Starts With a Bang (Redemption Ridge #7)

Chapter Seven

Sven

I stretched my arms over my head and surrendered fully to whatever Dom wanted to do to me. He began with a trail of kisses that started behind my right ear and snaked down my neck. The softness of his lips and the rasp from his scruff made me squirm. “I’ve dreamed about having you on top of me.”

“Bet you never guessed I’d be this heavy.”

Though his words sounded muffled against my skin, his insecurity came out crystal clear. And I was having none of it. “The reality of you is so much better than the fantasy.” His lips paused, and I braced myself for a deflection or another jab at himself, but Dom continued his trek down my body, working horizontally over my collarbone. “I can’t imagine how sexy it will be when we’re skin to skin.”

Dom lifted his head and met my gaze. The worry in his green eyes made my heart ache. “You say that now, but you haven’t seen me without a shirt in two years. I’ve gained some more weight since then.”

I cupped his handsome face and held eye contact, willing him to see my sincerity. “You are absolutely perfect, Grizz.” I lowered my hands to the bottom of his sweater and gently tugged. “Take this off, and let me prove it.”

Dom’s expression remained uncertain, but he eased up onto his knees and pulled his sweater over his head. I sat up before he could drop it on the bed and nuzzled my nose against his stomach. Dom didn’t sport a thick pelt of fur on his torso; he had the perfect amount of dark hair covering his belly and chest. Dom oozed masculinity from every pore, and it drove me insane. I cupped his ass and alternated between rubbing my face against him and kissing his skin as I unbuckled his belt.

Dom growled and cupped the back of my head. “I thought I was supposed to be driving you insane.”

“Already there.” I unbuttoned his jeans and tugged the zipper down to reveal black underwear. The scent of Dom’s arousal was maddening, and I needed more. I pressed my nose against the straining fabric and inhaled deeply.

Dom’s fingers tightened in my hair. “Fuck.”

I tugged his jeans and underwear down enough to reveal the top of his pubic hairline. I was getting closer to the treasure but stopped to nuzzle my nose in his neatly trimmed curls. The scent of his arousal was even stronger, and I slipped my tongue beneath his waistband to tease the rigid flesh beneath it. Dom gripped my hair and pulled me back. I tilted my head to meet his gaze and was satisfied to see no trace of his earlier insecurities. Naked hunger stared back at me. “If I don’t get your monster cock in my mouth in the next—”

Ping. Dom’s phone notifications were likely set at a normal volume, but the timing of the interruption made it sound obnoxiously loud. He glanced over at the bedside table and grimaced. “It’s my mom.”

I tried to tug his pants back up, but he stopped me.

“We can pretend we didn’t hear the phone. I’d rather have you than—”

Ping.

“Damn it,” Dom snarled.

Ping. Ping.

Dom scowled at his phone like it was his mortal enemy. “Christ, woman. One text message will do.”

Ping.

He lunged for the device and stared at it in disbelief as he read the texts. “Wow, Mom. She said, ‘We’re getting ready to make pizza,’ and then followed it up with, ‘before Janet passes out.’” Dom lifted his head and met my gaze. “She told us to come out if we’ve finished.”

I waggled my brows. “Finished what? You’ve only read three messages, and she sent four. What’s the last one say?”

Dom shook his head. “I’m too embarrassed to say.”

“Show me, then.”

Dom turned the phone around and revealed an eggplant emoji. Beneath it was a blue replay arrow. Dom tapped it, and dozens of eggplants swirled across the screen. I flopped back on the bed and covered my mouth to hide my laughter, but my shaking shoulders betrayed me. Dom tried to scowl, but his lips kept twitching at the corners. He wanted to give in to the hilarity of the situation too.

He set his phone down and crawled over to me, repositioning himself between my legs. Dom lowered his head, and I thought he was going to kiss me, but he stopped a few inches from my mouth. “You find this funny?”

“Hilarious.”

He smiled then, and I wanted to taste it.

“Kiss me,” I urged.

