The Davenport Christmas Chronicles - Piper Davenport Page 0,23
This isn’t much different.”
“We host Thanksgiving for a couple dozen people, max!” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “And it’s always at our house where I can cook in my own kitchen. Plus, your brothers are usually there to make me laugh. God, I could use some Cullen magic right now. He speaks softly and calms me right down.”
“What the fuck?”
“He also keeps Cameron out of my kitchen.”
Hatch raised an eyebrow. “And Cade?”
“Oh, Cade’s good about staying out of the way.”
Cade was Devon’s dad and a really lovely man. But he hadn’t been a big fan of the fact his kid had joined the club, and made sure Hatch knew his opinion on the subject. But from the second he expressed his concerns, the matter was dropped. Cade didn’t dwell on it and I found that kind of amazing. This family fought like crazy, but loved even harder and I felt honored to be part of it.
“Jesus,” he hissed. “Baby, we’re having dinner with them on Sunday, you’ll get the Wallace fix then.”
“I know. I just wish they were here now,” I admitted.
He smiled gently and made his way to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “What do you need from me?”
I sighed, dropping my face to his chest. “This.”
He chuckled, sliding his hand to my neck. “I got you, Sunshine.”
“Mummy, are you melting down already?” Poppy asked, and I raised my head.
My daughter stood at the huge metal island looking rested and beautiful, and I missed her, damn it. I hadn’t seen her all week. “You’re late.”
She grinned. “I’m two minutes early.”
Her husband, Devon, walked in a few seconds later, laden with grocery bags, setting them on the island. “Hey,” he said. “You need anything?”
“How are you with a potato peeler?” Hatch asked.
“Bring on the spuds,” Devon replied enthusiastically.
I smiled wide. “My heroes.”
“Where are Jamie and Flash?” Poppy asked.
“I’ve got them doing final inventory for the toy drive,” Hatch said.
“Have you checked to see if they’re out there vaping?” she challenged.
I gasped. “Those little ratbags better not be vaping, Connor.”
“Jesus, Sunshine, they’re not vapin’. They’re kids. Poppy’s just takin’ the mickey outta you.”
Him using one of my favorite British sayings did something gooey to my insides, but I ignored and said, “Please go and make sure our children, my babies, are not vaping, darling, or I’m going to lose my shit.”
“They’re not vaping, Mum,” Poppy piped in. “Liam and Case might be, but they’d never drag the boys into it.”
Liam belonged to Ace and Cassidy, and Case was Hawk and Payton’s. Both in high school, both good kids, so if they were vaping, this was a concern for me.
“Poppy,” Hatch growled, and Poppy gave him a cheeky grin.
“Go and make sure Liam and Case aren’t vaping around our kids, please,” I said. “Actually, make sure they’re not vaping, period. You can tell them their auntie will rain hell down upon their beautiful heads if they are.”
“They’re not even here yet,” Hatch pointed out.
“Unless we just haven’t seen them and they snuck out to vape,” I countered.
“Sunshine, they’re not vaping.”
“They probably aren’t, Mum,” Poppy said. “I really am just messing with you.”
I stared at Hatch.
“I will check anyway,” Hatch grumbled, and turned to our daughter. “And you, baby girl, need to stop fuckin’ with your mother, or else.”
“You don’t scare me, old man,” she retorted.
Hatch dropped his head back to the ceiling and swore, then looked at her again. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
She snapped in a Z formation and grinned. “I’m all that and a bag of chips.”
“Jesus,” Devon retorted. “You’re feisty today.”
“I’m feisty every day,” she said, and wrapped her arm around his neck. “And don’t you forget it.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Devon kissed her gently, then went back to peeling potatoes.
Hatch grinned, leaning down to kiss me. “Sparky’s got you covered on the potato front.”
“Thanks, love.”
“Why the hell’s the game not on?” Ace demanded as soon as he walked in, and I rolled my eyes.
“Lemme go deal with that before Ace starts fucking with the TV,” Hatch said, and Devon nodded.
“Lung cancer, Connor. Our babies might have second-hand lung cancer.”
“Jesus,” Hatch said, and laughed. “I’ll check on the boys.”
“Thanks, darling.”
Hatch walked out of the kitchen just as Ace’s wife, Cassidy, walked in, followed by their daughter, Tillie. “We’ve got pies,” Cassidy said, and set them on the counter.
“I love pie,” Devon declared, and Poppy slapped his bum.
“Everyone here is well aware of your pie obsession,” she retorted.
He grinned, flicking water at her, which she managed to