Page 13 of Stolen Holidays (The Miller Brothers #5)

twelve

Callie

My eyelids droop, heavy with sleep, as Eli massages my neck and tangles his fingers in my long hair. I’m in my favorite spot, sitting sideways on Eli’s lap, with my head on his shoulder and his free arm wrapped around my waist.

The soft yellow glow of the Edison lights overhead illuminates the space perfectly, still allowing for the moonlight to shine down on us and the rest of the Miller family.

We are all sitting around the crackling fire on the back patio of the inn with a s’mores and hot chocolate station set up for everyone to enjoy.

Like me and Eli, Emery and Mason are curled up together while Cam whispers into Talia’s ear, making her blush. Having already put baby Remy to bed with her parents, Rylann watches her family at the fire from her spot in the chair under the comfort of the warm fleece blanket.

I lean back against Eli and soak up the moment. I dreamed of having a family like this, and that dream has finally come true. In fact, it’s even better than I imagined.

A smile pulls at my lips as I watch Rhys help his baby sister, Riah, roast a marshmallow.

She bounces up and down on her toes, and Rhys adorably tries to hold her still.

Their sugary confection catches on fire, and Jace gets up to help them blow out the flame.

It is the most adorable scene I’ve ever witnessed, and I can’t help but imagine my and Eli’s children in their place.

I have been fighting the intense urge to lay my hand on my stomach, to see if I can feel something beneath my skin.

Ridiculous, I know. Even if I were pregnant, it would be way too soon to feel the baby.

Honestly, not knowing is driving me crazy.

There hasn’t been time for me to speak with Rylann about the test I took in her bathroom a few days ago.

I should have texted her, but Eli has glued himself to my hip. Not that I’m complaining.

The last couple of days we spent here alone have been amazing. Snuggles, talks about the future, romantic dates, and sex. So much sex. I’m sorer from riding Eli than I am from our horseback ride.

My hussy of a vagina tingles and my thighs clench with need, thinking about the romantic picnic Eli set up for us.

We spent the rest of the day naked and wrapped around each other in that little tent.

Best date I’ve ever had. They always are with him.

Even when it’s just us, sweatpants, a bowl of popcorn, and a movie.

As long as I’m with Eli, I know it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.

Cam says something to Rhys, who giggles like a wild man, throwing his head back in laughter. The sweet sound makes my stomach somersault.

There could be a baby growing inside me. Why didn’t I sneak back into the bathroom to check? I’m such an idiot.

Maybe Rylann looked when the coast was clear.

Would she do that? A part of me hopes she looked. I am desperate to know the answer. She hasn’t hinted at knowing the result.

As if she could read my mind, Rylann’s big brown eyes find mine. I pray she can read my mind, like she does with Scarlett, and ask, Did you look? Am I pregnant?

She scans the group, then slowly smiles at me. It’s just a little jerk of her chin up, but it’s all the answer I need. Yes.

I’m pregnant.

Fighting back tears, I mouth, Thank you, and she winks at me.

Rylann turns her attention back to her kids and her husband as Jace helps Riah smash the marshmallow between two graham crackers. Chocolate covers Rhys’s mouth, his cheeks stuffed with his dessert.

There is going to be a little Eli in the world. I don’t know why, but I can just feel it. This little nugget is going to be a boy.

Tears tingle my nose, and my heart feels like it might burst from the overwhelming love growing in my chest. Excitement hums beneath my skin, bouncing around like a pinball. I want to jump out of Eli’s lap and celebrate.

Not now, I remind myself. This news needs to be a surprise.

Tamping down my excitement, I think about all the ways I can tell Eli.

Take a new test and wrap it? I shake my head internally.

No, that’s gross. Maybe I can wrap a little onesie that says something cute.

A T-shirt with “daddy” on it, or is that too cheesy?

I could always go with the typical onesie, seeing as I haven’t gone to the doctor yet.

Eli’s hand settles on my lower belly, and I jump at the unexpected touch. He tilts my chin up and searches my face. Concern makes the honey-brown slice in his eye glow in the firelight. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, of course.” My hands match my shaky voice, giving me away. My overprotective boyfriend notices. To distract him from digging deeper, I plant a kiss on his scruffy chin. “I promise.”

A familiar deep, rumbling squawk has mine and Eli’s heads turning towards Lucky the emu’s arrival. Riah startles and starts crying.

Rylann rushes to scoop her up and pats her back, trying to soothe the little angel. “Shh. It’s okay, baby girl.”

“What in fresh hell is this?” Cam asks, gripping Talia like a shield.

“It’s an emu!” Rhys jumps up and down, clapping.

Lucky likes Rhys’s reaction and bleats, bouncing on its skinny legs. Jace takes a protective stance, stepping between Rhys and the flightless bird. Lucky takes offense and snaps the s’more out of Jace’s hand.

“Whoa there, big fella.” Jace rubs the bird’s head. Lucky purrs like a cat and preens at the attention.

I make my way over to the bird and pet its head. His fine feathers are downy soft. “This is Lucky.”

Lucky squeaks, jumps up and down at hearing his name, and runs around the fire before bumping into Jace again.

“When did this place turn into a damn zoo?” Mason grumps. He’s up and out of his chair, blocking Emery.

“Apparently, the new owner has a love of animals, and her husband doesn’t tell her no,” Eli inserts, patting Lucky on the head.

Over the past few days, Eli and I have gotten to know the crazy bird. Our emu friend is quite mischievous. He likes to pop up out of nowhere, peck at windows and doors, and we’ve seen him chase the goats for sport. Eli noticeably leaves this information out to our recent arrivals.

