Page 50 of A Very Bossy Christmas

“No,” she snarls.

“It’s not the soup, it’s the Guinness,” Mamie stage whispers. “Every nice word out of that boy’s mouth is from the Irish side. Everything good my boys got to give a woman is from the Irish side.”

I share a look and a sly grin with Hannah and Aiden’s wife.

I don’t know about that, Mrs. C, but what your boy’s got is awfully good.

Twenty-Three

Declan

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE UNFINISHED BUSINESS

While everyone else is crowding into the family room to play Christmas Carol Pictionary with the kids, I pull Maddie into the guest bathroom with me and shut the door. I had wine with dinner. I’m feeling really full and warm. And I caught her unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans about an hour ago, and I just can’t wait to get my hands on that warm, round belly.

“Declan,” she whispers. “What are you doing?”

I lift her sweater up, drop to my knees, and kiss the flesh that’s bulging out of her tight jeans.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes, and I need to get you out of these pants.”

“Seriously? You’re horny right now? I can’t even think about sex—I can barely even breathe.”

I try to get her pants down, but they won’t budge, not even an inch.

“Declan.” She puts her hands on either side of my face and pulls me up. I fucking love it when she puts her hands on my face. I try to kiss her mouth, but she dodges out of the way.

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

She frowns at me. “What’s wrong is you need to talk to Hannah, and you need to talk to Brady. I don’t care if you talk to them separately or together, but you need to talk to them.”

I shrug. “About what?”

“Dec.”

“Hey, you’ve never called me Dec before. I like it.”

“Mr. Cannavale. You need to talk to your ex and your brother. In private. I’m telling you this as your assistant whose job it is to make you a less terrible person.”

“I don’t recall giving you those instructions when I hired you.”

“It’s something I do pro bono.”

“Then we’re on the same page. I am verypro bonoright now too. Take those pants off.” I make one last attempt at getting her pants down, but they’re attached to her. They’re mean, and I hate them.

“Declan. I mean it.”

“So do I. Take off your pants.” I finally look up at her beautiful sexy face, and her eyes are glistening. With tears. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so serious. “Baby…”

“Dec. If you can’t talk to them, at least let them talk to you. Please. For me.”

For her.

Shit.

“Will you?”