Chapter Thirteen

We won't go until we get some

Absorbed in the book, legs stretched out over the sofa with the blanket smushed under his knees, Alexei finished another chapter and glanced up. Devon was gone. Her laptop wasn’t out, so he knew she wasn’t coming right back. He lowered his feet to the floor and flipped his wrist to look at his watch.

Fuck. When had it gotten so late? His stomach rumbled as he realized it was nearly four in the afternoon. Thanks for the warning, pal, he grumbled in response to his belated hunger pangs.

First time he’d read a romance, or anything involving vampires or werewolves for that matter, but, fuck, he was sucked in and couldn’t seem to put it down. She was a hell of a storyteller. And adorably shy about it. How did she come up with this stuff? Who else knew about her moonlighting?

Still in old jeans and a wrinkled tee, he stretched his limbs long and slow to ease the aches from yesterday, then wandered into his bedroom. Well, Charlie’s for now. He flipped open his suitcase and grabbed a fresh shirt. Huh, he hadn’t seen Charlie at all today, and Pike hadn’t come back upstairs.

He checked his phone, and there was a message from Charlie he’d missed. Out shopping with your moms. Back later.

Downstairs was lively with Christmas music blasting from the surround sound, a fire in the hearth, the tree lit and glowing against the white backdrop outside, and night would soon encase the cozy home. His uncle and grandfather were just rounding into the kitchen through the dining room, aimed for the fridge, and Grampa gave him a quick wave as they came into view through the kitchen archway.

Devon was parked in her corner, where she could watch without intruding. Not quite all the way into the kitchen, but close enough to consider it friendly and a part of the group. How long until she settled enough to move all the way in?

She was smiling and laughing about something with Grampa and Kyle, genuine and almost carefree. Her wavy hair was now straight and smooth, she wore a lightweight sweater with a wide neck, the lacy under-tank straps peeking out at the edges, and jeans with more holes than denim, the look topped off with fluffy pink socks. Fuck, if things were different, like the guy in her book, he’d slip in behind her and wrap his arms around her middle, and just…

He heard the garage open behind him, and Lida, Cassie, and Charlie came in, laughing, arms filled with bags of goodies they’d found at the shops. At least the crowds would have been thin, the weather too intense for anyone from outside of town to navigate the roads to get up here. Cassie smacked a kiss on his cheek before turning to help Lida and Charlie with more bags.

Alexei kept walking toward the kitchen. Maybe not park behind Devon, but he wanted to at least give her a sign that he loved what he’d read so far, knowing it had been a huge leap, sharing so much of herself with him.

As he approached from behind her, she didn’t seem to notice.

Grampa waved as he neared and said, “Wondered when you were going to grace us with your presence.”

And he knew Devon was now aware of him, but she didn’t turn. Her cheeks pinked with a blush. He knew when he was being avoided, and in the best possible way.

From around the corner in the kitchen, he heard Triss holler with overenthusiastic festiveness, “Mistletoe.”

“Woohoo. Give that girl a kiss,” Gramma cheered as she and Triss dashed in to witness.

Now his cheeks flamed red. Sightlines were a bitch. Kyle and Grampa halted in place, beers up to their mouths but not making it all the way, as they watched the whole scene unfold. A sprig of mistletoe was tied above the entry to the kitchen, Pike’s “girlfriend” right under it, and… not Pike coming up behind her.

Devon turned in place and rested her hands behind her on the counter, looking up at him like she’d seen a ghost. A hot ghost that made her nip her lip shyly, her chest move up and down like she couldn’t seem to get enough air.

As she seemed to realize her mistake, Gramma’s eyes bugged out and she smacked her hands over her mouth.

Equally thrown, Triss’s mouth popped open and closed like a fish out of water.

“Well? Do the job,” Grampa said, a wicked grin wrinkling his cheeks, and he raised his glass. “Can’t risk insulting the spirit of Christmas by not giving a pretty lady a kiss under the mistletoe.”

Double fuck.

Devon tipped her chin up, as if daring him to accept the challenge.

The room fell into silence, the whiteout encasing the home like a shaken snow globe.

Alexei shifted closer and framed his hands on either side of Devon’s, on the rough edge of the granite counter, his palms aching as he closed his grip over stone.

She didn’t move, her gaze tracing the contours of his lips before capturing his look. “Well?” she whispered, as if she needed to know as badly as he did.

