyes and said, “Agreed. Let’s go.”

  As Josh tried to hand Abigail to Brianna, she said, “No! You cannot do this. You’ll mortify her.”

  “I don’t give a damn,” Hugh said, stepping around her and watching their little girl. “She’s our daughter, and that boy is not stealing her first kiss. She’ll build fantasies from that kiss, dream of him falling in love with her. And for what? So he can move on to the next little girl? Over my dead body.”

  Brianna put her hands on his cheeks, directing his eyes to hers as she said, “That’s what little girls and little boys do. If you screw this up for her, she’ll hate you for it.”

  Hugh’s jaw clenched tight. He’d already hit a few rough patches with their emotional tween daughter, when he’d nixed her attending a boy-girl birthday party and again when he’d caught her talking on the phone with a boy. He looked at his brothers, each of whom were also grinding their teeth and shrugging, as if they didn’t know if it was true, or maybe as if it didn’t matter if it was.

  Treat turned to his wife and said, “Max? What do you think?”

  “It’s true,” Max said. “She’ll think you’re all big pains in her butt and will probably go weeks without talking to any of you. Right now all she’s thinking about is how much she hopes that boy will kiss her. She’s probably discussed it at length with her girlfriends and even practiced with her pillow.”

  “I do not need to know about the pillow,” Hugh said as he looked at Layla in her sparkly dress and matching ballet flats. Brianna, Savannah, and his sisters-in-law had spent forever primping and curling Layla’s hair for her, and now he understood why. They were all in on it, and Hugh and his brothers hadn’t been clued in. When did Layla get so grown up? He’d seen the changes happening over the last two years, as she’d cleaned out her closet, ridding it of fluffy dresses and tiaras, but he hadn’t pictured those things being replaced with a boy. And when had his wife started keeping secrets?

  “You knew about this first-kiss plan and didn’t tell me?” he asked Brianna.

  “Oh, please, Hugh,” Max said. “Like any of us could tell any of you about a first kiss without you losing your minds?”

  “Jade sure as hell better tell me when it’s Joss’s turn,” Rex seethed.

  Brianna laughed. “It’s part of growing up, a rite of passage, and I’m telling you, Hugh, she’ll be livid.”

  Hugh’s protective urges surged forward, and he said, “She’ll get over it.”

  Hugh headed across the barn with his brothers and Brianna in tow, ready to save his little girl from what he was sure would be weeks of a broken heart. As they neared, he heard the group of boys taunting Easton.

  “Easton has a crush!” a scrawny redheaded boy said, as another boy made kissing noises.

  “Easton has a girlfriend!” another boy teased.

  “Why don’t you kiss her, Easton?” a third boy called out, following it up with more kissing noises.

  Hugh was going to tear them apart. His hands fisted at his sides as Easton said something to Layla and then took off running out of the barn, with his posse on his heels.

  Layla burst into tears and ran in the opposite direction. Hugh’s heart shattered.

  “I’m going to kill him,” Hugh seethed, turning to go after Easton.

  Brianna grabbed his hand and said, “He doesn’t need you right now. Our daughter does.”

  “That kid needs to be taught a lesson,” Hugh ground out.

  “We’ve got him and his friends.” Rex looked at their brothers and said, “Let’s go teach those boys to be men.” Rex, Dane, and Josh went after the boys.

  “Damn it,” Treat snapped. “Now we’re picking fights with middle schoolers?”

  As Treat took off after their brothers, Hugh went in search of Layla and found her just outside the back doors, sitting on a haystack on the patio surrounded by her girlfriends. They were patting her on the shoulder, reassuring her and calling Easton all sorts of bad names. Hugh had a few harsh names of his own to add to their list.

  Layla wiped her eyes and looked up at him.

  Her girlfriends said, “Hi, Mr. Braden,” in unison.

  “Hi, girls. Would you mind giving me a minute alone with Layla?”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Braden,” one of her friends said.

