Page 28 of Daddies' Holiday Toy

The truth is that I’ll probably be the one ending up offering my room instead.

I’ve never been one to care about sleeping on a couch—I did it plenty of time in my college days.

Hell, back then, I used to sleep in worse places in worse conditions.

We both fall quiet, watching through the open archway as Holly moves around in the kitchen.

She’s not just cooking, she’s nesting.

In her own way, from the looks of it.

Straightening things that don’t need to be, folding a stray dishtowel over by the sink.

There’s this strange weight in my chest watching her,Carson’s kid, here in the middle of the mountains in a cabin I doubt she’s spent more than a weekend in her entire life, working herself to the bone making the place look like it’s straight out of a spread inCountry Living.

The question comes unbidden: why’d he have her come up and do that?

Why not just hire someone instead of forcing his own kid to clean up after our past messes?

There are a dozen cleaning services in town that would’ve done the job, no problem.

Instead, he sends his own daughter who he barely sees up here, alone, to do it.

She deserves better than being sent up here alone to play maid for her old man.

“You think Carson’s gonna throw a fit when he sees her like she said he would?” I ask quietly, my eyes refusing to leave her.

Jack exhales, drawing my attention away for a brief moment, rubbing his thumb along the edge of his jaw while a small muscle in it ticks.

“Probably. But that’s on him, not her. I’ll get in the middle of it if he starts being an asshole. She’s only doing what he asked her to do. Not her fault the weather decided to be a bitch.”

I nod, but the truth is…I’m not all that convinced.

Something about how Holly carries herself doesn’t sit right with me.

It has me thinking—or rather, reminding myself—how deeply troubled Carson’s relationship with her has always been.

If he starts causing an issue, I’ll be standing there right along with Jack to shut him the fuck up.

The front door opens again and Liam stomps back inside, covered in snow.

He shivers, teeth clacking together as he swings the door shut behind him.

“Well?” Jack asks.

“Guess.” Liam’s voice is flat. Telling.

“He’s not coming.” I say.

He rolls his eyes. “Yup. Claims he’s stuck in town because of the storm, which I fucking called. Said he’ll head up tomorrow when the roads are cleared out but who knows when that’s going to happen.”

“Translation: he’s probably holed up with someone. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess Maggie.”

Liam doesn’t even argue.

He just runs a hand over his mouth, muttering something under his breath. “It’s fucking ridiculous if you ask me. Why bother inviting us up here just to ditch us?”

I glance back toward the kitchen again when I see a shadow moving out of the corner of my eye.