youngest Beaumont, and that family never did anything small.
Besides donating the brand-new community center stationed in the heart of downtown, they also hosted a New Year’s Eve party that was rumored to cost in the six figures. Not that Faith had ever been invited, but she’d heard all about it from her regulars at the B-Cubed. So it wasn’t surprising that the budget for Decalin’s advent calendar surpassed most folks’ entire holiday spending.
“Decalin said it was BYOG only and”—Pax shrugged—“I don’t have one.”
That was the golden ticket item that sat at the top of his Christmas list—had been for the past two years. Faith had mixed emotions about getting him a toy gun. It had never become an issue because every time she’d come close to having the money, something would come up. Last Christmas she’d needed new tires, a week before his birthday the fridge had gone out.
Pax toed the ground. “JT said we could both share his, but . . .”
But Pax would be too embarrassed.
“I remembered there were some in the basement,” JT offered, being a good wingman. “They were my dad’s and he never uses them anymore, so I told Pax he could have one.”
Which explained why they were big, black, and incredibly realistic, instead of neon like guns the other kids had.
“Bringing them to the park was my idea,” Pax admitted.
“I thought you were supposed to be helping Mr. Tucker clean out the barn and brush the horses.” She cupped his face, checking him over.
“We did.” Again he shrugged her off. “But we finished early and Ms. Shelby wasn’t home from work yet, and JT’s dad was on the other side of the ranch, so his uncle offered to drive us to the park.”
Ignoring for a moment that JT’s uncle, the one and only Noah Tucker, was standing three feet away, looking mighty fine in a pair of faded button-flies that hugged his backside to perfection, Faith pulled her brother against her.
The moment she wrapped her arms around him, and she could feel that he was safe and unharmed, Faith finally took a breath, a deep calming breath that forced her heart back into a normal rhythm.
“Why didn’t you call?” she asked, not sure if she was still scared or spittin’ mad. “When plans change, you’re supposed to call.”
“We were only going to the park. You let me go there all the time.”
She released him enough to meet his gaze. “And I probably would have. If you had called to check in.”
“I forgot.” Pax dragged out the words, his tone implying that he thought Faith was completely overreacting. The quick glances he gave the SUV said he’d rather climb back in than suffer through one more second of sisterly PDA. Even though his limbs were free of restraints and he appeared unharmed, her panic had already grown so thick she could barely breathe.
Allowing herself a final once-over, Faith forced herself to pull it together.
And she did—only to find everyone else looking back. Pax with apology for scaring her. JT with shock because the “cool” older sister was losing it. And Noah with growing concern.
Show no fear.
Those three words had gotten Faith through a lot worse than a play gun and an unofficial ride in a cop car. She took one last deep breath and buried every speck of fear, every awful memory that had been triggered, and shoved it into her TO BE DEALT WITH: NEVER file.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t call to ask if you were all right with me driving him,” Noah offered. Faith ignored the flutters in her stomach, too warm to blame on nerves. “It won’t happen again. In fact, why don’t you give me your number for next time?”
The big, imposing idiot shot Faith a smile that awoke those Go on, I dare you dimples of his. Faith didn’t know what dare had been cast, but his gaze said it had something to do with her elf costume.
“There won’t be a next time.”
Ignoring Noah’s grin, she plucked the laser gun from Pax’s hand. “As for this. I’m okay with you playing laser tag at Ms. Shelby’s house, but running around town pretending to be commandos with real-looking guns? Never going to happen.” Had Shelby been home, Faith knew the guns would never have left the basement. “Why don’t you give this back to JT so he can store it safely in his uncle’s car? Then be sure to thank Mr. Tucker for the ride.”
“I told you,” Pax mumbled, handing his