Page 79 of 27 Kisses

Lanie makes a gagging sound. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s go back to pretending.”

We both stare at her. She rolls her eyes. “I’m just kidding. Mostly,” she adds with a grumble.

“Looks like someone else needed an extra hour of sleep too.” Aidyn raises a brow.

She sighs dramatically. “Zoey called, and we stayed up late talking.”

Aidyn shrugs. “Sometimes you have to sacrifice sleep for the things you enjoy.”

Lanie gapes at him. “Da, stop.”

“I’m talking about you and Zoey,” Aidyn says, his face a picture of innocence.

I laugh so hard that I have to rescue my pancakes from burning. Who knew torturing Lanie would be so much fun?

My parents return as we’re finishing our breakfast. “We’re going to Jane’s for the day. We’d love for you to come along.” She smiles at Aidyn and me. “All of you.”

“Thanks, Mother. But it’s our first Christmas together, and we have the day planned. Enjoy your time with Jane.”

After they leave, Lanie runs upstairs to do some last-minute wrapping. Aidyn and I clean the kitchen. Mostly clean the kitchen.

“You’re making this more difficult, Garrett.”

I grin at him. I love this grumpy man so much. “That wasn’t my intention.”

“You’re a fucking liar, Garrett Bishop.”

I nod, trying to keep a serious face. “I sugarcoat things. It used to be part of my job description.” I think about all the brides and mamas and the fidgety grooms. “Actually, it’s still part of my job description.”

“The sooner we get this cleaned up, the sooner we can get cleaned up.”

“I am trying, but every time you bend over to ‘pick something up,’ it distracts me— Wait. Hold on. When you say we can get cleaned up, does that mean shower together?”

He leans against the counter with his arms folded, and damn, he’s sexy as hell. “It could mean that. But I’d like to not traumatize my daughter, okay?”

“Good thing I have a private bathroom.”

After showering together in record time—considering a soapy Aidyn is a close second to sleepy Aidyn—we gather in the living room to hand out Christmas presents.

I’m sitting on the floor since I’m again playing Santa. Mostly because Aidyn likes me in the hat. Aidyn sits on the couch, and between times of handing out presents, I lean back against his legs. Lanie gets several presents that Jane helped pick out, including makeup. I hand Garrett an envelope addressed to Lanie.

He holds it in one hand and scratches his chin with the other.

“Da,” Lanie says, “stop teasing me.”

He told me about the present last night. I nod at him to give it to her. His hesitation has nothing to do with teasing. He nods as if he’s talking himself into it and hands it to her.

“Please be money. Please be money.” She opens the envelope and frowns as she pulls out the piece of paper inside. “What is it?”

“It’s for classes. At a school.”

“I already go to school.”

Aidyn gives me a helpless look. I take his hand and squeeze. And nod at Lanie. “Turn it over.”

“Odessa Driving School.” She gasps and then jumps up and hugs her dad. “Thank you, Da.”

“You’re welcome.” He clears his throat. “I’m sorry I can’t teach you, darlin’…”