A Crew Christmas Read online

  “Before you beg,” Sawyer sighs, as though put out, “yes, you can use a picture of me on the cover.”

  “Baby,” Dane speaks softly, approaching her with caution, “you good? Really? Not about to go postal?”

  “Over what?” She shrugs. “We got to spend another holiday with our healthy, happy, amazing kids, friends, family. Opened presents we’re all blessed enough to be able to be able to afford, bought with love, thought. Have delicious food in our stomachs. No, I’m not gonna go postal. Far too blessed to throw a fit over a tree. Did our thing; we were done with it anyway, right? Only important things on it were any ornaments the kids made. And yeah, those were memories, but I was there, with them, when they made most of ‘em, so… I’ve still got the memories.” She taps one finger to her temple. “The best versions. Plus, I’ve laughed more tonight than I have since… since the last time we were all together. So yes, I’m A-Okay. I’m great and stocked with some new memories now too.”

  “That was beautiful, and prophetic, Laney, but are you sure? If this is you masking-”

  “Pretty Girl”—I stop my wife from diagnosing—“she’s sure. Time to go home. End on a high note. How ‘bout you say your goodbyes, and I’ll load up the truck?”

  “What he said,” Sawyer whoops, racing toward his own pile needing loaded.

  I keep reminding myself, with every stair conquered, that Christmas comes but once a year. And next year… Santa’s stopping at someone else’s house.

  And the year after that.

  In fact, I’ve just made a new rule: we’re going on a hosting rotation. Means I’m “up” every fourth year. The others don’t know it yet, but they’re gonna think it’s a great plan. Or at least act like they do. I don’t care which.

  I. Am. Exhausted.

  Definitely feeling my age right about now… and that bothers me a million times worse than the mess downstairs. Or the fact we have ten-too-many stairs and no one got me one of those cool robo-chairs that climbs ‘em for ya for Christmas.

  “Where you going?” His smooth grunt is filled with innuendo.

  I halt mid-trudge to glance over my shoulder. “To. Bed. To. Sleep.”

  He slowly shakes his head back and forth—sexier even than the first time I ever saw him do it—his grin growing coy. “I don’t think so. We’re finally alone, and Brynn went to sleep over at Skye’s, so I mean, all alone.”

  “Good. You manage not to snore and the house will be nice and quiet, for me to sleep. Get anything else outta your mind, Caveman. I’m way too tired.”

  “Shame. Guess I better go power down the hot tub then.”

  “Guess you better,” I drone, restarting my climb.

  “Put the champagne away.”

  “You do that.”

  “Turn off those twinkle lights you had to have strung.”

  “Yup. That too.”

  “Baby?” His voice now soft and sweet.

  “Yeah?”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas to you.”

  “I love you.” Softer. Sweeter.

  “I love you too, babe.” My back’s to him, an empty effort, and another, countless confirmation of his prophecy from long ago.

  ‘You and I will one day speak with no words.’

  The moment he’d whispered those words to me, I’d known he spoke the truth. Not would be true. Already, very much, the truth.

  Just like I know now, without words, without looking… Dane Kendrick—my husband, my best friend, my prophecy—wears a smug smirk while he waits.

  Waits for me to turn around. Knowing… the truth… that I will. And then I’ll follow him to the hot tub. Coincidentally, yet not at all, the same place we were headed that first, fated night. The one to truly start the most important journey I was meant to take.

  Amused by my stalking, he faintly laughs; of humorless arrogance. Low. Sexed. Irresistible. But because he loves me—loves, a soul-share not of the trite definition—and all the stubborn pride included in the package that is “me,” he caves… as much so as my Caveman is capable. “Alright, baby, I get it. You’re tired, and I’m being a selfish ass. I’ll lock up. You head on up to bed. Unless, you need me to carry you?’”

  “I can make it,” my tone untelling… that I’m still not quite sure what his next move’s gonna be.

  “I’ll keep it low, and just on for a minute, you know, while I lock up. You mind?” He doesn’t ask… as the early notes of our story find my ears.

  Bastard.

  Sexy, slick, sublime bastard.

  I pivot, slow and steady… like, and to, the beat. Then look at him. Really look at him, struck with a sudden urge to reminisce.

  ‘Hey, I’m Dane. Nice to meet you both,’ he’d said to only me, eyes fixed—a deep, mesmerizing shade of brown I’d never seen before—and haven’t ever looked for since.

