“Do you think Regina would join us for Christmas dinner?”

“Oh, I’m sure she’d be honored,” V answered, glancing around the table at her friends. For months, her mother had been walking the straight and narrow. And honestly, V was proud to say that the relationship she had been denied with her mother during her childhood was finally strengthening to a point where V didn’t feel like she was an afterthought. And though Regina had declined the Walker’s invitation for Thanksgiving, V didn’t see her mother doing it again at Christmas. She hoped.

For the first time, V noticed that Lorrie was actually making a list, but she couldn’t see exactly what she was putting on the page. Guests for Christmas, maybe?

“Wonderful. And what about your parents, Kylie? Do you think Joe and Melissa would join us?”

V watched Kylie as she nodded her head in agreement, also sneaking a glimpse into the living room over V’s shoulder. The woman had barely let Travis and Gage out of her sight, and that dreamy expression on her face was one V recognized all too well. She’d seen it in the mirror a lot in the past year.

“I’m sure they’d be thrilled. We don’t have much of a Christmas tradition, so I doubt it would take much to convince them to come down.”

 “And Zoey, you can let your dad know he doesn’t have a choice,” Lorrie said with a chuckle.

“Will do,” Zoey responded quickly, her eyes alight with the same glow that was on her face. “I’m sure he’ll grumble, but I’ll make sure he’s here.”

Sitting here with the ladies she’d come to think of as family, V felt a strange sensation that buzzed in her veins. Something akin to the intoxicating effect of alcohol, although she certainly wasn’t drunk.

It was crazy what a year could bring. At this time last year, V was suffering from panic attacks and worrying whether Zane was actually going to live or die after he’d been nearly beaten to death right in her front yard. And now, she was filled to overflowing with the love of family. So not only was she enjoying the spirit of the holidays and eternally grateful for all of the blessings in her life, but for V, this was also going to be the first year that Christmas wouldn’t equate to a turkey and mashed potatoes TV dinner.

It wasn’t that she disliked the holidays, but her mother never had been big on the tradition which meant V would normally fend for herself. Since she moved out on her own many years ago, she never bothered her mother during the holidays, preferring not to get involved in whatever short term relationship Regina had going at the time. Without any other family, that usually meant a quiet night at home with her microwave and her television as her only company.

Then again, that was her way of wallowing in her own self-pity because Zoey was usually insisting that she join her.

But this year… this year was different. Her life had changed in significant ways and spending the holidays with her family and friends was actually on the top of her priority list.

Peeking into the living room, she noticed Zane piecing together the artificial tree, mouthing off at his brothers as was usual these days. He was bending over at the waist, and V took a second to admire his sexy ass encased in those well-worn jeans he favored. She made a mental note to have him lose the shirt when he put up their tree. Mmmm…

A few feet away from Zane, Travis and Gage were pulling out strands and strands of Christmas lights while they appeared to be having a serious conversation. Their brief glances into the kitchen told V they were probably talking about Kylie.

On the far side of the room, closest to the fireplace, Beau and Ethan were taking ornaments housed in large plastic bins out of another box, and the twins were sorting other boxes, presumably those that contained outdoor decorations, maybe?

The back door creaked open, causing the women to go silent as they turned toward the noise.

“Where’re you boys at? Get it in gear. Your brothers are out here bitchin’,” Curtis called when he stuck his head in the back door. “Sorry, ladies,” he added with a cheeky grin.

V laughed with the others at the table and watched as Brendon and Braydon gathered up as many boxes as they could fit in their arms before heading toward the kitchen.

“I think Zane was onto something. Why do we do this on Thanksgiving?” Brendon muttered to his twin as they passed through the kitchen, a smirk on his face.

V immediately glanced over at Lorrie to see their mother grinning. “They moan and groan about it every year, but in case you didn’t notice, their father and I never even mentioned putting up the tree or the lights.”

Another round of laughter erupted at the table.

