by Jenn Roseton
“Ah-hem.” The delivery man cleared his throat. “Where do you want me to put this tree?”
“We’ll take it. Thanks.” Garrett grabbed the trunk. “Come on, guys.”
In a few minutes, the brothers had carried the tree into the great room and set it up in a large corner of the room that seemed the perfect place for a Christmas tree.
A baby’s cry echoed down the stairs at the same time as another knock sounded on the front door.
“I’ll go,” Phoebe told Cole as he started towards the stairs. She hurried upstairs to tend to their baby Hailey. When she came back down, everyone was gathered around a huge open box full to the brim with glittering Christmas tree ornaments.
“Wow,” she murmured.
“All the kids are going to love decorating the tree.” Cole held out his hand to Phoebe. “We should wait until they’re awake. They won’t want to miss out on this.”
***
Later that night, Maddie curled up next to Garrett in their large bed. After the Christmas decorations had arrived, the supermarket had delivered a huge array of groceries, although nothing resembling a Christmas dinner for ten adults, six children, and a baby.
But Maddie had faith in her husband. She’d met him when she’d been a runaway bride, stranded on the side of the highway, wearing her fancy wedding dress and only having twenty dollars emergency money in her tiny bridal purse. Not only had he rescued her, but he’d given her a job and a place to live at his ranch until she could sort out the tangle her life had become. In the process, she’d fallen in love with him, and although they’d been married for eight years now, she loved him a little more every day.
So if Garrett was confident that Christmas dinner was taken care of, then she believed him.
“This is going to be a great Christmas.” His clean, warm breath brushed the sensitive skin of her neck.
“I know.” She snuggled against him, her hand trailing along the muscled planes of his chest.
“I love you.” His lips caressed hers, and she melted at his touch. She was confident it would always be like this between them, even when they were old and gray.
“I love you, too.” She gasped as his mouth descended lower, then all thought drifted away as she and Garrett became one.
***
“Did you have a good time with the girls today?” Alex asked Laura as she pulled back the bed covers.
“Yes.” The sheets rustled as she scooted into the king-size bed and leaned over to kiss him softly on the mouth. “I can’t believe I didn’t even think about a tree. The twins would have been disappointed if there hadn’t been one.”
“Garrett thought of the tree,” her husband admitted. “And you’ve been run off your feet lately with the boys and the catering company. But don’t worry about Christmas dinner. It’s all taken care of.”
“You know I would have organized it.”
“You cook for me and the twins every day,” he said gruffly. “I want you to have a proper break while we’re here.”
“You know I love cooking for you all,” she reminded him.
“I don’t want you to wear yourself out.” He tilted her chin and kissed her deeply. “What’s the point of having all this--” he gestured to the luxuriously appointed bedroom, “if you don’t have time to enjoy it?”
“You work longer hours than I do,” she chided him.
“I’ve cut down since Tommy and Tyler were born,” he protested.
“Uh-huh.” Her tone was teasing.
“I have.” His lips moved over hers, demanding total surrender.
Minutes later, Laura looked up at her husband, her cheeks flushed. About to turn off the bedside light, her finger stilled on the switch, when he said, “Leave it on. I want to enjoy your beautiful curves.”
***
“She’s asleep.” Cole gazed down at baby Hailey.
“So is Phoebe,” Phoebe murmured, padding into their bedroom and standing beside him. Her heart filled with love and contentment as she watched her infant daughter’s even breathing. When she’d been pregnant with their first child, Cole had insisted on calling her after his wife if it was a girl. When she’d become pregnant a second time, she’d been the one to choose the name.
Cole wrapped his arm around Phoebe’s waist. “Have I told you how much I love you?” Excitement raced down her spine at his low growl.
“Was it yesterday?” She looked up at him, a teasing glint in her eye.
“Then I’ve been very remiss.” He pulled her to him, his hands roving over her curves. “You have no idea how thankful I am you jumped into my car that day.”
“Yes I do,” she whispered, her arms stealing around his neck. “Because I have no idea what I would do without you in my life.”
Eight years ago Phoebe had been on the run with a criminal on her heels. She’d jumped into Cole’s SUV, and he’d used his PI skills to assist her on her quest to have a rare coin valued and returned to its rightful owner. And during their adventure, they’d fallen in love with each other.
“Sweetheart.” He crushed her to him, his lips seeking hers.
Phoebe gave herself up to his kiss, her heart turning over with love for her husband.
***
“Thank you for organizing the tree.” Ellie smiled at Logan. “Penny loves it.”
“I’m glad.” Logan, clad only in black pajama bottoms, pulled back the covers. He quirked an eyebrow. “Coming to bed?”