  They hugged Layla, each leaving her with a word of encouragement, before they walked away in a huddle. He was glad Layla had such close friends, but as he sat beside her, he wished she didn’t need them for this particular situation.

  “I know what you’re going to say,” she said sullenly.

  Hugh sighed as he took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. “You do? What’s that?”

  “That I’m too young to like a boy.” She fidgeted with the sparkles on her dress.

  Hugh thought about that and about what Brianna had said. “You know what, princess? You’re right. I did want to say that, and I wanted to give that boy a piece of my mind, too, for making you cry. But you’re not a little girl anymore. You’re turning into a beautiful young lady.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m not beautiful.”

  “Oh, honey, you’re so very wrong. That boy picked the most beautiful girl in school to like, and that’s really scary for a boy his age. Heck, it’s scary at any age. He didn’t run away because he didn’t want to kiss you under the mistletoe. He ran away because he wanted to kiss you so much, it scared him.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip. “That’s stupid.”

  He smiled and said, “Boys are stupid sometimes.” He took her small hand in his and said, “I know this hurts right now, and you probably feel like your heart is crushed.”

  She nodded, and he felt his own heart crumble into pieces again.

  “I’m the only one of my friends who hasn’t kissed a boy,” she said woefully.

  “Good,” slipped out before he could check it, and she slumped beside him. “I don’t mean that the way it sounds, sweetheart. What I mean is good, because it means you’re not kissing just any boy. You’re waiting for the right boy.”

  “Easton is the right boy,” she said.

  “Maybe so,” he said, because who the hell knew…It could happen. His own father had met his mother when she was only fourteen, and their love was as true as it got.

  “He’s smart, and funny, and he draws really well. And I love talking to him, Daddy. He’s not like the other boys. He doesn’t say stupid stuff.” She paused, and then she looked at him with her big brown eyes and said, “Do you remember your first kiss?”

  “I do, and do you want to know what I remember most about it?”

  She nodded.

  “I remember feeling like a champion, because I got my first kiss before all my friends did. That gave me bragging rights, and you know how much I like to brag.” That earned him a smile, and he squeezed her hand. “But I don’t even remember the girl’s name, and do you want to know what I think about my first kiss now?”

  She nodded, and he brushed the tears from her cheeks.

  “I wish your mom could have been my first kiss, and part of me pretends she was. When I met your mom, she was almost six years into an eighteen-year plan of not kissing any men until you were off to college. You see, princess, my real first kiss was snuck between classes in the hallway of my middle school. And that girl? She kissed me on a dare, and that kiss gave her bragging rights. But I had to earn my kiss with your mom and prove to her and to myself—and to you—that I was worthy of it. That first kiss was one I’ll never forget.”

  She kicked her legs, fidgeted with her dress, and said, “Thanks, Daddy.”

  Hugh’s heart swelled with love. When he’d married Brianna and adopted Layla, he’d dreamed of these moments, of be
ing Daddy and helping her through hard times.

  “Don’t worry, princess. If Easton’s supposed to be your first kiss, he will be.” He kissed her temple and said, “But maybe next time you want to kiss a boy, you should do it where I don’t have to watch, or you might give your old man a heart attack.”

  She giggled, and Hugh stood up and reached for her hand. “How about you come inside and dance with me?”

  She stood up and handed him his jacket. Then she looked sheepishly at the ground, pushing the toe of her ballet flat into the patio. “Um, Daddy?” She glanced inside the barn, where her friends were huddled together, sneaking glances at them. “Would it be okay if we didn’t dance right now, and I joined my friends instead?”

  So this was what it felt like to be ditched by his little girl. Damn, it stung. “Sure, princess. Go have fun.”

  “Thank you. I love you!” She bounced on her toes and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight and soothing the sting her growing up had caused.

