A McIntyre Christmas (McIntyre Security Bodyguard)

Chapter 1

Beth McIntyre

After breakfast on the morning of Christmas Eve, I’m in the kitchen packing for a two-night stay at our home in Kenilworth, just half an hour north of Chicago.

My husband has a beautiful, private estate on the shores of Lake Michigan, with enough bedrooms to host his entire family of seven siblings, their spouses, and kids; their parents; plus my mom.

It’s become a family tradition that all the McIntyres spend Christmas together under one roof for two nights.

I’m pretty sure it’s Bridget and Calum’s favorite time of the year—when they have all their family under one roof. Especially the grandkids.

This year is extra special as we have a brand-new family member to welcome. Just two months ago, Molly and Jamie celebrated the arrival of their newest baby.

This morning, Shane and I, and our kids, exchanged Christmas gifts with Sam and Cooper, our best friends and housemates. Now they’re packing to go spend Christmas with Sam’s mom and sister in Dayton, Ohio.

As I walk past the kitchen table, I feel a light tug on my sleeve.

“Mama?”

“Yes, sweetheart?” I glance down to see the eager, beaming face of my three-year-old son, Luke. He’s growing like a weed, and his vocabulary is expanding just as rapidly.

He frowns as he stares down at his breakfast of scrambled eggs and buttered toast cut into triangles. “Does Santa know where we’ll be on Christmas?”

“Yes, darling. Don’t worry. Santa will know where to find us.”

His frown deepens. “But we won’t be here. We’ll be at our other house. What if he can’t find us?”

“Mom-mom-mom!” Ava bangs her sippy cup on the high chair tray with one hand while she reaches for a piece of egg with her other and shoves it into her mouth.

When there’s a knock on the back patio door, Luke jumps up to let his cousin Aiden in.

Aiden wipes his snow boots on the floor mat. “I’m all packed and ready to go, Aunt Beth,” he says as he follows Luke back to the kitchen table.

“Do you think Santa will know where to find us?” Luke asks his older and far wiser cousin. Luke idolizes Aiden.

When Aiden appears confused by the question, I fill him in. “Luke is worried that Santa won’t know where to find us on Christmas morning—you know, since we’ll be at the house in Kenilworth.”

Aiden, who’s very mature for a nine-year-old, nods. “Don’t worry, Luke. Santa will know where we are.” And then Aiden winks at me, just in case I’m not aware he’s too grown up to believe in Santa.

Luke nods, seemingly reassured. If Aiden says there’s nothing to worry about, then Luke is satisfied. His older cousin is infallible in his eyes.

“You better hurry and finish your breakfast so you can get ready to go,” Aiden says. “My dad says there’s going to be a big snow storm today, and we need to get to the house before it hits. I can’t wait to go outside and make a snowman.”

“I want to make a snowman!” Luke says. “Mama, can I make a snowman, too?”

“Of course, you can. But Aiden is right. You need to finish your breakfast so we can leave.”

“I will!” Luke says as he races back to his seat at the table and hastily shovels the last of his breakfast into his mouth.

“Luke, slow down before you choke.” As I’m packing Ava’s sippy cups and baby spoons into my supply bag, Shane walks into the kitchen.

“Our luggage is packed in the SUV,” he says. “Did I miss anything?”

“I think that’s everything except for this bag here. I packed snacks for the kids and Ava’s things.”

Shane slips his arms around my waist and leans in to kiss my cheek. “You know Elly will have everything the kids could possibly need.”

Elly Peterson and her husband, George, keep our Kenilworth home operating smoothly. Elly is the housekeeper, and George maintains the property and the grounds.

“I don’t want to take any chances,” I say. “Most of the local shops will be closed over the holiday.”

Shane looks into the bag of snacks and chuckles. “Honey, we’re only going for two days.”

“I know, but with my luck, I’ll forget to pack the one thing they need.”

Sam and Cooper walk into the kitchen then, duffle bags slung over their shoulders.

I’m sad they’re not coming with us this year, but I’m happy they’re spending Christmas with Sam’s family.

This year will be Rachel and Michelle’s last Christmas in their Dayton home before they officially move here to Chicago in January.

Sam’s older sister, Rachel, will be inseminated early next year with Cooper’s sperm in hopes of a pregnancy.

She very generously offered to act as their surrogate so that Sam and Cooper could start a family.

Their mother, Michelle, is moving here, too, to be close to her kids and to help Rachel through the pregnancy.

As Shane carries the kids’ supplies to the SUV, Cooper comes to give me a hug. “We’re going to miss you, kiddo,” he says, and then he plants a kiss on the top of my head.