“In a second.” She ran a brush through her strawberry-blonde hair, then scooted into the large bed, sighing with appreciation at her husband’s muscular torso. After nearly eight years of marriage, the sight never failed to arouse her. “How are the plans for Christmas dinner progressing?”
Logan drew her against him. “Alex has everything under control. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Penny is asleep next door.” She snuggled against him, her tone inviting.
His eyes smoldered with desire. “I’m sure we won’t wake her.” He cupped her ample breast through the silk of her blue nightgown.
Ellie gasped softly as his lips followed his hand. “Logan.”
***
Sophie slipped into her silk and lace nightgown, trying to hide a smile at her husband’s disgruntled tone.
“And we all brought Santa costumes,” Mitch grumbled.
“So who’s going to be Santa?” she inquired, tugging him toward the bed.
“All of us.”
“That will be fun.” She kissed him softly on the lips. “Next year you can be Santa for him or her.” She placed his hand on her stomach.
“I can’t believe we’re going to be parents.” Wonder, passion and tenderness gleamed in his eyes. “You know I’ll be the best dad I can possibly be.” His tone was fierce.
“I know.” She cupped his cheek. “And I’ll be the best mother I can be.”
“I know.” He kissed her deeply, his love for her shining through the touch of his lips on hers, his tender caresses, and the soft murmur of his voice as he made love to her.
***
Christmas Eve afternoon
December 24
“What are the plans for tomorrow, guys?” Logan inquired, grabbing a six-pack of beer from the fridge.
They’d spent all morning in the snow with their wives and children, enjoyed lunch at a restaurant with a decent kids’ menu (luckily the restaurant had had a last minute cancellation when they’d arrived, hungry and thirsty) and now the brothers were kicking back in the kitchen and relaxing, while their wives had claimed the fancy TV room for themselves, planning to watch a rom-com movie.
The kids had been tired out from their play-filled morning and napped upstairs.
All five men looked at each other, waiting for one of them to speak. When no one did, the expressions on their face were comical.
“I promised Ellie--”
“I promised Maddie--”
“I promised Phoebe--”
“I promised Sophie--”
“I thought you were going to organize it,” Mitch growled. “You’re the billionaire.”
“And you’re not doing too bad yourself, Mitch,” Garrett said mildly.
“I thought Alex was going to organize it. Laura’s a caterer. I figured he’d know what to do.” Cole crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“And I thought you might have arranged it, Cole.” Alex glowered at his brother.
“It looks like we’re all to blame,” Logan pointed out. “We didn’t co-ordinate with each other, we just assumed one of us would deal with it.”
“Instead, we made an ass of ourselves.” Garrett raked his hand through his hair.
“Let’s salvage the situation.” Alex whipped out his cell phone. “We’ll call every restaurant in Aspen and see if we can get someone to cater for us.”
His brothers each dug out their cells from their pockets.
Logan picked up the list of restaurants that had been supplied for their convenience by the rental agency. “We can divide up this list. Money’s not a problem if we have to pay extra for short notice.”
“He’s right.” Cole started dialing. “I’m not going to disappoint Phoebe and the girls.”
“And I’m not going to disappoint Sophie.” Mitch stabbed the buttons on his phone.
“There’s no way we’re telling anyone about this.” Alex punched in a number.
“Of course not,” Garrett agreed, dialing as well.
Fifteen minutes later, all five brothers had conceded defeat.
“Nothing.” Cole looked disgusted.
“Seriously. Not even for one million dollars. I even called all the caterers in the area, too.” Alex scowled. “Are all the caterers and restaurants doing so well that they can refuse that much money point blank?”
“Probably.” Garrett rubbed his chin. “It is Aspen.”
“Everyone I called said I was crazy even asking at such short notice,” Mitch grumbled.
“Yeah,” Logan agreed.
“So what are we going to do?” Cole demanded. “There’s no way I’m going to let Phoebe down.”
“No one’s going to let anyone down,” Garrett said. “Mom and Dad manage to put on a Christmas feast for us, so why can’t we do it ourselves?”
His brothers stared at him.
“Anyone got a better idea?” Garrett challenged.
“We could go out to eat,” Alex suggested.
“Will any place have a table for, what? Ten adults and six kids? Now? For tomorrow?” Logan looked skeptical.
“And a baby,” Cole reminded his brother.
“I’m going to find out.” A determined look crossed Alex’s face.
All the brothers pitched in, picking up their phones again and redialing the restaurants to book a table for tomorrow.
“We’re in trouble.” Cole looked at his phone in disgust.
“Big trouble,” Mitch agreed.
“Nothing.” Garrett shoved his phone in his pocket. “It looks like we’ll have to cook dinner ourselves.”
“Yeah.” Alex checked the time on his gold Rolex. “We better get to the grocery store now.”