V hadn’t even realized it, but Lorrie was right. No one had instructed the men to move on to the Christmas decorating, although Zane had already informed her before they came over that it was a tradition for them to put up the tree on Thanksgiving evening.

She had to admit, she was rather fond of this tradition, and it would seem that the Walker brothers were too, even if they liked to make everyone think otherwise.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of her first Christmas with Zane. They had to get a tree, ornaments, lights; the whole nine yards. And going out to find the perfect gift for him was something she was anxiously waiting for.

That, and maybe a little extra attention for Zane since, based on the heated look he was sending her, he was looking forward to a different form of celebration entirely.

Chapter Two

♂♂♂♂♂♂♂

Sawyer

He was pretty sure he had mentioned before just how much he hated ladders. More than once at that. So why was it that he was hanging on to the gutter while attaching tiny plastic clips that were too small for his fingers to control?

“Damn, dude, you gonna take all day?” Kaleb muttered from the safety and security of the ground below.

Sawyer didn’t turn to look at him because heights just weren’t his thing and he happened to like the way his head looked right there on his shoulders. No point in trying to rearrange his anatomy by falling to the ground at this point.

Pushing the next clip in place, Sawyer tugged the strand of lights that were half hanging off of the roof, half strung around the ladder and clipped them in place. Hell, he hoped these damn things actually lit up because, if he had to guess, Kaleb hadn’t bothered to check that out before tossing an end up to him.

“Nice. Now, if you get a move on, we might have them up by this Christmas, not the next one.”

“Shut the hell up,” he grumbled to his brother. “I’d like to see you go any faster.”

“Get your ass down then and I’ll show you how it’s done,” Kaleb taunted.

Didn’t need to tell him twice. Without further ado, Sawyer scrambled down the ladder and Vanna White’d his hands toward the ladder as a gesture for his brother to take over.

Instead of standing around to supervise, Sawyer ventured to the stack of boxes that Brendon and Braydon had just brought out. Originally, when he’d snagged Kaleb and their father to join him outside, he had thought they were just going to have to plug up the eight foot tall inflatable Santa Claus that his mother adored. Instead, he’d somehow been talked into the rest of the lights which meant the rest of his evening was shot.

Not that he had any plans anyway. Unless he considered heading out to Moonshiners for the night. Or maybe the bar in the neighboring town. Either way, the only positive on his horizon at the moment was the potential for sex. Considering it was going to be the normal routine of picking up a woman, taking her back to his place or going to hers – which he preferred because he could get away easier – and then either waking up alone, or waking up to find he needed to break some woman’s heart and send her on her way.

That seemed to be the story of his life these days.

Unless…

Nope, there was no reason to go there. If Kennedy Endsley would give him half a chance, he’d be more than willing to substantiate those rumors she’d heard about him. Because yes, he was known as the fun-loving playboy, and he’d rightfully earned that title, thank you very much. Then again, that seemed to be her hang up with him. Or so she said.

Not that he was proud – ok, maybe he was a little proud. Even if that did make him a horn dog. That was life. He had no complaints at the moment. His family was all in good health, the resort was about a month and a half from being complete, Walker Demolition, despite the neglect they’d been giving that company, was still thriving, and he wouldn’t have to spend a night alone if he didn’t want to.

It wasn’t like he needed any more than that. And, as was his motto, he was certainly going to continue to look on the bright side.

♂♀

Kaleb

Watching Sawyer teeter back and forth on the ladder was amusing, but boring as hell. Knowing that he would gladly hand over the task of stringing up the lights, Kaleb continued to rib him until he gave up. And what do you know, twenty minutes later, Kaleb was finished, three strands of lights hanging effortlessly across the front of the house.

“Who’s gonna turn these on?” he hollered toward the twins who were propped on the front porch railing, dangling their feet down one side while they chatted it up like a couple of cackling hens.

“Last time I checked, your legs weren’t broken,” Brendon snapped, laughing. Of course, his comeback was followed by him jumping off of the rail to shove the plug into the wall socket on the porch.