Dom captured my mouth in a hungry kiss. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and urged him to lower himself until his bare chest pressed against mine. My hands explored his muscular back and ghosted over his ribcage. I bucked my pelvis upward, trying to align my erection against his. Dom gripped my hips to hold me still. “Oh no, you don’t.”

He rolled off me and stood up on the other side of the bed. “It’s bad enough I fell asleep on you. I will not make a bad situation worse by coming in five seconds again.”

“I can count down for you,” I offered.

Dom’s shoulders shook as he recalled my hookup horror stories. “You made that stuff up to make me feel better.”

I sat up and raised my right hand as if testifying. “Everything I said was true.” I patted the bed. “We haven’t finished yet.”

Dom groaned and stepped back. “Nope. Not when they’re all waiting for us and speculating about what’s taking us so long to come down.”

I smirked at him. “Pretty sure they’ll all know the answer.”

But maybe Dom didn’t want his ex-husband thinking about us having sex. Emerson’s gobsmacked reaction to seeing Dom was still fresh in my mind. The fool looked like a cartoon character with his bulging eyes and gaping mouth. Dom told me he was completely over his ex-husband, but it was obvious Emerson didn’t feel the same. A familiar dread unfurled in my belly. I’d found myself in this same situation more times than I wanted to count. Not this time. I might’ve found myself in a similar plot, but the characters were vastly different.

Dom was nothing like my ex-boyfriends, and I knew my self-worth now. And Emerson? There was nothing diabolical about this villain. He was vain, selfish, and would broadcast his every move. He’d already made his first mistake when he’d sized me up and dismissed me as zero threat. Fine by me. I was used to people underestimating me and actually preferred it that way. I’d faced far more fearsome foes. Emerson Baker—I refused to add the Babb—would soon learn I wasn’t someone to trifle with.

Ping.

Dom looked at his phone and groaned. “Mom just warned that Nana is about to come looking for us. She’ll distract her the best she can.” Dom closed his eyes and tilted his head back.

“Praying?” I asked.

“For my erection to recede.” Dom cycled through a few breaths. “Might help if you put a shirt on. Your body is perfection. And your skin…” Dom lowered his head and opened his eyes. The smoldering heat hadn’t ebbed one bit. If anything, his green irises had darkened with desire. “Are you that silky smooth everywhere?”

If I were nice, I would’ve answered his question with a one-word response or deflected it altogether. I would’ve rummaged through my suitcase and put on a shirt that wouldn’t get ruined by pizza toppings in case his ex-husband got catty or his tipsy aunt got clumsy. But I didn’t feel nice, and I wanted to send a clear message when we returned to the family gathering. I scooted off the bed and stood before him. Dom’s nostrils flared because he knew something was afoot. I kept my eyes locked on his as I shoved my lounge pants to the floor, then stepped out of them and kicked the pants aside.

Dom’s gaze traveled the length of my body, lingering on my smooth pelvis. I turned so he could see that my ass was every bit as smooth. Feeling especially shameless, I bent over and spread my cheeks apart to bare everything to him. The animalistic growl rumbling from his chest made the vulnerability all worth it. I turned to face Dom just as he closed the distance.

“I want cake for dinner,” Dom snarled.

And, oh, how I wanted to feed it to him. I cupped his jaw and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “When we have more time.”

I dropped to my knees in front of him and pulled his jeans and underwear down to his thick thighs. His erection sprang free, and I wrapped my lips around his cockhead.

“Sven.” Dom’s whisper was pure reverence. His hands went to my head, fingers sliding through my hair.

I lifted my gaze, and we locked eyes as I took him down, a slow, wet glide until my nose brushed against tight curls. Resting my hands on his thighs, I moved up and down his shaft, reveling in the way his big body trembled with excitement for me. Nothing and no one would stop me from rocking his world. Dom’s mouth fell open, and his eyelids dropped to half-mast. That’s the look I wanted. He didn’t care about anything but the pleasure I gave him.