I squeeze him back, wrapping my arms around his sturdy torso.

“We’re going to miss you, but I think you’re doing the right thing spending Christmas with Sam’s family.

Next year, everything’s going to change for you guys.

At least I certainly hope so. It’ll be nice to have this quiet time together as a family.

Please give our love to Rachel and to Michelle.

I’m sure his mom is probably a bit anxious about the move. ”

“Michelle seems excited,” he says. “Both about the baby and the move. She’s already got some interviews lined up in January for nursing positions.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Luke asks. He’s standing beside Cooper, craning his neck upward to see Cooper’s face.

Cooper picks him up and props him on his hip. “Remember? I told you Sam and I are going to spend the holiday with Sam’s family, and they live in a different state. We won’t be gone long. I’ll see you in a few days.”

Luke nods despite the frown on his face. “Will Santa be able to find you in a different state?”

Cooper smiles before he presses a kiss to Luke’s forehead. “Don’t you worry, pal. Santa will find us.”

Sam returns from the garage after loading their gear into his pickup. “Hey, why the sad face?” he asks as he ruffles Luke’s hair.

“He’s going to miss you guys,” I say. “Plus, he’s worried that Santa won’t know where you are.”

Sam nods. “Right. Well, there’s nothing to worry about, pal. I texted Santa to let him know where we’ll be.”

Ava starts fussing in her highchair. Cooper and Sam pay her a visit and kiss her goodbye, too. We wave good-bye as they exit into the garage. Just as they’re leaving, I receive a text message from Shane’s brother Jake, who lives next door to us.

“Aiden, your dad wants you to come home. They’re all packed and ready to leave.”

Aiden pumps his fist in the air. “Yes! I’ll see you at the vacation house, Luke. Don’t be late.”

Shane returns from taking the last of our things out to the car. He pulls me into his arms. “Why the sad face?”

“This is the first year we haven’t spent Christmas with Sam and Cooper since I met you.”

Luke reaches up to pat my back. “Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll keep you company.”

“I’ll keep Mama company, too,” Shane says with a grin as he leans in to kiss my cheek.

“I’m hoping I’ll get a lot of opportunities to keep Mama company over the holiday.

With two grandmas and numerous aunts and uncles at the house, we’ll have lots of childcare options.

” And then he reaches around and pats one of my butt cheeks.

“Look, it’s snowing!” Luke cries as he races over to the back patio door to gaze out at the white stuff swirling around in the air.

“Don’t forget to bring your snow boots,” I tell him. “I’ve already got your snowsuit packed. You’ll need to bundle up warmly if you want to play in the snow.”

Luke races for the coat closet by the front door. “Don’t worry! I’ll get my boots.”

Shane grabs his keys. “All right, gang. Grab your coats and let’s go. We’ll pick up Grandma Ingrid, and then we’ll be on our way.”

“And my snow boots, Daddy,” Luke says as he holds them high above his head. “We can’t forget my snow boots.”

* * *

Normally, it takes only thirty minutes to drive north to Kenilworth, but because of the heavy snowfall, traffic has slowed to a crawl. Traveling this close to Lake Michigan, we’re bound to feel the lake effect, meaning a lot of snow can fall in a short time.

Shane and I buckle the kids into their car seats in the middle row of the Escalade before we drive across the street to pick up my mom.

She climbs into the backseat and sits between the kids.

Shane and I are sitting up front, of course.

While he’s concentrating on navigating the snow-covered roads, I field text messages from the rest of the family.

I read them aloud to Shane as they come in.

Jake: Watch the roads. The farther north, the worse they are.

Hannah: Our flight out of Denver has been delayed because of the weather. We’ll see you when we see you.

Bridget: Be careful, kids. The roads are bad.

Despite the bad weather, all of the McIntyres are coming to Kenilworth this year for Christmas—Bridget and Calum and all seven of their kids. This will be the first time we’ve seen Hannah and Killian since they got married recently in Bryce, Colorado.

“Are Molly and Jamie coming?” Mom asks from the backseat.

I turn to face her. “Yes.”

“Are they bringing their new baby?” Luke asks, his blue eyes large in his face. Clearly, he’s excited.

“Yes, they are.” I don’t blame Luke for being excited to see his newest cousin. I’m looking forward to having some baby cuddles, too. I think everyone is.

“And Hazel, too?” he asks.

“Yes, Hazel, too.” I can’t believe a year has passed since Molly and Jamie adopted her.