“What are we going to buy?” Logan asked. “Mom usually makes a turkey plus sides, and her--”
“Pecan pie,” his four brothers chimed in.
“We’ll look up some recipes online when we’re at the store.” Alex picked up his car keys. “We can do this.” A determined look crossed his face. “I’m not going to disappoint Laura.”
“None of us are going to disappoint our wives,” Garrett added. “Let’s go.”
***
Christmas Day
December 25
Although it had snowed during the night, on Christmas Day the sun shone, making the view outside the great room a picture perfect winter scene. Snow covered the front lawn and decorated the bare tree branches lining the drive.
All five couples had exchanged their personal gifts in the privacy of their bedrooms, then met downstairs. The kids jiggled with impatience, each of them desperate to look inside their stocking hung from the fireplace, and to open the gaily-wrapped presents under the Christmas tree.
Last night, Santa had visited - five Santas. Each of the brothers had taken a turn dressing up as Santa and dashing downstairs to place their kids’ gifts in their stocking, making sure to sample the cookies that had been left out for “Santa.”
Although none of the brothers had caught the kids peeking in the shadows, hoping for a glimpse of Santa, each of them were sure that they’d at least had the intention to do so before they fell sleep.
Now, the wives and children gathered in the great room, watching the kids play with their new toys, while the brothers huddled together in the kitchen, attempting to prepare Christmas dinner.
“I wonder what they’re doing in there.” Laura frowned. “Alex won’t tell me anything, except not to worry.”
“Cole said exactly the same thing.” Phoebe stroked her baby’s cheek. The infant was already worn out from the excitement of the morning and was taking a nap in her mother’s arms.
“I’m starting to get hungry,” Maddie commented, nodding towards her son and daughter, playing with their new toys. “I didn’t get much to eat at breakfast because the kids couldn’t wait to unwrap their presents. And Garrett was already doing mysterious things in the kitchen.”
“Maybe they’re getting the kitchen ready for the caterer.” Ellie watched her daughter play with her new doll for a moment, then turned her attention back to the conversation. “They are hiring a caterer, aren’t they?”
“I haven’t heard anything.” Sophie looked at her sisters-in-law. “A caterer would be great--”
All five women flinched as a loud crash sounded inside the kitchen.
“Or maybe they haven’t hired a caterer.” Phoebe giggled.
***
“Stupid turkey.” Alex grimaced at the mess on the kitchen counter. The turkey they’d bought yesterday had been too large to fit in the oven, so they’d decided to hack it up before shoving it in the oven. The bench top was littered with shards of semi-frozen poultry flesh.
“At least it’s in the oven now.” Garrett wiped his hands on the towel wrapped around his waist. “We’ve got to get going on the sides.”
“How long is it going to take to cook?” Logan peered at the window in the oven door. “I know Mom starts cooking pretty early on Christmas Day.”
“We’re not Mom,” Mitch grumbled. “Why is this so much harder than making bacon and eggs for breakfast?”
The brothers nodded in agreement, similar grumpy expressions on their faces. So far, their preparations for Christmas dinner were not going well.
“We could always crank up the oven,” Cole looked at the clock. “It’s noon already. If we don’t have something ready soon, we’re going to be in trouble.”
Alex snapped his fingers. “Appetizers! Laura swears by them.”
“Good idea.” Mitch rummaged in the refrigerator. “We could make - what could we make?”
All five Trask men peered into the refrigerator.
“Daddy, is dinner ready?” A little boy’s voice made all five men swing around.
“Yes, Daddy, are you making turkey like Grandma?” His twin Tyler asked.
Alex looked down at his four-year-old sons. “Daddy’s got this all under control, guys,” he said confidently - or tried to. “Why don’t you go play with your cousins?”
The twins surveyed the room, their eyes wide. “The kitchen doesn’t look like this when Mommy cooks,” Tommy said.
“Yeah Daddy.” Tyler frowned. “You did give our letter to Santa, didn’t you, so he could come and help you?”
“Of course I did,” Alex reassured his sons. “But Santa is very busy and he knew we--” he gestured to his brothers, “could handle this ourselves.”
“Maybe you need Mommy t
o help.”
“No!” Alex lowered his voice. “Your Mom deserves a rest this year. She’s always cooking for us. This is going to be a present for her.”
“Uh-huh.” Tommy didn’t sound very impressed. His twin tugged on his sweater, whispering in his ear. Tommy’s eyes rounded for a second, then nodded. “Okay. We’ll go and play.”
“Good boys.” Alex looked relieved when they left the kitchen.
“Quick.” Tyler towed his brother toward the laundry room, holding up his father’s cell phone. “We’ll ring Aunt Edna and find out what to do. I don’t think Daddy’s doing it right.”