Merry Cherry Christmas - Keira Andrews Page 0,83

was determined not to wait until the very last minute this year. The fire blazed and carols played on the TV. Jeremy noticed something by the mantel he somehow hadn’t spotted earlier. He stepped closer, running his finger over the glittery cursive letters on red felt. “There’s a stocking for me.”

Max was concentrating on taping the wrapping paper shut on one end of the box. “Yeah, of course. You had one last year too. Everyone who’s here for Christmas gets a stocking.”

“But my name’s on this one.” He tentatively scratched at one of the letters. “Like, permanently.”

Max came over, peering at it with a smile. He squeezed Jeremy’s shoulders. “Looks good to me. Like it belongs there.”

Jeremy’s throat was too thick, his eyes burning. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”

They shared a kiss by the crackling fire, “Silent Night” filling the warm silence.

Upstairs, Jeremy shut the door to Max’s room behind him. It still felt strangely momentous even though they’d shared the bed at Max’s apartment plenty of times, and sometimes the narrow twin bed in his dorm. Scared, lonely Jeremy of a year ago seemed a lifetime away.

Max stripped off his sweater by the double bed. Old football trophies gleamed on the bookcase in the low light. Their gazes met, and heat rushed through Jeremy at the hunger in Max’s eyes.

“Think we can be quiet enough?” Max whispered.

Jeremy grinned, then lifted his finger to his lips. “Shh.”

THE END

Thank you so much for reading Merry Cherry Christmas! I hope it brings you warm and fuzzy holiday feels. I’d be grateful if you could take a few minutes to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, social media, or wherever you like. Just a couple of sentences can really help other readers discover the book.

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe holiday season—and many happily ever afters!

Keira

<3

P.S. Keep reading for a peek at how Hunter and Nick from the Christmas tree farm met!

Sitting on the too-hard bench, Nick watched as Hunter reached to straighten his elf hat. His green jacket rode up, giving Nick an excellent view of his perky, rather spectacular ass. He was quite pretty, what with his golden hair wisping over his forehead, a round face and pink lips, freckles on his nose, and deep blue eyes. Too bad he was apparently one of those spoiled millennials who showed up late and only cared about money.

Hunter looked to be in his twenties and probably still lived at home. By his mid-twenties, Nick had been working full time for years and owned a truck and a house. It hadn’t been easy, and he’d worked his way up, learning about forestry and eventually tree farming. He hadn’t expected anything on a silver platter. People of all ages these days seemed more entitled than ever, and Nick had no patience for any of it.

Well, Hunter wasn’t Nick’s business, or his problem. He was playing Santa for two days, and two days only. When the usual Santa had fallen that morning, John had called in a panic, and considering John and Desmond were Nick’s only friends, he’d given in. So this weekend he’d have to deal with people whether he liked it or not.

He thought of John’s instructions: What would Eric have said and done?

As Nick watched Hunter lead a little redheaded girl along the path toward him, he had to smile to himself, hearing Eric’s voice—low, with a mischievous hint to his Scottish brogue.

I’d say you’re being a miserable grouch and that you need to remove the stick from your ass, stat. That’s my professional medical opinion.

Of course Eric was gone, so what did he know? But no, he was right, and Nick made an effort to smile genuinely at the girl, who clung to Hunter’s hand. Maybe Nick’s smiling skills were rusty, since Hunter said to her, “It’s okay, Jessica. Santa’s really friendly, I promise.” He shot Nick a pointed look, eyebrows raised as if daring Nick to prove him wrong. Okay, perhaps there was a bit of sass there, not just eye-rolling millennial petulance.

Nick cleared his throat, pitching his voice a little higher and softer than usual, mimicking the way Eric had spoken to young children. “Hi there, Jessica. It’s wonderful to meet you. Do you want to sit down and tell me what you’d like for Christmas?”

As Jessica hesitantly told him about wanting a sled and some kind of doll that was probably the latest fad, Nick nodded and smiled and pretended he knew exactly what