His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to burst open and send him sinking to a pile on the floor at her feet.

As he leaned in, her head tilted just enough, guiding him to exactly where she wanted him. A breath away, his eyes fluttered close on instinct, and his lips touched hers.

Probably should have gone for a quick peck on the cheek.

But, he was a hopeless fuckhead.

No more than a second. Maybe longer. However long it lasted, it wasn’t nearly enough. And lasted way longer than it should have.

Sweet, generous, her lips parted a margin and settled over his upper lip.

Open just enough, he closed his lips over her lower.

Thrill surged through him, and he burned for more. Pressure, subtle and sweet, she claimed him. Gripping the stone counter tighter, the rough edge pressed into his skin, he sank in deeper.

At the precipice of something incredible, he ended the kiss, before he did something irreparably stupid and adjusted his angle, opened further, shifted, deepened the kiss, impatient to explore more of her.

And he wished to hell he had and ignored the curious judgment from his family that would think things on the third floor were venturing into dangerous territory.

Behind him, Cassie whooped, “That’s my boy. Mistletoe for the win.”

What? He released Devon and pushed off the counter, tracing his tongue over the crease of his lips, nipping at the edge to relieve the ache at being ripped away before he was ready. Head swimming and coherence intangible, he cleared his throat and mumbled, “Hey.”

“Hey,” Devon said softly, shifting in place and folding her arms over her chest. Lips still open the narrowest margin, she teased a curious smile, and he wanted to say something. To say, to hell with it all, and lean back in and kiss her again.

“What did I miss?” Pike said as the basement door clicked closed behind him. “Sounds like a party up here.”

Alexei backed away and stopped in front of his cousin. “Hey, I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “I owe you for that present we went in on together.”

Pike nodded vaguely, seeming to catch his drift. “Yeah. I still owe you for breakfast yesterday.”

He glanced to the kitchen, the wall of cautious and thrilled looks from his entire family before they nervously pretended to be busy.

Pike nodded toward the front door. “I, uh, left my wallet in my car.”

Alexei looked back at Devon, unsure what to say. Instead, he held up a finger to let her know he needed a minute. She nodded and took a steadying breath before turning back to grab her drink and sneaking out of range of the mistletoe.

Hardly pausing at the entry, he stuffed his feet in his boots and shoved out the front door while Pike grabbed boots and a coat. He halted on the porch and leaned against the post, jarring his head against the jagged stone and closing his eyes. Fuck. Up.

Pike slipped outside a moment later, warmth from the house washing over him for a brief instant before the golf ball sized snowflakes rushed him with a gust of wind.

“So,” Pike said as he slipped his arms into his coat and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

A pair of headlights pierced the fog below, its tires nearly silent over the endlessly deepening snow that already needed another plow job.

Alexei couldn’t find words and resorted to a grunt. He finally met his cousin’s look.

Pike rocked back on his heels, releasing a pent-up sigh. “We should probably clear things up.”

“Yeah,” Alexei huffed, clenching his fingertips in his hair, the tension not even coming close to bringing the relief he craved. “Did you, uh, catch everything that happened… just now?”

Pike snorted a laugh, glancing back toward the house, then raised his pierced eyebrow at Alexei. “Are you referring to you kissing Devon, half the room cheering about it, or the other half looking confused?”

“All of the above, I guess. I was more worried about you.”

Jaw tightening, Pike nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. Finally, he said, “Since when is there mistletoe in the kitchen?”

“Notice how Devon hangs out at that very corner? I think that was very intentional.”

“As in, they don’t think I’m affectionate enough?” Pike laughed, his chest rising with the rapid chuckle.

Alexei felt the corners of his mouth quirking up in a devilish grin, wondering how the hell to word it. “I know you and Devon aren’t actually dating. And I think I’m not the only one who figured it out.”

“Bet you figured out I was sleeping alone when you tried to crash there.” Pike’s lopsided grin broadened, and he said, “You wouldn’t be sleeping on the couch if you and Charlie were still together.”

Alexei felt a laugh bubble up in his chest, and he crashed his head against the wall again. “Did we seriously get manipulated?”

“I think they’ve been scheming,” Pike said, leaning against the opposite post and crossing one foot over the other.

Alexei’s laugh erupted from his throat, hoarse in the chill evening. “Where do they come off, trying to beat us at our own game? How much do you want to wager, that they’ve got a bet going on us?”

