Page 238 of Santa Daddies

“You really don’t have the worst timing,” Alice said quickly. “He didn’t mean that.”

“Yes, I did,” Anson said. “And grab her suitcase.”

“Sir, yes, Sir!” Joey said, saluting him.

Asshole.

“You could say please,” she said, frowning up at him.

Lord, she was adorable. If he could pick her up and carry her around all day, he would.

Once, that would have been possible. He’d have never let her down. Would have carried her everywhere.

But not now.

The bitterness threatened to overtake him and he attempted to smother it. That bitterness was an old friend, but not one that was good for him.

Or her.

Maybe he should never have said goodbye to that part of him for his own sake.

And he was determined to do it for her sake.

“You, I’ll say please to,” Anson told her. “Because I’ve wronged you. Joey has been wronging me since the day he was born. He doesn’t get any pleases or apologies.”

“Apparently I’m very annoying,” Joey said with a grin. “It’s another gift. I got all of the good gifts. The ability to smile, to have fun, to make friends. Big brother here got coal in his stocking each year.”

“Coal is useful,” Anson replied. “GI Joe figurines are not.”

“Of course they are!” Joey said, bouncing up and down. “They helped me perfect all of my kung fu moves.” He swung his hands through the air and then kicked out with his foot.

Alice guessed those were supposed to be kung fu moves, she wasn’t really sure. But Joey did have the ability to bring a smile to her face. He seemed to lighten the mood of any room he walked into.

“Did GI Joe have kung fu moves?” she asked.

Joey looked at her with a crushed look.

Anson shook his head.

“He can have whatever you want him to, darlin’,” Joey told her. “It’s all in your imagination.”

She had to smile. That was true. “My mouse is a ballerina.”

Shit. Shit.

Why had she said that? She never told anyone about Lola. Not since George. And Anson, of course, but that had been in a desperate bid to drive him away.

Alice could feel her cheeks heating. She knew they were probably bright red.

“Well, of course she is, darlin’,” Joey said without a hint of shock or confusion. “She can be whatever you want her to be!”

Anson moved closer to her. A firm, warm presence standing behind her. She almost sank back into him, letting him take her weight.

Then she remembered his leg and managed to hold herself up.

Just.

“Joey, take her luggage out and put it into her car, will you? We’ll be down in a moment.”