Page 276 of Santa Daddies

Anson sighed. “The two of you fought?”

“Like I said. He’s a dick. I need to go have a shower.”

A shower? She stared after him in shock as Anson picked up his phone, messaging someone.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Joey and Lochlan often clash heads. Personally, I think they’re both attracted to each other but don’t want to admit it. I’ll go pick up Lochlan. You okay, baby?”

“Of course, go.”

After he left, she put the cookies on a plate and cleaned up. Thankfully, she was feeling great today. Her body must have fought off the cold, although Anson thought it had been a warning to slow down.

Joey still hadn’t reappeared and she glanced at the decorations. She really wanted to decorate the tree. Maybe she’d just see what some of them looked like. She got the ladder ready and pulled some out, laying them on the chair.

Oh this one was so pretty! It was a ball with the inside showing a small Christmas scene of Santa on his sleigh flying over houses at night.

She decided to put it up. Just to see. Oh, that looked good. But it would be even better higher up the tree.

Hmm. Joey had been in the shower a while. She’d have to do it now before he got out.

She could take it off before anyone saw. Mind made up, she climbed the ladder and set the decoration on the tree. Oh, that was pretty.

“What the heck are you doing?” Joey demanded from behind her.

Unfortunately, he spoke just as she was sliding the ornament carefully off a branch. Her entire body jumped in fright. She started to slip so she grabbed the ladder. Only the ornament slipped free and fell onto the floor with a smash.

“No!” she cried out.

Oh God. What had she done?

“What the hell is going on? Baby, what are you doing up the ladder?”

She glanced over to see Anson and a stranger standing in the kitchen. They must have come through from the garage.

Both of them were gaping at her as tears ran down her face. She’d messed up.

“I’m sorry. I messed up. I’m so sorry. I’ll fix it. I’ll fix it, I promise.” She climbed down the ladder. In her haste, she slid onto her bottom on the floor. But she ignored the pain in her ass and got onto her knees to start picking up the pieces.

Tears blurred her vision and made everything harder.

Damn it.

She sniffled and wiped at her eyes and nose. She became aware of someone getting closer.

“Baby, stop that. Put those pieces down, that’s glass. You’ll cut yourself.”

“I’m so sorry. I’ll pay to get it fixed. I will. I just wanted to see it on the tree. I know I shouldn’t have. Sorry. Sorry.”

Alice waited for him to start yelling at her. She didn’t know why. She knew this was Anson. That he wouldn’t yell. That he wouldn’t call her names or tell her what a disappointment she always was.

That he wasn’t George.

You know he’s not. Stop it.

“Shh. Hey, it’s all right,” Anson told her. “No one is mad at you. Joey, help me out here.”

“Coming,” Joey said in a husky voice as he got down on his knees in front of her and started pulling the pieces of glass carefully out of her hands. “Just give them back to me, little sister. That’s it. Careful. Come on, the big guy needs to hug you and he’s not happy that he can’t get down here and help you.”