Dom’s grip on my hair tightened as he rocked his hips and fucked my mouth. I hollowed my cheeks to suck harder and increased my tempo. “You little minx.”

He thrust a few more times, then pulled out suddenly. Hot seed splashed against my lips, and I stuck my tongue out to catch the next burst. Dom aimed the rest of his release there, and it overflowed onto my chin and dribbled onto my chest. He looked incredibly savage and sexy as he continued to rut against my tongue. I closed my mouth around his cock and sucked the full length of him one last time, making sure I cleaned him thoroughly.

“On your feet now,” Dom demanded.

I rose on shaky legs to stand before him, and he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“I should make you wait for hours before I let you come.”

I had only planned on making him happy, but his threat brought out more of my inner vixen. I brought his hand to my dick and smiled when his fingers curled around me. “You wouldn’t.”

His big fist stroked the length of my erection, and he surrendered with a wry smile. “I couldn’t.”

Dom released my dick to pick me up and toss me onto the bed. He dropped to his knees between my thighs but didn’t suck me into his mouth. He pushed my legs toward my chest, spread my ass cheeks, and kissed my pucker. I moaned, wanting more. Dom sucked his thumb into his mouth and then pressed it against my entrance, tracing around and around the rim, not sucking my dick until I whimpered and squirmed.

Firm lips sucked me down to the root and worked me relentlessly. I was already revved and ready, so it didn’t take long for my climax to reach the flashpoint.

“Gonna come,” I warned.

Dom didn’t heed my warning but doubled down on his efforts.

“Seriously, like in five…oh shit…two.” My breath caught in my throat as the intensity of my release caught me by surprise. Dom swallowed every ounce of my pleasure and looked damn pleased with himself when my dick slid from his lips. “That countdown trick is harder than I realized. I might need to work on my timing.”

He kissed my inner thigh, and the rasp of scruffy whiskers against sensitive skin made me shiver. “I think you’re perfect.”

I reached down and ran my thumb over his bottom lip, which was slick with saliva and my essence. “Your lips are red and puffy. Looks like you’ve been sucking cock.”

“Good,” Dom said as he stood. He leaned over to kiss me without a care for the mess he’d left on my face. “You look like you’ve been blowing me, and you’re going to smell like my cum unless you wash up again.”

No fucking way. I’d wipe my face, but I wanted to go into the lion’s den smelling like I’d just had sex with Dom. I rubbed his release into my chest, signaling my intentions. Dom’s eyes darkened again.

“I might not survive the next two weeks.”

“You’ll go out happy,” I promised.

“Got that right.” Dom kissed me once more before he straightened and pulled his pants up with trembling hands. “Damn, I really want to just hide away with you for the rest of the night. What are the odds I could call my mom and place a pizza order for delivery to our door?”

As tempting as that sounded, I didn’t want Emerson and Christian to think we were hiding from them. Freaking faithless putzes. “Not likely. And I want to meet your Nana.”

“You’re going to love her, and she’s going to be crazy about you.”

“Then I better get ready before she comes looking for us.” Brushing past Dom, I headed to the luggage. I wheeled the bigger suitcase and heaved it onto the bed. “I know Kerry suggested I rile up your uptight family members, but how far do you want me to push it?”

Dom shook his head and laughed. “I want you to wear whatever makes you happy.”

I looked through my shirts and picked a charcoal-gray sweater. It was lightweight enough that I wouldn’t get overheated, and the fabric fit me snugly enough to show off my physique without looking like I was trying too hard. After a quick trip to the bathroom to wash my face, I returned to the bedroom to find Dom fully dressed. I stepped into the jeans I’d had on earlier and pulled them up my legs. Dom made a strangled noise, and I looked up at him.

“What?”

“You’re going commando?”

I grinned wickedly. “Who’s going to know besides you?”

“How will I concentrate when I know you’re bare under there?”

I waggled my brows. “Think of it as an incentive to get through this evening and get back here.”

