Page 97 of Daddies on Ice

I glance over to see tiny handprints in the sugar coating several sugar cookies, and I can’t help but smile. “That’s beautiful, sweetheart. But maybe we should leave the rest of the cookies for everyone else to eat?”

Krystal appears beside Becky, her red hair catching the firelight.

She’s been so much more outgoing since she and Becky became friends, and seeing her smile makes my heart warm. “We saved you the best ones, Miss Tish,” she says shyly, holding up a perfectly decorated Christmas tree cookie.

“Thank you, honey. That’s very sweet of you both.”

The girls scamper off toward the hot chocolate station, and I watch them go with a mixture of love and relief.

At least they’re having fun, blissfully unaware of all the adult complications swirling around us.

I make my way through the room, checking on the food tables and making sure everyone has what they need.

The virgin punch and hot chocolate station is popular with the few family members who made it out, while the adults gravitate toward the spiked eggnog and the variety of alcoholic beverages I set up on the other side of the room.

The balance seems to be working. Everyone can enjoy themselves at their own comfort level.

“Ho ho ho!” Carl’s booming voice fills the room as he makes his rounds in full Santa regalia.

The red suit fits him surprisingly well, though I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing when he first put it on.

There’s something incredibly sexy about seeing this gruff, serious man playing Santa Claus, his silver hair peeking out from under the red hat, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief behind the fake beard.

He catches my eye from across the room and winks, and I feel that familiar flutter in my stomach.

Even dressed as Santa, Carl Zoren has an effect on me that I can’t seem to shake.

“Having fun?” Jake appears beside me, his green eyes bright with alcohol and amusement. His ugly sweater features a reindeer in a compromising position with a Christmas tree, and it’s so inappropriate I can’t help but laugh.

“Where did you even find that sweater?” I ask, gesturing to his chest.

He grins, those dimples appearing. “Online. Had to special order it. Worth every penny to see the look on your face right now.”

I shake my head, but I’m smiling. This is the Jake I fell for, playful, charming, able to make me laugh even when everything else is falling apart. “You’re terrible.”

“Terribly handsome, you mean.” He leans closer, and I catch a whiff of his cologne mixed with the scent of spiked eggnog on his breath. “You look beautiful tonight, Tish. Red is definitely your color.”

Heat creeps up my neck at the compliment and the way his eyes linger on me.

I’m about to respond when Ash appears on my other side, effectively boxing me in between the two of them.

“The party’s a success,” Ash says, his brown eyes scanning the room. “Everyone needed this.”

“I’m glad,” I say, hyperaware of how close both men are standing to me. “We all needed a break from the tension.”

Ash’s gaze meets mine, and there’s something intense in his expression that makes my breath catch. “You did good, Tish. Really good.”

The approval in his voice sends warmth spreading through my chest. Coming from Ash, who doesn’t give praise lightly, it means everything.

The evening continues with games, laughter, and more drinks than I probably should have had.

I’m not much of a drinker normally, but tonight I let myself indulge.

The spiked eggnog is dangerously smooth, and the festive atmosphere makes it easy to keep reaching for another cup.

By the time the babysitter takes Becky and Krystal up to bed, I’m feeling wonderfully loose and relaxed.

The film crew finally packs up their equipment and leaves, much to everyone’s relief, and gradually the party winds down.