Brothers in Blue A Bryson Family Christmas - Jeanne St. James Page 0,16
as he helped her to her feet, escorted her into the bathroom and turned on the jets in the full tub.
He kept a firm grip on her hand as she climbed in, not wanting her to slip, then followed her into the warm water. Before he sat down, he leaned past her and pulled up the blinds that covered the large picture window overlooking the back of their small tree farm.
She saw it at the same time he did. “Ohhhh. It’s snowing! So perfect for Christmas Eve.”
He grimaced and, with a last glance outside at the snow-covered yard and the rows of Christmas trees beyond, settled across from her in the two-person Jacuzzi. “That might make for a messy parade route today.”
“It makes it feel more like Christmas.”
He didn’t mind snow if he didn’t have to work. Or his wife didn’t have to work. Or his boys didn’t have to get into a vehicle, which they did today. “That mountain of presents we bought them, as well as the rest of the family bought them, will no doubt make it feel like Christmas.”
“But it makes the evergreens really pretty and the kids will love it.”
Not only did their small farm butt up next to his parent’s larger farm, his father had planted more evergreens on their property to expand their Christmas tree business. It was one of the reasons Marc bought the place.
Though, he had to completely redo the original farmhouse before he moved in over ten years ago.
He loved the property. It was peaceful. They had a clear view of the mountain range to the north and with their place being right next to his parents’, his father kept the boys involved with the tree farm. They even sometimes hung out with Oliver at the Boneyard Bakery, while Amanda made the organic dog treats she shipped all over the world.
Having all three boys close in age was perfect, with Austin being six, cousin Oliver being five, and their current youngest, Jax, being four.
Yeah, they got into tussles but they got over their little spats quickly. Plus, his pop had no qualms in taking any of the boys by the collar and getting them straightened out. Not only was the man a great father but he was an unbelievable grandfather and lived for his grandkids.
Marc couldn’t ask for more.
Except for baby number three to be a girl. For Leah. She wanted another girl in the house badly and he wanted it for her.
Plus, Hannah was Max’s “Daddy’s Little Girl” and Marc kind of wanted that for himself. But no matter what the baby was, as long as he or she was happy and healthy, they’d be happy.
They had chosen to find out what they were having when Leah was pregnant with Austin and Jax, but this time, they decided they wanted to be surprised.
It was hard waiting. He had to stop from asking Carly, who was Leah’s OB/GYN, just about every time he saw her. Which was a lot. If he cheated and found out behind Leah’s back... And then she discovered he knew? He winced. She would tear his piercings right out of his nipples.
“You’re too far away.” Leah’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
“The tub isn’t that big, Leah. It’s not an Olympic-sized pool. And I have a reason for sitting here.”
“What’s that?”
He pulled his hand from the bubbling water and held his palm out flat. “I’m starting your Christmas gift early.”
She tilted her head and stared at his hand, confused.
“I got you, Mom, Carly and Amanda a full day at the spa. A whole day of pampering for the women in my life.”
“What?” she whispered. She fluttered her eyelashes and shuddered. “I think I just came again.”
He laughed. “I figured you’d like that. I know how uncomfortable you get and maybe this will help just a little, since you insist you only got pregnant again for me.”
“And why are you holding your hand like that?”
“Because, like I said, I’m going to start it early.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “What?”
He rolled his eyes. “Give me your foot.”
Her frown was quickly replaced with a soft smile and as her leg rose from the water, he grabbed it, sliding both hands down her smooth calf, around her ankle and to her foot. The second he wrapped his fingers around it, she groaned.
“I didn’t even do anything yet.”
“I know,” she breathed, “but...”
He held her heel with one hand and began to use the magic fingers of his other on the sole