“That, I can understand.” Jace winks at Ry, who returns his smile. Riah, now quiet and tucked under her momma’s chin, observes everything with wide eyes.

“I like him. Can we get one, Dad?” Lucky bumps Rhys’s shoulder with his head, searching for more attention.

“Sorry, kiddo, but our yard isn’t big enough for an emu.”

While petting the bird, Rhys turns to his uncle. “Uncle Cam, you should get an emu.”

“Why in the fu—” Lucky snaps his beak in Cam’s direction, forcing the big, hunky baseball player back behind his fiancée, who is more than a foot shorter than him. “Fudge,” Cam corrects himself and holds his hands up in surrender. “Why in the fudge would I get an emu?”

Lucky watches Cam as Rhys shrugs. “You live near the beach, so he’d have plenty of space to run around.” He and his answer are so freaking adorable.

“While that makes sense, who would take care of it during baseball season?” Cam asks. He wraps his arms around Talia, no longer fearful of the bird but still maintaining a good amount of space between them.

His nephew scrunches his face in thought. “Grandpa can take care of it while you play.”

Everyone bursts out laughing, and Lucky bleats.

Rhys grins at the bird, which dips down for another head pat. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Lucky?” The crazy bird purrs and then takes off into the night, hopefully towards the barn.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting an emu, but I guess surprises are kind of how our family rolls these days.” Cam chuckles.

“What would you know about surprises?” Mason asks.

“Well, I fell for my douche-of-a-teammate’s little sister.”

“Hey!” Talia pinches Cam’s side, and he yelps.

“Don’t act like us falling for each other wasn’t a surprise, Itty Bitty.” He rubs his stomach.

“Pretty sure she pinched you for calling her brother a douche. You really should stop calling him names,” Mason teases.

“Exactly. Thank you, Mason.” Talia crosses her arms and smirks.

“I’ll stop calling him names when he stops giving me the stink eye every time I kiss my fiancée.” He smacks a kiss on her cheek, making us all laugh.

“Well, I like surprises. They make life more exciting,” Jace says as his smoldering gaze catches Rylann’s.

“Me too,” I pipe in. Being with Eli has given me a newfound appreciation for them. Every day with Eli is a beautiful surprise. Like the one I just found out about.

“How about fewer murdery surprises from you?” Cam jokes, and I can’t help but giggle.

Sure, some parts of everything that happened with my half-sister were scary, and sometimes some of the darker moments creep into my dreams, but without her and that path, I wouldn’t be here with my favorite people. I wouldn’t be here with Eli, and for that, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Eli swats him on the back of the head. “How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t joke about that.”

“Hey now, I didn’t say something we all weren’t thinking. Right, Callie?” Cam looks at me.

I glance at Eli. The cross look on his face has me biting my lips, and my answer.

“I see how it is. I help you capture the bad guys, and you hang me out to dry. See if I help you next time someone comes after you.”

“Shut up, Cam.” Eli shoves his brother, who bowls over, laughing.

“Seriously, big guy. I can’t protect you from that one,” Talia says, moving out of the way in case Eli tries to attack him again.

“I’m offended. My girl, leaving me unprotected.” Cam grins at Eli mischievously.

Eli gets the jump on him and puts him in a headlock.

“Elijiah James Miller. No fighting with your brother,” I scold as the two scuffle a little too close to the fire for my liking.

“Ha! You got full named. Guess we know who wears the pants in your relationship.” Cam grins like a Cheshire cat. I love his playful personality. He always makes me laugh.

Eli releases Cam with a shove. “You’re lucky my girl is protecting you.”

Cam grabs Talia around the middle and plops back into the chair, pulling a blanket over them as he taunts Eli, sticking his tongue out. “That’s cause all my sisters love me more than you.”

“Aww, he called me sister.” My insides dance at the endearment.

Cam winks at me as Eli drags me away to our chair.

“Don’t encourage him,” Eli mumbles.

Is it wrong that I love when he gets jealous and possessive? Probably. Possessive Eli is hot. He might want me all the time, but Eli never stifles me. He loves me too much—something he proves every day when he encourages me to do what makes me happy.

I take my rightful spot on Eli’s lap and kiss his scruffy chin.

“Don’t be upset. Cam’s just teasing. Besides, when we get back to our room, I’ll let you take my pants off.

” I don’t bother bringing up Cam calling me “sister”.

Eli will propose when he’s ready. We’ve only been dating for a couple of months.

You live together, for crying out loud.

I push that thought away. Eli knows how I feel. I’m all in. He is the only man I want, and when the time is right, we will make it official.

Eli grasps my hips, tugs me close, and whispers, “I can’t wait to take your pants off and bury my face between your legs until you come on my tongue.” He crashes his mouth to mine, swallowing my needy whimper. His kiss is sweet, like the marshmallows we’ve eaten.

Arousal pools hot and wet between my legs as his tongue slides against mine.

“Ugh,” Rhys groans. “You grownups kiss too much. It’s gross.”

I break away from Eli’s drugging kisses with a laugh.

“Someday, Rhys, you’ll understand,” Jace chides.

“But not today,” Rhys quips.

The family laughs at his sass. That little man is by far my favorite Miller. He’s probably my best friend. We spend hours on video calls while we play and talk about music.

Eli presses his forehead to mine and whispers, “I love you, Calliope.”

“I love you more, Elijiah.”

“You can try, baby. But we both know it’s you first and me more.”

He’s right.

The night passes in a blur with Eli and his brothers telling us story after story about their childhood and all the wild hijinks they got themselves into as kids and teenagers.

From the sound of it, these boys were naughty as hell. It’s a miracle Santa visited them at all.