“How long since you and Charlie—”

“A few weeks ago.”

“Shit.” Pike shifted his posture, finally stepping back and leaning against the post. “I mean, you two seemed to get along well, but, I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Not your style of relationship.”

“And what is my style?” Alexei felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise, irritation ripe as he guessed where this was going. Not the first time they’d ragged on each other for fucking up a good thing.

“Efficient.”

“Wow. Fuck. I don’t do it on purpose. I’m not about to hang out in a doomed relationship like—”

“Like me?”

“Like Charlie.”

Pike snorted, his eyebrow raising as he met his look. “I’m really sorry things didn’t work out. I thought Charlie was the best thing that could happen to you.”

“She was. Is. I mean, we’ve always been buds. I figured, if I was capable of making it work with anyone, it would be her.”

Another car came tearing down the road, snow blasting in all directions as the spiffed-up truck risked a shitty night in a frozen ditch so they could look badass.

Alexei folded his arms over his chest and released a sigh. “Never date a good friend. After that initial sex binge after a mutual dry spell, you fall right back into your normal rhythm and… yeah. Platonic is more natural for us.”

“I mean, at least you went for it, trying to make it work.”

“Yeah? I guess I did. But I hate that I wasted a year of her life.”

Inside the house, things had stayed quiet since the explosion after the mistletoe kiss. Guilt bit him in the ass, ditching Devon after… that.

Pike followed his gaze toward the door. He pushed off the post opposite and said, “We should get back in there.”

“Wait,” he said quickly.

Pike leaned back against the post.

“Do you… where are things at with you and Devon?” Fucking obvious. He chewed a chunk of his cheek.

Pike laughed subtly. “You’re cool. We’re not—”

“Seriously. I mean, I like her, but I won’t if you—”

“No. Really,” Pike said, his tone firm and a smile teasing up the side of his mouth. “She’s cute. She’s fun. I like her too, but it hasn’t amounted to anything more than an interest. The sort that I think—thought—could turn into something. I mean, I’d hoped, but nothing seems to spark between us. I saw that kiss. Maybe pretty PG on the surface, but… I could tell. It was more than that, wasn’t it?”

Alexei’s shoulders loosened and his lungs released a chest-full of air. “I… I like her. Like, okay, fuck, don’t make fun…”

Pike laughed and said, “No promises.”

A shiver rushed up his spine as the wind blasted the porch with another deluge of snowballs. “I met her yesterday, and I’m already in over my head. I can’t stop looking at her, and finding her looking back and then I can’t think. I can’t even remember my own name. I’m smiling all the time. For no reason.”

Pike grinned and shook his head. “Aw. There’s the romantic in you. I didn’t think he existed.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Alexei said, but he grinned even wider. “This is new territory for me. Not a word, or the rest of the family will pounce and pounce hard.”

Pike pushed off the post and nodded direly. “Got that right. Then they’ll be after me, and…” He shivered dramatically.

“Let’s head in.”

At the door, Pike smacked him on the shoulder, landing a squeeze to make him wait. “I got your back, on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“No bets between you and me, on any of this. No competitiveness, no weirdness. Maybe we were messing around about the down on one knee business, but that was before I literally blew out my knee, and before you blew it with Charlie.”

“Agreed. I can’t risk messing this up. With Devon, everything's… different. I don't know.”

Pike bit the corner of his tongue and laughed under his breath. “Damn, if I’d had any idea you were such a romantic, I wouldn’t have messed with you about relationships all those times.”

Alexei nailed him with a matching smack and walked inside. Pike was laughing now, but Alexei knew he was scared shitless. The other generations were a determined bunch, and as soon as Alexei took the plunge, they’d be after Pike like flies on shit.

Alexei followed Pike in, hanging back and getting a feel for the room as they kicked off their boots. Rosy as rain. Something sweet was baking in the oven, coconut and butter and chocolate. Seven-layer bars? Whatever, it smelled amazing as everything melted together. One floor up, he heard a lively game of cards, his moms and aunt and uncle, no doubt. Gramma and Grampa were sitting quietly in front of the fire, Grampa reading while Gramma had a newspaper folded to work on her daily crossword.

At the sound of the door, Charlie popped her head out from the kitchen. She flashed him an awkward, what-the-fuck smile and motioned the international symbol for, “Beer?”