Dom nodded. “I can put up with anything if I get to take you to bed tonight.”

Winking, I pulled my sweater on and posed. “Will this do?”

“You’d make a burlap sack look stylish.”

That made me laugh. I crossed the room and stood in front of him. “Your lips are still puffy.”

“So are yours.” He inhaled. “And you smell like sex.”

Maybe on some level, I should’ve considered that his parents would also be in the kitchen. Nah. I would worry about that later. I had a claim to stake first. “Ready to do this?”

Dom’s green eyes sparkled with humor. “You look like you’re going into battle.”

I winked. “And I won’t hesitate to cut a bitch.”

Pizza toppings covered nearly every surface in the vast kitchen when we rejoined the gathering. Pretty much everyone was in the same spot, except for the addition of a petite blue-haired woman holding court at the island. I’m not talking the silvery-blue tone that a lot of senior women accomplish with a rinse. Helen’s hair was as blue as my eyes. I searched for signs that she wore a wig but couldn’t find one.

“Um, that’s a new look,” Dom whispered.

I’d seen enough pictures of Helen on Janet’s feed to know her hair was usually snowy white. I volunteered at several senior facilities and could tell when the elderly were nearing the end of their life. Nothing about Helen hinted this would be her last holiday. Her skin looked vibrant, and she’d put effort into every aspect of her appearance. Her pale pink sweater and ivory slacks gave Helen an upscale casual vibe. She’d coiffed her hair and applied makeup to perfection.

What was going on? Was her supposed illness a ploy to reunite the family? If so, who was pulling the strings? And how many romance tropes could we cram into one vacation?

Helen glanced up, and her eyes lit with pure delight when they locked on Dom.

“Nana!” The warmth in Dom’s voice made my heart swell.

Helen wasn’t the only one who’d noticed our arrival. I clocked the reactions around the room, which mostly ranged from curiosity to joy. Only one person looked like they’d sucked on a lemon, and I couldn’t—check that— wouldn’t avoid his toxic regard. I locked eyes and figurative horns with Emerson, whose lips tilted up in a slight sneer. I’d enjoy every second of taking this disloyal bastard apart.

“Dommy!” Helen said.

Well, that diverted my attention, and Emerson was all but forgotten. I looked at Dom and mouthed, “Dommy?”

He narrowed his eyes and whispered, “Don’t you dare.”

“Oh, I’ll dare if you ever call me Stevie again.”

“Bring your young man over here to meet me,” Helen said.

Dom led me over to her and only released my hand to hug her. “I’ve missed you so much, Nana.”

“I’ve missed you too.” She pulled back and patted his cheek before turning her green gaze in my direction. Her irises were so similar to Dom’s, which only endeared her to me more. Hot pink eyeglasses hung from a silver chain around her neck, and she put them on for closer inspection. “My word,” Helen said. “You might be the most beautiful man I have ever seen.”

“Oh, stop,” I said, even as I gestured for her to continue. The encounter earned laughs and chuckles from everyone except Gloomy Gus across the island.

“You could cut cocaine with those cheekbones,” Helen declared.

“Mom!” Janet exclaimed. “That’s so inappropriate.”

Helen glared at her daughter. “When have you known me to be any different?” She turned her attention back to me, leaning even closer. “And that mouth.”

“Yeah, well.” I pointed toward my lips, which were still puffy from the exuberant bedroom activities with her grandson. Talk about inappropriate. “This thing has a mind of its own sometimes and can get me into a lot of trouble.”

Helen cackled and waggled her brow. “Bet it gets you out of trouble a lot too.”

“Mom!” Molly Beth and Janet said in unison, though the tones of their exclamations were at odds.

Molly Beth had found the remark funny but felt obligated to chastise her mother. Janet was ready for the ground to swallow her whole. She reached for her full wineglass and took another sip.

“Mother, I organized this gathering especially for you,” Janet said. “I’ve created an itinerary of games and activities to make this an amazing holiday.”