  “Do you soo love this song?” he growls, encroaching on my memory.

  I nod, fighting the smile that might end the game before I’m ready.

  “Oh yeah? What’s it called?”

  “‘This Years Love.’”

  We’re almost to the best part. Five bucks—strike that—make it five orgasms, says he’ll remember the wink.

  No wink, no hot tub.

  I couldn’t be more serious.

  “Very nice,” he says, then pauses… his signature smirk evolving into pure, primal predation. “Waitin’ on somethin’?” He promises the same completely fulfilled bliss he’s delivered for decades.

  I simply grin, one brow quirked, casually hitching a shoulder—returning the same intriguing sass that’s kept him delivering for decades.

  “Uh huh,” the graveled murmur travels from deep in his chest… as he travels up the stairs… every step a stalking. Hands cinching my hips, he hauls me against him and warms my lips with magic. “You’re waitin’ on somethin’, alright. And, you’re not the only one with a good memory, Disney. Ever wonder how I always know when you’ve left me, your husband, to go back and visit your enigma? Say hello to your would-be boyfriend? Stopping by to see your man, your future?”

  “How?” I whisper, just to hear him say it, never left to wonder.

  “Your face. You get the look. My look. The one you gave me then. And your pulse.” He traces a fingertip along my neck, coming to rest on the racing throb. “It quickens, as it has, every time, since then. And when I do this”—he leans away—“I’ve got you.”

  Wink.

  “There she is, my Laney. Crazy ‘bout the wink.”

  God, he’s perfect. Masterful. Every. Damn. Bit the sexy, suave, absolutely overwhelming man that stole my attention and heart, when I was just a girl... and never let them go.

  “Still tired?” His facetious laugh’s low, his scooping me up in his arms already done. “The hot tub will do you good.” He parrots the past. “And so will I.”

  S.E. Hall is the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of the Evolve Series, standalone contemporary romances Pretty Instinct, Pretty Remedy and Unstable, and her standalone spinoff from the Evolve Series—Embody.

  S.E., which stands for Stephanie Elaine, resides in Arkansas with her husband of 21 years and three amazing daughters of the home. She is also blessed with an older, married daughter, and son-in-law, who graced her with three beautiful grandchildren. And last, but far from least, is Roscoe—her precious lil’ lamb of a dog and best friend in the entire world… who can always be found right by her side.

  When not watching her baby girl rule the mound of fastpitch softball or one of her songbird’s choir concerts, S.E. Hall can be found… in her garage. Oh, and she also enjoys reading, writing, gabbing on the phone and online shopping… in her garage.

  Her other works include Stirred Up, Handled, Packaged, Matched, Filthy Foreign Exchange, Filthy Foreign Exchange 2 and One Naughty Night (co-written with Angela Graham), Conspire (co-written with Erin Noelle), Quarterback Sack (co-written with Hilary Storm) and Accidentally on Purpose (co-written with A
shley Suzanne).

  You can stay connected with S.E. Hall in several ways:

  Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/s-e-hall

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S.E.HallAuthorEmerge

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sehallauthor

  Website: http://www.mysehallauthor.com/

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/S.E.-Hall/e/B00D0AB9TI/

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7087549.S_E_Hall

  Instagram: https://instagram.com/Sehall_author/

  Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/7E-nP

  Books by S.E. Hall (all books can be found on Amazon; those with a * indicate additional availability in audio format)

  Standalone

  *Unstable: http://amzn.com/B01M0FYWBN

  Full Circle Series

  Embody: http://amzn.to/2lBlpTW

  Evolve Series

  *Emerge: myBook.to/Emerge (FREE on Amazon, Nook and IBooks)

  *Embrace: myBook.to/Embrace

  *Entangled: myBook.to/Entangled

  *Entice: myBook.to/Entice

  Sawyer Beckett's Baby Mama Drama Guide For Dummies: myBook.to/BabyMamaDrama

  *Endure: myBook.to/Endure

  Sawyer Beckett's Guide for Tools Looking to Date My Daughter: myBook.to/DateMyDaughter

  Entwined: http://a.co/a1OCBTn

  Finally Found Novels

  *Pretty Instinct: myBook.to/PrettyInstinct

  Pretty Remedy: myBook.to/PrettyRemedy

  Co-written with Hilary Storm

  Quarterback Sack: http://a.co/4xKQExV

  Table of Contents

  A Note from the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  About the Author