Page 77 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“Are we going out?” Anna asked in a panic. “I thought we were just having dinner at home.”

“That’s what I thought too. I’m fairly sure that’s what’s happening.”

“Do they usually get so dressed up for dinner at home?”

He shook his head. “No, this is over the top, even for them.”

“I feel like a street urchin,” she hissed. It was ridiculousthough – five minutes ago she’d been happy with her jeans and soft cashmere sweater.

“Don’t worry about it,” Warren said, placing a hand at the small of her back to encourage her on.

“There you are,” Jen said when she spotted them. “I’ve got you an early Christmas present, Warren.” She sashayed across the room and plucked a suit bag from the back of a cupboard door.

“A suit?” Warren said flatly.

“I hope it fits.” His mum handed it over. “Go and try it on quickly.”

He curled his lip. “Why are you all so dressed up?”

“I thought we’d get a family photo since we’re all here. Go and pop that on.”

Warren opened his mouth, then glanced at Anna and closed it again with a tight smile. He moved to a chair at the side of the room and laid the bag over it before undoing the zip.

“Don’t get dressed here,” Selena said, rolling her eyes. “Go to your room like a normal person.”

Amusement flashed in his eyes as he pulled his hoodie over his head, his T–shirt briefly rising with it. “To save us from arguing, I’ll wear the shirt.” He pulled it from the bag and ripped off the tag.

“It’s an expensive suit,” Jen said. “Please put it on.”

“No,” Warren said, slipping his arms into the shirt.

His dad stood beside a shiny mahogany console table with a glass of whisky in his hand. “For once in your life, can you not be so stubborn and just do as your mother asks?”

“No,” Warren replied calmly. “I’m a grown man. You don’t get to dress me up so you can pretend to your friends that we’re some normal, happy family. I’ll wear the shirt, or I won’t be in your photo at all. Your call.”

With her eyes darting between family members, irritation had Anna’s heart rate increasing. “Hi,” she said pointedly, since they seemed to have forgotten about greetings.

“Hello.” Jen swept over and gave Anna a brief hug. “How are you?” she asked, as though this entire situation was normal.

“Fine.” Anna tried to catch Warren’s eye, but he was buttoning up his shirt and didn’t seem at all bothered that his parents hadn’t even said hello to him.

“Can you at least put the jacket on over the shirt?” Jen said.

The noisy arrival of a small boy thundering down the stairs saved him from answering. A lithe young woman with curly brown hair followed him, yammering away in Spanish.

“Uncle Warren!” the boy shouted, launching himself at Warren from the third step. He caught him effortlessly and pretended to choke when the kid hugged him tightly around his neck.

“How are you, Joshie?” he asked.

“Good. Can you throw me?”

“No!” Selena snapped. “He’s not going to…No! Warren! Don’t even–” She cut herself off with a gasp as Warren put his hands under Josh’s armpits and launched him straight up in the air.

It wasn’t only Selena who gasped, but everyone in the entranceway. Seeing how high he’d thrown him, Anna slapped a hand over her face, covering her eyes. She opened them again at the sound of a high-pitched giggle.

“Do it again?” Josh demanded in Warren’s arms.

“Don’t you dare!” Selena said, marching over to them. “How many times have I told you he’s not a rag doll? You can’t just throw him.”