Several groans chorused throughout the kitchen, including Dom’s. I’d wisely kept my trap shut and avoided the death glare Janet cast around the room.

“So, the least you can do is behave,” Janet admonished.

“ We organized this holiday,” Molly Beth corrected. “And I have to say, Janet, Mom looks like a picture of health and vitality. We should all be as lucky to be so vibrant at her age.”

“Excuse me?” Helen looked between her daughters. “What’s this talk about my age and appearance? Did you expect to find me on my deathbed?”

Molly Beth crossed the room, and we got out of her way. She took her mother’s hands in hers. “You were sleeping when I arrived, so this is just the first time I get to admire how lovely you look.”

“Cut the bullshit,” Helen said. “What did Janet say about me?”

All eyes turned to Janet, who was enjoying another drink of wine. She lowered the glass from her mouth and set it on the counter. It had been completely full when we entered the kitchen, but it was now nearly three-quarters empty. “Why are you blaming me?”

“Because you and the facility director are in cahoots,” Helen said. She turned to Molly Beth once more. “Did she tell you I had one foot in the grave?”

Dom’s mother winced. “No, of course not. The facility expressed concerns that you weren’t doing well.”

“I’ve had several nurses and residents tell me they’ve heard you crying out at night for God to take you home or that you’ve claimed to see heaven,” Janet said. “If this is your last Christmas, I want it to be special. I don’t want Christian and Dom to be at odds anymore, and I…” Her words trailed off as her lips trembled. “And I miss my sister. It’s bad enough she moved to Satan’s armpit years ago, but we used to talk on the phone every day. Now, she can barely speak to me with a civil tongue.”

Molly Beth whirled around and said, “Your son—”

“Molly Beth.” Dominic’s voice was firm but gentle with his wife. “We talked about this.”

Dom’s mother held her hands up in surrender. “You’re right. I’m sorry,” she said, gesturing to the room at large.

A curious thing happened next. Helen released a snort so tiny that none of us would’ve heard it if the room hadn’t gone so quiet. But we had clocked it and turned to look at her. Helen’s slim shoulders shook, and she lifted her hand to her mouth. With her head tilted down, it was impossible to tell if she was laughing or on the verge of a sob.

Molly Beth reached for her free hand and gently squeezed. “Mom, it’s okay. You can tell us what’s wrong.”

Helen looked up, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. My heart sank at whatever news she was about to deliver.

“I knew something was wrong.” Janet crossed the room and stood next to Molly Beth.

The sisters joined hands while they waited for Helen to deliver bad news. The trembling in Helen’s shoulders moved to her torso, and I looked to Dom for guidance. He’d tucked his free hand in his front pocket and watched the whole thing with a smirk on his face. What the hell was wrong with him? I looked at Helen again and realized her tears weren’t from sorrow but from repressed laughter. Another snort erupted from behind her hand, and her green eyes widened in surprise or mortification. I couldn’t be sure which one.

“Nana?” Christian asked. “I can’t tell if you’re laughing or crying.”

Helen lowered her hand, and bawdy laughter erupted from her pink-painted lips. She cackled until she struggled for breath. She placed a hand on her chest and sucked air into her lungs. The gesture would’ve been alarming if I hadn’t noticed the pure joy in her expression.

“She can’t breathe!” Janet cried. “Call for an ambulance!”

“No,” John said. “She’s not suffocating, Janet. She’s laughing at your ridiculousness.”

Janet whirled on her husband. “At least I give a damn about my mother.”

“Helen isn’t a malicious bitch like the woman who birthed me,” John fired back.

I leaned into Dom. “Do you think your mom grabbed popcorn during her shopping trip?”

Molly Beth had heard me and turned twinkling eyes on me. “Of course.”

Dom chuckled. “Mom, I hope you bought a lot because these next two weeks are going to feel like two years.”

