Merry Cherry Christmas - Keira Andrews Page 0,56
us inside and stood there with his arms crossed while we went into the confessional one after the other. I was last, and I told the priest my father was making me do it and I had nothing to say. The poor priest shook his head and asked, ‘How many more of you are there?’”
Jeremy laughed. “Did you just sit there in silence for a few minutes?”
“Nah, we talked about the holes in the Habs’ offense. Father Rossi didn’t think prayer would be enough to get past the first round of the playoffs. He was right.”
They cleaned up the rest of the plates, and Jeremy jumped up to help. In the kitchen, Valerie asked, “Can one of you take out the composting, please?” She took a green bucket from under the sink and plunked it on the counter by the back door.
“Max can do it,” Meg said.
Of course, he replied, “You can do it.”
“No. You can.” She tossed a mini pine cone at him from a holiday potpourri in a bowl on the kitchen island.
Max tossed one back. “You.”
“You.”
“You.”
They pelted each other back and forth, and Jeremy laughed, missing Sean. Valerie heaved a dramatic sigh.
“How old are you two?”
Meg shrugged. “We’ll never be too old to throw sh—stuff at each other.” To punctuate her point, she aimed a cinnamon stick at Max. “You do it.”
“I’ll do it!” Jeremy offered, sticking his socked feet into the big pair of rubber Crocs sitting by the door, which he assumed were used for this very purpose. He opened the main door and unlatched the glass screen door.
Max came around the island with a smile. “No, I’ll do it. Go sit down.”
“I’ve got it!” Jeremy was pleased to be helping, and he grabbed the green bucket.
“Thank you, and careful, hon,” Valerie called. “It might be slippery.”
The back porch wasn’t covered and hadn’t been cleared that day, but it was only a few steps. Jeremy crossed to the composter, dumped the bucket, and then closed it with a flourish.
Too much of a flourish, as he momentarily lost his balance, shuffling backwards. On cue, the worn Crocs slid out from under him as he wiped out, landing on his ass on the snowy porch.
Again, seriously?!
“Shit!” Max bolted outside, dropping to his knees before Jeremy. “Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh! Just the clumsiest person ever.” His face burned, and he tried to push himself up, still holding the bucket.
“Oh my goodness!” Valerie exclaimed from the doorway. “Are you hurt? John, you were supposed to salt the back porch!”
Max’s hands were strong on Jeremy’s waist as he lifted him to his feet—and almost off them. “Your tailbone okay?”
“Yeah.” It smarted, but the snow had cushioned his fall a bit, he thought. He looked down. “You’re in your socks,” he said to Max. Max’s feet must have been freezing, but he ignored him, leading Jeremy back into the kitchen, where the rest of the family crowded around.
“I’m fine!” Jeremy insisted.
Meg took the bucket from him. “Are you sure?”
Pierre said, “It’ll put hair on your chest.”
Jeremy had to laugh. “I don’t have much, so that’s good.”
“Papy thinks everything unpleasant puts hair on your chest,” Max said, rubbing Jeremy’s arm.
Valerie shook her head. “I’m so sorry. We can take you to the ER to get checked out.”
“Honestly, I didn’t fall that hard.” Jeremy waved off more concern from Valerie and John, who clearly felt guilty.
“All right. You boys change out of those wet clothes.” Valerie shooed them upstairs.
Along with Max’s wet feet, the knees of his jeans were damp. Jeremy’s butt had taken the brunt of it, but his socks had gotten a little wet too. He flipped on the light in the guest room, surprised when Max followed him in.
“Seriously, I’m fine.”
Max’s brow was furrowed. “You’re sure it doesn’t hurt too much?”
“Positive.” Jeremy bent to peel off his socks and couldn’t hide a wince. Before he knew what was happening, Max was on his knees, his hands steadying on Jeremy’s hips.
“Lift,” he instructed, tapping one of Jeremy’s feet.
Jeremy did as he was told, holding on to Max’s shoulders as Max gently removed his socks and rubbed his cold feet one after the other. His hands were so big, and it felt damn good. Way, way too good. Then those hands were on Jeremy’s fly, and Max was peeling down his jeans, helping Jeremy step out of them.
In the perfect spot to see Jeremy’s dick swell.
Max’s breath caught audibly, and he peered up at Jeremy through thick lashes. His lips parted, and it