Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place #6) - Natalie Ann Page 0,54

than her. “And you must be Brian. I’m Sue. Anyone that puts that shine back in my baby’s eyes has a special place in my heart. Come give me a hug.”

Robin started to laugh when Brian looked at her, but he was a good sport and gave her grandmother a hug.

“Grandma,” Rick shouted. “Dad is complaining about the heating bill already because you’ve got the door open.”

Her grandmother laughed. “My Rick. He’s a joker.”

“He’s a lot of things,” Robin said, then moved them into the living room. “Grandpa, this is Brian. Brian, my grandfather, Dan.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said, moving toward her grandfather with his hand out.

“Same. I was told I can’t grill you. That Rick did it already and if I did it too my daughter and wife said I can’t have any dessert. I have to wait to get cheesecake when I’m here because my wife won’t make it.”

Robin giggled. “Grandpa. Cheesecake isn’t good for your diabetes or cholesterol.”

“Don’t you agree with them either, young lady.”

“Want a beer, Brian?” Rick asked. “You’re going to need it to get through this.”

“Sure,” he said.

“I don’t know what my brother was talking about,” she said two hours later. “You didn’t need a beer to get through anything.” They’d all been eating snacks and her mother had dinner in the oven. Once dinner was done, they’d play poker and then open gifts. It was a tradition of sorts she loved to do.

Brian seemed to be enjoying himself and getting along great with everyone. There were no lapses of conversation on anyone’s part and she couldn’t ask for a better day so far.

That is until hours later they were getting ready to leave and her mother said, “Randy, you forgot to put the mistletoe up this year.”

Her father always hung mistletoe up in the house somewhere. Her mother loved it and it was a game of sorts that her father would surprise her with when she least expected it to get a kiss.

Maybe that was why she always thought it was so magical as a kid. That she wanted what her parents had.

“I didn’t forget,” her father said. “It’s right here.” He pulled it out of his pocket and tried to fluff it up from where it was squished. “You need to come give me a kiss now.”

Her mother moved closer and under her father’s arm, his other arm holding the mistletoe over her mother’s head.

“My turn,” Robin said, moving to get it away from her father.

“I think it’d be better if I held it up,” Brian said, pulling it out of her hand and putting it over her head.

“As long as I get to kiss you, I don’t care where you put it.”

She laid her lips to his and knew it might be the best family Christmas Eve she’d ever had. There was no arguing, no dirty looks or quick conversations and whispers. She wasn’t worried if Brian wanted to leave or was enjoying himself.

He’d even wanted to stay longer so he could win a few hands of poker against her father.

Yeah. This was what a holiday felt like when you were in love and she wanted to freeze this moment in time. Hadn’t Brian said before that you had to treasure spontaneous moments? It felt like their relationship was one magical moment after another. Not all spontaneous, but that was fine with her.

23

What We Do

Christmas morning, Brian rolled over and saw Robin sound asleep.

He wasn’t sure what to expect with her family yesterday and last night, but he’d had a blast.

He’d dated over the years and spent holidays with other women and never once did he feel like he belonged as he had with Robin’s family.

They’d gotten home and taken care of the dogs like an old married couple, then gone up to the master bathroom to get ready for bed.

They climbed under the covers and snuggled a little, then her hands started to wander and they ended up messing up the sheets before they both fell into an exhausted slumber.

Now she was still sleeping soundly, so he’d get up and take care of the dogs and then start breakfast. He wanted to plug the lights in on the tree too. He always came downstairs as a kid to put the lights on. “So Santa can find where to put the presents,” his mother used to say.

When he was done with the French toast, he put it in the warmer, made a cup of coffee and called the dogs, “Let’s