They shared a laugh before turning their attention back to the show. John and Janet were slinging verbal darts about who was the best parent, spouse, and child. Everyone tuned into their arguments except for Emerson, who couldn’t tear his eyes off Dom. I was debating how boldly to stake my claim when Dom’s big arm snaked around my waist and pulled me closer. He pressed a kiss on top of my head before lowering his mouth to my ear.

“Bet we could sneak back to our bedroom and fool around some more,” Dom whispered.

I turned and kissed his lips. “Hell yeah.”

I could tell from the heat of Emerson’s glare that he’d watched our interaction and had correctly guessed what we were planning. Good. I took the first step away from the cacophony of chaos in the kitchen. Dom followed suit, and we’d sneaked a few feet away before someone whistled shrilly. The room went immediately silent, and all eyes returned to Helen, who withdrew two fingers from her mouth.

“Blessed silence.” She sighed heavily before pinning Janet with a dark glower. “If you must know, your spies aren’t overhearing me pleading with God to bring me home. They’re eavesdropping when I’m having sex with Barney. He might have snow on the roof, but fires are still raging in the ole furnace.”

Dom nearly choked on his next breath, and he wasn’t alone. It was unlikely anyone in the family wanted to know that Helen had an active sex life. Me? I gave her a thumbs-up because she was doing life her way.

“Yeah, I know you get it,” Helen said. “Dom, you’re a seriously lucky man to have found this wildcat.”

Dom smiled down at me. “And I damn well know it, Nana.”

I didn’t need to look at Emerson to know he was burning with anger. I could smell the smoke from across the kitchen. I smiled up at Dom and kissed him.

“Mother.” Janet spoke slowly and evenly as if fighting to stay calm. “We’ll talk about your relationship with Barney later. It’s not a polite conversation to have in mixed company.”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Helen replied. “Barney and I are consenting adults with our cognitive skills intact. We are in love, and thanks to modern pharmaceuticals, we can physically express it often.” Helen turned her stool back to the kitchen island, signaling the conversation had ended.

Janet’s fingers trembled as she fiddled with her necklace, and I felt sorry for her. “Well,” she said, glancing around the room. “Since I have everyone’s attention, maybe it’s a good time to tell you about the activities I have planned.”

“Even though I’m not dying?” Helen asked.

“Especially for that reason, Mother.” Janet rubbed her palms against her slacks as if they were sweaty. “I, um, figured we’d bake and decorate sugar cookies. I haven’t done that since Christian moved out, and I thought we could turn it into a little competition.”

Dom looked at me and sighed. “Might as well hand Sven the prize now.”

Everyone turned in my direction. “We do something similar in my family. We spend a weekend baking Christmas treats, and the sugar cookie bake-off is the highlight of the event.”

“He’s won the last two years,” Dom said. He’d just learned that at Thanksgiving, but he made it sound like he’d been on hand during each victory. “I’m not sure about my baking skills, but I’m definitely down for eating cookies.”

“Obviously,” Emerson mock whispered to Christian.

I’d give Dom’s cousin credit. He didn’t look remotely pleased with his boyfriend’s comment. Dom didn’t let on if it bothered him, but I suspected the dig about his weight had struck the mark. I’d just have to show him again how sexy I found his body.

“What’s your favorite creation?” Molly Beth asked me.

“Last year, I baked a sugar cookie church with stained glass windows.”

“Your talent knows no bounds,” Dom said.

I forgot we weren’t alone and kissed him again. Molly Beth’s happy squeal and Helen’s “aww” reminded me of where we were.

“To be continued,” I told Dom and earned a wink in response.

“Sounds to me like you haven’t had much competition,” Emerson said. “Maybe you’ll find going up against someone with an art degree is a bit more challenging.” He’d kept his tone light, but his expression was confrontational as hell.

I released Dom and faced Emerson full-on. “I look forward to doing battle with you.”

Janet wandered over to the counter and took another gulp of wine. “And I bought matching pajamas for everyone for a Christmas Eve photo.”

It was the kind of dorky thing my family did, so I was surprised by the negative response in the room. Lucinda had even arranged for us to get together before we left so I wouldn’t miss out. I loved that woman like mad and couldn’t wait to fill her in on all the drama I’d witnessed.