“She’s a big sister now,” Luke says. “Just like I’m a big brother.”

Shane reaches over and pats my thigh. “Remember the last time we spent the night in a snowstorm?”

I lay my hand on his and link our fingers together. “How could I forget?”

That was the night Ava was conceived, because in the excitement of being trapped in my bookstore during an all-out blizzard, Shane and I had sex in the panic room and forgot to use protection. Nine months later, our sweet baby girl was born.

I glance back at our daughter, and I’m not one bit surprised to see she’s sound asleep. Riding in a vehicle knocks her out every time.

When we finally arrive at Kenilworth, the winter scenery is beyond gorgeous.

All of the fairy tale homes and lawns along our lakeside road are covered in freshly fallen snow.

The evergreen trees and stone walls are wrapped in twinkling Christmas lights.

It’s barely noon, but the skies are so overcast, it looks like it’s early evening already.

“I’m hungry,” Luke says from the backseat.

“You just ate breakfast,” I say, shaking my head. That child is a bottomless pit, always hungry. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Elly will have lunch ready when we get there.”

Thank God for Elly. I don’t know what we’d do without her.

“I hope George has the driveway and parking areas plowed,” Shane says. “Otherwise, finding space to park all these vehicles is going to be a challenge.”

When we pull into the lane that leads up to the house, I feel excitement bubbling inside me. I still get goosebumps every time we arrive. I have so many memories of the first few times I came here with Shane. Some are good memories, while others aren’t quite as good.

I smile when I remember the time Lia and I ran away from this house. Cooper aided us in our escape, and Shane’s reaction once he realized I was gone was priceless.

We pass through the two monitored security gates and finally approach the house.

Shane had my name added to the deed for this property shortly after we were married, so this estate is legally mine, too.

I squeeze Shane’s hand because the trust he has in me boggles my mind sometimes.

Many wealthy people demand a prenuptial agreement before getting married in order to protect their assets in case of a divorce.

Not Shane. He went out of his way to systematically add me either as an equal owner, or as a beneficiary, of everything he owns.

“Good man, George,” Shane says as we pull into view of the front of the house.

The circular drive, along with all the parking spaces, has been recently cleared of snow. The snow plow is parked off to the side of the drive as if poised to shovel the snow again if need be. The porch and steps are cleared off, too.

The front door opens, and Elly and George come out, bundled up in light of the cold weather. They’re soon followed by Jake and Dominic and Shane’s father, Calum, who’ve come out to help us carry in our stuff.

Elly opens the rear passenger door, unbuckles Luke, and helps him climb out of his car seat.

“Is the new baby here yet?” he asks her.

“Not yet, sweetie. Molly and Jamie had to stop to change the baby’s diaper on the way here. But they should be here soon.”

Elly helps Luke jump down from the SUV and leads him inside the house. Mom gets out, and Shane gets Ava out on his side of the vehicle. George and the guys carry our luggage inside.

When we step in to the spacious foyer, it’s sheer pandemonium as everyone who has already arrived comes to greet us. I’d say most of the family are here now. Aiden and the twins rush forward to hug Luke. Shane hands Ava to me so he can help Luke out of his winter gear.

“Can you believe this weather?” Elly says. “It looks like we’re definitely having a White Christmas this year. Come sit by the fire. I’ve got some hot chocolate ready to warm you up.”

“With little marshmallows!” Aiden says as he grabs Luke’s hand and pulls him through the foyer to the great room. “Come on! I’ll show you.”

Mom and I follow the boys, where we find seats on one of the long sofas arranged around the fireplace.

It’s wonderfully cozy in front of the fire.

Classic Christmas songs are playing quietly on the sound system—Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Frank Sinatra.

Once in a while, a more contemporary song slips in, from Michael Bublé to Ariana Grande.

I sit back with a sigh, relieved to be out of the vehicle. The drive was a bit stressful with all the snow. I’m looking forward to a fun and relaxing Christmas with our family.

Luke and Aiden stand in front of the Christmas tree, staring up at all the lights and ornaments. It’s a huge tree, fit for a large room. It has to be at least seven feet tall.

Luke bends down to look beneath the tree, hoping to see presents. He frowns because there aren’t any. “I don’t think he knows where we are.”

“Santa will come tonight when you’re asleep,” I tell him. “You just have to be patient.”

Suddenly, there’s a loud ruckus in the foyer, and Aiden runs off to see what’s going on. When he returns, he has the news Luke has been waiting for.

“Aunt Molly and Uncle Jamie are here with the new baby! Henry is here!”