In front of him, Pike nodded gravely and motioned upstairs.

Charlie nodded a vigorous agreement and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Either intentionally or because they were too caught up in their game, the second-floor inhabitants ignored them. Thank fuck. Last thing Alexei needed was even a single knowing look. He didn’t pause, but walked straight for the sofa. Before he crashed, he double checked that he’d turned off his e-reader, to protect Devon’s secret, and set it on the coffee table, dropped to sit, and settled his feet next to the e-reader.

Pike flicked on the fire and lowered to the opposite end of the L-shaped sofa, thunking his bare feet on the coffee table.

At the soft sound of socked footsteps on the stairs, Alexei’s heart pounded heavy in his chest, and he knew his cheeks flamed red. Wasn’t easy, but he turned his head subtly instead of leaping to his feet excitedly.

Devon and Charlie came up, carrying a round of beers.

Charlie passed him a beer and found a spot in the middle of the sofa. Devon crossed and handed a beer to Pike and said, “Can we talk? In private for a minute?”

He nodded and set his drink on the coffee table, motioning toward her bedroom. Alexei watched as Pike followed Devon out of the room, realizing he had to talk to Charlie. Not that Charlie would be upset he was interested in someone else, but, clearing the air was going to go a long way so he could drop the weirdness and not feel like a complete asshole, taking her all the way up here…

“Hey,” he said, nodding to Charlie.

A knowing smile teasing at her lips, she cradled her beer and took a slow sip. “Hey,” she said, tipping her head in a subtle, snarky nod.

“So. I’ve been played. We, uh, had sort of set a wagerless challenge about getting serious and bringing dates up here, but we were just messing around. I’m realizing how deep we got played. They set this up a year ago, laid the groundwork like pros.”

She shook her head, her smile morphing to puzzled, and she curled her feet onto the cushion.

“Pike invited a coworker he thought was cute, probably because he knew I was bringing you.”

A tsk in her cheek, Charlie gave him the same you-dumbass look her dad was famous for. “And you brought me because you’re competitive. Great holiday spirit.”

“Point is, you and I aren’t actually together, and Pike’s not with Devon. But if the folks downstairs get wind that we’re onto them—”

“Nope,” she said. “Don’t rope me any further into your messed up game. Omission is bad enough. You would seriously keep lying to the people who love you?”

“They started it,” he muttered, feeling even more infantile. He took a breath before trying again. “I admit, I asked you to come primarily because of my Christmas history with Pike, but I really did want you to come, and I don’t want you to spend Christmas alone. But, I mean, look how well it’s worked out for us? Pike and I are not just cousins. We’ve built a strong foundation as friends, in part because of our holiday history. More like brothers, really.”

“You are such a bullshitter,” she said, a huff of a laugh and a headshake letting him know she had his back, but she’d make him work for it.

“Seriously. Charlie. Have you ever witnessed me doing anything, intentionally anyway, to hurt anyone in my family? Or you?”

“No.”

“And…” His cheeks flamed into a blush. Normally, the flirting stage wasn’t so vividly on display for his entire family and his ex. “Okay. The real reason I want to keep things quiet. And it’s going to put you in a really weird position, but I hope to hell you agree, and I will give you anything, anything if you can hang on with me a little longer."

"Alexei—"

No way around it, he blurted it out. "Devon is… I like her. Like, really like her.”

“Ooo, you like her,” Charlie said, making a mocking kissy face and laughing at her own antics.

“Now who’s the child?” he muttered, a chuckle teasing in his throat.

“No hard feelings. I mean, I’d prefer you to at least act heartbroken, but in the absence of you not wailing over the loss of me, not eating, not sleeping—”

“Okay, I get it. Neither of us is heartbroken.”

“Seriously. I’m glad you like her. I’m getting good vibes. You’re still one of my best buds, and I hope that never changes. You never really loved me, and I… well, you know I would think myself in love with a turtle, if he so much as asked me on a second date.”

“Hey,” he said to counter the insult, but he ached to think that she might actually be hurting. Swallowing hard, he fingered the rim of his glass and stared into the bubbling amber liquid. “Every damn time I said I loved you, I hoped one day it would feel different, I don’t know, like it’s supposed to. When I couldn’t make it work with you, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me.”