Janet looked at me and winced. “I didn’t know you were coming at the time I placed the order, Spencer.”

“Sven!” Dom and Molly Beth said.

Janet waved them away. “Sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. I just don’t associate the name Sven with a twenty-year-old American male.”

“I’m thirty, but thanks for the lovely compliment.” I looked at Dom and whispered, “She thinks I’m your boy toy.”

Janet’s brows shot up. “Thirty? Really?”

“Good skin care,” I replied. “And my name is actually Steven. I’m named after my father, just like Dom is named after his.” Then I told them how I earned the Sven nickname. The story got a few chuckles and smiles.

“Maybe I can find you a similar pair of pajamas in town,” Janet said. “I need to do some shopping.”

“I’m not technically family. You don’t have to go to any trouble for me.”

“Neither is Emerson,” Helen said dryly.

A pin drop would’ve sounded like a bomb exploding in the tense silence.

“Mother,” Janet warned. “We discussed this.”

“No,” Helen said. “You talked, and I tuned you out.”

John snorted. “Sounds familiar.”

Janet glared at her husband. “You’re not helping.”

“That also sounds familiar.” John took a sip of his beer and saluted his wife.

Yikes. Things were way more tense between them than I’d originally thought.

“Janet,” Helen said, pulling her daughter’s attention to her. “You’ve got all of us here. Let that be enough for now.”

“But, Mother—”

“You can’t force these things,” Helen said. “A baking competition won’t change the past. Forcing people under one roof for two weeks won’t automatically result in the healing you want to see happen. You need to relax and let things unfold organically.”

Janet’s lower lip trembled, and Christian reached for her hand. She waved him off and stepped back. “I need more wine.”

“I think you’ve had enough for tonight,” John said.

Janet downed the rest of her wine and set the empty glass down on the counter. “I’ve had enough, all right.” She pivoted and left the kitchen without a backward glance.

Helen watched her go with worry etched on her face. “Maybe I was too hard on her. I’ll go apologize.”

“Why don’t we let her regroup a bit, Mom,” Molly Beth said. “Then we’ll both go up and talk to her.”

“She’ll pass out for the rest of the night,” John said. “Drinking herself into a stupor like a lush is what Janet does best.”

“Dad,” Christian admonished. “That’s a horrible thing to say.”

John shrugged. “It’s true.”

Molly Beth turned and squared up against John. “Maybe we should discuss doing something about her drinking problem.”

“You can lead a horse to water, but…” John’s words faded into laughter. “Well, that adage doesn’t apply. Janet drinks plenty. But I can’t force her to get help.”

“Have you talked to her about it?” Molly Beth asked.

“Or given her a single reason to want to get sober?” Helen asked.

“Why are you both taking this out on me?” John threw his hands up. “Women! Am I right, guys?” He quickly remembered there was only one other man in the room who had romantic experiences with women.

“No, you’re not right,” Dominic Sr. said.

John rolled his eyes. “I’m going outside to check on the fire for the pizzas.”

Molly Beth made big eyes at her husband and nodded her head in John’s direction.

“I’ll come too,” Dominic said.

“Now you’ve got my back,” John grumbled, but he slapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder.

Molly Beth turned her steely gaze on Dom, and he sighed heavily.

“Fine.” He kissed me firmly on the mouth, then whispered, “Behave.”

I just batted my eyelashes.

“I’m going to tackle the pizza dough,” Molly said. “Christian, you’re on cheese-shredding duties, and the rest of you can prepare the toppings. I’ve taken care of the meats already, but I need someone to wash and slice the vegetables.”

Me having sharp knives around Emerson probably wasn’t a good idea, but the dude would learn that my tongue was the sharpest tool in my arsenal if he didn’t straighten up. Helen must’ve seen something in my expression because she reached for my hand.

“You are a lovely Christmas surprise,” she said. “I want to know everything about you.”