  Chapter Three

  MUSIC FLOATED OUT from the barn as Savannah and her sisters-in-law headed outside to wrangle the kids onto the enormous horse-drawn red wagon for their annual Christmas hayride. Sparkling colorful lights lined the wagon. Hal was holding Bryce, who was fast asleep. Treat and Max’s little boy looked even smaller in his grandpa’s big arms. Finn and Adam were running around in their puffy blue and red parkas and hats and flopping onto their backs in mounds of snow. Dylan and Christian were having a snowball fight and running from Hugh and Treat, slowing long enough only to peg them with snow. Savannah tried to catch Dylan as he ran by, but he slipped through her fingers.

  “Incoming!” Savannah hollered to Treat as Dylan wound up to throw a snowball.

  What a sight it was to see six-foot-six Treat dodging the attack. He swooped Dylan into his arms and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

  Dylan’s arms and legs flailed. “No!” he shouted between fits of giggles. “Dad!”

  Adriana was petting one of the gypsy horses, her favorite breed. Savannah’s cousin Luke lived in nearby Trusty, Colorado, and provided the horses for the holiday hayrides every year. With bells on their tack, red bows in their abundant, silky manes and tails, and gorgeous feathering completely covering their hooves, the beautiful horses gave the evening a fairy-tale feel.

  “Adriana!” Christian shouted.

  Adriana turned, and Christian beaned her with a snowball, then took off running.

  “Daddy!” Adriana hollered as she ran after Christian.

  Without missing a step, Treat scooped Christian up, tossing him over his other shoulder. Both boys hollered and laughed as Treat carried them over to the wagon.

  Little Hal ran past Layla, bumping into her and sending her spinning into Jade’s legs.

  In one swift motion, Rex grabbed Little Hal by the back of his thick blue coat and lifted him up in the air, his son’s legs still running, and said, “Boy, what do you say to your cousin Layla?”

  “Sorry!” Little Hal hollered.

  “You could have hurt her,” Rex said sternly. “What’d I tell you about how you should treat girls?”

  “Da-ad!” Little Hal complained, arms flailing.

  Rex narrowed his eyes and said, “Protect girls because…”

  “We should!” Little Hal said.

  “And be nice because…” Rex urged.

  “We can!” Little Hal said with a proud grin. “Okay, Dad! I will!”

  Rex lowered him into his arms and said something Savannah couldn’t hear. Little Hal nodded vehemently, his face a younger mirror image of his burly father’s. Rex set him on his feet.

  Little Hal went to Layla and said, “I’m sorry for bumping into you.” He wrapped his arms around her, and Layla smiled.

  “That right there,” Jade said, eyeing Rex as she dropped a kiss onto baby Josslyn’s forehead. “That’s the best mama porn ever.”

  Jade’s jet-black hair cascaded out from beneath a red knit hat, falling nearly to her waist. Savannah was surprised that Jade had made it to the event having just had a baby a few weeks ago, but Jade never let anything slow her down.

  Riley joined them, carrying Abigail, who even at twenty months looked just like her mama, with straight brown hair and hazel eyes that seemed to always be smiling. “Look.” She pointed to Dane and Lacy kissing by the barn. “And check out Treat and Max.”

  Treat and Max were sitting on a hay bale in the wagon kissing, each one holding on to the back of a boy’s coat while Christian and Dylan played at their feet.

  “Have you noticed that mayhem follows our families?” Riley said.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to be adding to it.” Savannah put her hand on her belly.

  Riley and Jade looked at her with wide eyes. Riley said, “You’re pregnant?”

  “We are!” Savannah said happily.

  The girls gave her one-armed hugs, congratulating her.

  “I’m so excited!” Riley said.

  “How far along are you?” Jade asked, and before Savannah could respond, she yelled, “Savannah and Jack are pregnant!”

  Cheers and whoops followed as her family gathered around, except Treat and Max, who knew better than to let the wild boys loose. They’d never get them back on the wagon for the hayride. Instead, Treat and Max hollered, “Congratulations!”

  “Another grandbaby?” Hal exclaimed. He hugged Savannah and said, “No snowbound cabin births this time, okay, darlin’?”