She rested her hand on his and squeezed, her eyes melty as she did the nurse thing. “There’s nothing wrong with you. We had one night, and I did what I always do and relationshipped you. I’m glad you had the guts to say something, because I would have stayed with you until we were old and gray before I realized we both missed out on something better.”

“I never deserved you.”

“Maybe,” she said, flashing him a sweet wink before releasing him and rising to stand. “Or… maybe you’re exactly what I needed. A lesson in the importance of not clinging. I may have to practice more.”

“Practice?”

“You know me. I relationship every guy I go out with. I’ll have to find someone to practice on, so I know how to walk away when it’s not the real thing. Good god, what if you hadn’t spoken up?”

He huffed a quiet laugh and took a swig of his beer. “When we get back to town, I’ll see what I can do to help.”

She shook her head and backed away.

“In the meantime… if my family catches on that I’m crushing on the woman Pike brought, not only will they see me for the asshole I am, but then the pressure’s seriously on. I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised they tried manipulating me into taking things to the next level with you. Be my wingman? I’ll be yours anytime. I'll even help you find a practice date when we get back to town.”

Charlie traced the back of the sofa, glancing back toward Devon’s room and back again. “You’ve gotten yourself into a hell of a pickle. You want me to continue lying for you, so you can get it on with the new girl?” A mocking smile teased at her lips.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m asking,” he said bluntly. “If it helps, Pike’s always thought you were attractive. He might let you practice on him.”

Charlie rolled her eyes and set her drink down before wandering into the bathroom. While he waited, he grabbed his e-reader again and curled up in the corner of the sofa. Only a few more chapters. Things were looking dire for the vampire, but could his human lover save him from an eternal curse? Or would he be so desperate to keep her, he’d risk everything?

Guilt gnawed at her gut, but she knew it was the right thing to do. She felt Alexei watching as she walked away, leading Pike into her bedroom. Hell, she had sonar set to ping around Alexei, all the time. Not in a creepy way, well, maybe, but when he so much as glanced in her direction, heat rushed into her veins and her body braced for liftoff.

She closed the door behind them and walked to the window.

Pike stood next to her, looking into the swirling, endless snow that masked the valley. He spoke first. “I’m really sorry I ditched you today, and wasn’t able to come skiing with you yesterday.”

“I like being alone. But… I haven’t been alone.”

“I know,” he said softly, passing her a friendly glance.

“Honestly,” she began, wandering back and sitting on the foot of the bed. “When you asked me to come, I thought, Pike’s cute, maybe this will be like a romance novel, and we’ll fall for each other while we’re pretending to be together. The fake date thing is a very popular trope.”

“Am I that transparent? That was exactly my plan. I mean, I was working on it being an actual date, when Helen decided I was looking for a fake date.” He laughed and sat in the desk chair, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, tapping his thumbs rhythmically. “When you first started at the credit union, I’d planned to ask you out, but then you were with Tucker. When you guys broke up, I thought I’d try again, but I was waiting for the right moment. Which, well, this was it, and I blew it.”

“Where are you at now?” she asked, terrified of the answer, immediately wanting to take it back. “I mean, shit, that isn’t what I meant.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, a dimple warming his knowing grin. “I’m pretty sure that kiss under the mistletoe wasn’t unwelcome. And it didn’t bother me. I talked to Alexei. We’re good.”

“So, what now?” she asked.

“Whatever’s going on between you and Alexei, that’s great. It wasn’t hard to figure out he and Charlie broke up, his shit all over the bathroom, the sofa looking slept on. The way he looks at you? Hell, he doesn’t do anything slow or half-assed. Nor does he… know what? I’ll leave it to you to figure him out.”

“You’re sure we’re good? I… wow, I’m feeling like such a dork here, but I really like him. I mean, it’s only been a day, but it hit me so fast. I—”

“Devon? We’ve been friends for six months. I’ve wanted to ask you out because you’re attractive and likeable, and we get along well. No pining was happening. No weirdness. So, I’m not heartbroken that you’re into my cousin instead of me. Disappointed? Yes, of course I am, but I’m good. Fast is good. It’s awesome. I wish to hell I could meet someone who knocked me for such a loop. Don’t ignore it. Gramma and Grampa always said that it was like lightning for them. My parents, Alexei’s, they said the same. They all knew right away. Jenners tend to fall fast and hard.”

Her cheeks flamed red as she imagined the sparks she was feeling were the real thing, that she wasn’t just crushing.

He nodded toward the door. “Actually, it’s perfect you two are into each other. Come on. I’ve got a plan, and I could use your help.”

In the main area, Alexei was slowly sipping his beer, lounging in the corner of the L, his e-reader balanced on his knees. Charlie came out from the bathroom, a curious expression carving a sharp angle in the curve of her eyebrow.

Devon reclaimed her beer and lowered to sit near Alexei, stretching her legs out next to him. Fluttering in her chest, craving a deeper snuggle and wholehearted acceptance, she leaned and whispered in his ear, “All good.”

He bit the edge of his tongue as he turned toward her, that slow smile sending waves of heat over her. His gaze dropped to her mouth. That kiss had floored her. Brief and simple, but stirring on so many levels.

Unfazed, Charlie sat a safe distance away, pulled her legs onto the sofa, and curled up under a chunky knit blanket. “Well.” She glanced around the room, picked up her beer, and her eyebrow raised deviously. “I am relieved this isn’t going to be one of your prior Christmases.”

Alexei tilted his head subtly, a laugh teasing under his breath. “Actually, I think we’re the targets this time.”

Pike nodded. “We fell right into their trap.”

“Hook. Line. And sinker,” Alexei added. He slipped his hand down and laced his fingers with Devon, the newness of the connection sending shocks of thrill exploding in every direction.

Pike tilted his head, mirroring Alexei’s snarky gesture, grinning as he said, “You can’t play a player. Or two.”

“Uh-oh. Nope,” Charlie said, flipping a look back and forth as she glared at Alexei and Pike. “I adore your grandparents, and I am not letting you guys ruin their Christmas again. I agreed to keep this quiet, but I am not contributing toward impending disaster.” Turning toward Devon, Charlie asked, rolling her eyes and leaning deeper into the sofa, “Did they tell you why they both brought fake dates to Christmas?”

Alexei sat up an extra inch and released a heavy sigh. He turned to Devon. “We may have ruined a lot of Christmases, getting… competitive.”

“I wouldn’t say ruined,” Pike said, shrugging deeply. “I mean, I have a lot of great memories. I lost my virginity. Got this eyebrow ring, which I like,” he said, grinning mischievously. “Got good practice asking girls out. Alexei, I know you had a hell of a lot of fun, too. I mean, yeah, we had some fights because of it, but it always ended well. And look, this year’s already working out for the best.”

Alexei turned to Devon, and his beaming grin melted her into a puddle until she wished she could drag him someplace private and finish that kiss. He said, “I mean, we learned it somewhere. I can’t believe we naively took their bait.”

Devon followed, loving a good plot twist. “What if we run a little misdirection?”

“You are as bad as these two,” Charlie said, cradling her hands around her glass and shaking her head. “But I promised Alexei I’d play wingman, and I expect him to do the same for me.” She glugged a sip before muttering, “As I desperately need one to keep me from glomping on to the next guy, whether he’s the right one or not.” She squinted as she considered, finally nodding confidently. “And, well, I get it. I can’t imagine my entire family watching my first kiss with someone.”

Pike tipped a nod at Charlie. “So you’re in?”

She shrugged, easing into a relaxed smile. “Apparently.”

Pike leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He looked to each of them, his dark eyebrow raised and playful, almost devilish with the spike in it. “This may have started for them as a push to get us to settle down. Judging by the differing reactions to the mistletoe, there are a few already thinking Alexei and Devon are having a thing. So I’m guessing they’re paying close attention.”

Alexei bit the side of his tongue and said, “‘Mistletoe for the win?’ They’ve got bets going.”

“At the least, Cassie and Hank are banking on you and me,” Devon said, calculating. “But Mae and Triss thought it was Pike coming into the kitchen when they called out for the mistletoe kiss. I’m not sure where the others stand.”

Charlie shrugged, smiling sheepishly as she said, “Mae asked what I wanted for a housewarming gift, then pretended to have gotten mixed up when I told her I wasn’t moving. I think she was testing to see if Alexei and I were planning on moving in together, or even seeding ideas to take things to the next level.”

A gleam in his eye, Alexei said, “And Grampa flat out said they’re all wondering if I’m going to propose over Christmas, but he said if I was planning to propose, I wouldn’t beat around the bush and would just get down on one knee. They’re playing full contact.”