  She and Jack had taken a trip to their cabin in the mountains when Savannah was pregnant with Adam, and their bundle of joy had decided to come early. Jack had delivered Adam during a snowstorm.

  “Don’t worry, Daddy. We’re going to move in with you the month before I’m due, just in case,” Savannah teased, as strong arms circled her waist from behind. Her husband’s bearded cheek brushed over her skin as he kissed her.

  “I thought we were waiting until tomorrow at breakfast to tell everyone.” Jack’s deep voice sent rivers of heat through her body.

  “I couldn’t wait.” She turned in his arms, and he pressed his magnificent lips to hers.

  “I’m glad, because I kind of slipped and told Josh earlier.” His dark eyes glimmered with love.

  “Then Josh is in big trouble for not telling me!” Riley said, turning an expectant smile to Josh.

  After hugs and congratulations, everyone finally got on the wagon. The adults sat on hay bales around the sides of the wagon, and the children gathered in the middle on a floor of hay. They were counting heads when Savannah saw Layla and the boy she and her sisters-in-law had stopped Rex and her other brothers from harassing earlier in the night standing by the other wagon. Savannah tapped Brianna’s leg, motioning toward them. Brianna grabbed Hugh’s hand, and Hugh followed her gaze to the kids just as the boy pressed his lips to Layla’s cheek. Hugh’s eyes narrowed, and then Layla smiled, touching her cheek absently as she nodded at something the boy said. The boy went into the barn, and Hugh climbed down from the wagon as Layla approached.

  “Oh boy,” Savannah said softly, worrying that Hugh might give her grief for the kiss.

  Hugh reached a hand out to his daughter, pulling her in for a hug. He leaned down, saying something that Savannah couldn’t hear, and then Layla hugged him again.

  Hugh lifted her onto the wagon, and she ran to Adriana, sitting at Max’s feet, and the girls immediately began whispering. Hugh climbed into the wagon, his loving eyes meeting Brianna’s as he took his seat beside her.

  As the horses began their wintery trek, Bryce was fast asleep in Max’s arms. Dylan sat at Treat’s feet beside Adriana, playing with the other kids, and Treat was looking at his family like they were the only people in the loud, crowded wagon. Josslyn lay sleeping in Jade’s arms, while Rex and Hugh sat sentinel over the mayhem in the middle of the wagon.

  Savannah leaned closer to Jack and said, “Should we tell them the rest of our news?”

  It started snowing, causing more c
ommotion as the kids cheered and tipped their faces up toward the sky, opening their mouths to catch snowflakes on their tongues.

  Jack’s midnight-blue eyes collided with hers, and even after all these years her heart stumbled at their intense connection. Jack had spent several years in the Special Forces. He now worked as a private pilot and ran a survival training program. He’d lost his first wife in a horrendous car accident and had holed away in his mountain cabin for years, until he’d met Savannah and their connection had been too strong to ignore. She had given up on relationships when she’d met Jack, but they’d helped each other heal, and she thanked the heavens above for the man, whom she never wanted to live a day without.

  When Jack opened his mouth to speak, Dane said, “What news?”

  Jack laughed and said, “Guess it’s time to share, angel.”

  “We have news, too,” Lacy said, tucking her corkscrew blond curls behind her ear. “You go first.”

  Savannah laced her fingers with Jack’s and said, “I’m moving my legal practice to Weston.”

  There was a collective gasp, and then everyone spoke at once, asking questions and congratulating them. It was all Savannah could do to smile and try to keep up.

  “That’s fantastic,” Max said. “Will you still work only three days a week?”

  “Yes, three days. That’s the plan right now,” Savannah explained. “Jack and I want to be closer to everyone. We’re going to start looking for a place to live so we can get set up before the baby comes, and we’ll keep our cabin in the mountains.”

  Dylan yelled, “Adam’s moving here!” sparking another bout of cheers among the children.

  “Can I still come to your cabin?” Adriana asked. She loved spending time in the mountains with them.

  “Of course,” Jack said. “You’re my trail buddy.”