Page 23 of Stolen Holidays (The Miller Brothers #5)

twenty-one

Eli

Christmas Eve

Again, I run through my mental checklist for tomorrow. Emery assured me that everything for the wedding is all set. The vendors delivered flowers and cupcakes, and with Hilly’s help, Emery has tucked everything away in the barn.

The only exception, the dresses.

Yep, plural.

A same-day proposal and wedding is already bucking the typical wedding traditions, so I found a few ways to keep some for Callie.

Like picking out her gown with her mom. I liked the idea of being surprised.

I remember the shocked looks on both Jace and Mason’s faces when they saw their bride for the first time.

I want that. I want Callie to take my breath away as I see her standing at the end of the aisle in a dress she picked out just for me.

I had Callie’s stylists pull some dresses for me and deliver them to Emery’s brother, Chris, who will fly with them tomorrow morning.

“Uncle Eli,” Rhys shouts, startling me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah, bud?” I rub my chin. I’ve been doing a shit job listening to him, Callie, and Diana play music.

We are in the inn’s common room, hanging out.

The three musicians have made themselves at home on the floor with piles of pillows.

I’m on the couch, with Riah in my lap as she rests her head on my chest and sucks her thumb.

She looks about five minutes away from falling asleep.

“Will you take me outside for a while?” He gives me puppy eyes, and I can’t say no.

“Of course. Where’s your mom and dad?”

He shrugs.

I look around the room and realize it’s only the five of us. Jace and Ry probably snuck off to fuck like wild rabbits because they have no self-control.

“Here, I’ll take her.” Callie takes Riah from my arms and bounces her a few times.

I stand and stretch my back, easing the tension in my muscles, as Callie starts singing Somewhere over the Rainbow.

I never miss an opportunity to hear my girl sing.

I turn to find Callie cuddling Riah to her chest as she sings.

My lungs cease to work at the sight of them swaying back and forth.

Flashes of her with our own daughter fill me with a warm mix of joy and hope.

I still haven’t brought up the topic of kids with Callie yet. I know she wants them. I’m just unclear about the when part. Not that I’m in a rush. Having Callie all to myself is pretty fucking great.

Rhys pulls on my arm, tugging me back to reality. “Come on, Uncle E.”

Callie grins at me, and the urge to sweep her away to a private place so we can bring those visions into existence has me stumbling.

“Go. I’ll put this little one down for a nap and come find you,” she says.

“You better.” I throw Rhys over my shoulder and head outside with him.

I place him on his feet, and he runs for his glove. The cold winter is a shock, as are the gray clouds in the distance that catch my attention. Anxiety swirls in my stomach. If it snows, will the highways be open?

“Rhys!”

He comes running over to me, and I squat down to look him in his brown and gold eyes.

“I need to ask your Aunt Emery something, but you have to make me a promise.”

Curious but cautious, Rhys nods.

“Whatever you see or hear in the barn, you must keep it a secret.”

“Mom says secrets are bad.”

Damn this kid. So adorable and literal. To be young again, when everything is easy, and black and white. “Your mom’s right. Secrets are bad. Let me rephrase: I need you to keep what you see a surprise. It’s Callie’s Christmas present, and she can’t know.”

I watch him struggle with the idea of keeping something from his new best friend. After a minute, he finally agrees. “Okay. But only if you promise this is the best present in the whole world.”

“Promise. It’s the best present in the entire universe,” I assure him. I want to tell him exactly what I’m planning but in the end decide not to. I’m not sure I trust the little bugger not to betray me. He adores Callie.

Together, we head for the barn, where I find Mason following his wife around like a little angry bear.

Emery and Hilly are decorating the barn.

Not only have Hilly and her husband, Jeff, helped to make this entire week absolutely amazing, but they have also donated their time helping with the wedding.

Lucky for me, Hilly is a romantic at heart, and she’s Jeff’s heart.

“Uncle Mills!” Rhys runs towards Mason and leaps into his arms.

“What are you two doing out here?” Emery cocks her head and scowls at me.

I hold my hands in the air. “Sorry. I’m just having a little freak-out. Did you see the gray cloud outside?”

Emery’s scowl fades into an understanding smile. “Jeff mentioned something about a storm. That’s why I called Chris. He’s already on his way.”

My shoulders fall away from my ears as relief floods my system. “You’re a lifesaver, Em.”

Emery points towards the back door. “You should really thank Jeff. He’s been so helpful.”

The man in question walks in hauling a huge ladder. He leans it against the back wall as Hilly follows behind him with an enormous bunch of fresh pine garland in her arms.

“Ahem.” Mason clears his throat.

Emery snorts a laugh and pats his cheek. “You’re helpful too, Mr. Bossy.”

“’Bout time you recognize,” he growls, giving her a kiss.

“Oh, shoot!” Our heads whip towards Hilly’s harried voice. “Dang it, Lucky. Get out, you silly bird.”

Lucky grumbles, and victory dances around the room. Cheeky bird. It would be hilarious if it weren’t for all the decorations laid around the room. The last thing I want is for emu crap to get on the tablecloths or something.

Jeff swears under his breath. “Hilly, I told you to close the barn door.”

With a scowl, Hilly points at Jeff. “Don’t you start with me, mister. I did close the door. He’s gotten good at opening it all by himself.”

Like he knows they’re talking about him, Lucky shimmies and preens. Jeff reaches for Lucky, who ducks out of the way but not before pecking Jeff in the junk.

He grunts, “Damn bird.”

Mason wraps an arm around Emery’s waist.

“Mason, I’m fine.”

“Don’t care. I want nothing to do with that thing, and I don’t want him coming after you.” Mason pulls Emery behind him and walks her farther away from the emu.

Rhys, unfazed by the bird’s appearance, skips towards the emu and pets it. Lucky enjoys Rhys’s attention and calms down. “Good boy.”

Lucky bumps heads with Rhys and grumbles.

“Did you know emus are dinosaurs’ living relatives?”

“How cool. I didn’t know that. Thank you for sharing.” Hilly grins and joins Rhys, the two petting Lucky, who calms down as he’s showered with love.

“Hello, anyone here?” Cam steps into the barn without warning. “Hey, guys. What’s going—” Cam stops mid-step, his eyes wide in surprise. And maybe a little fear.

Lucky’s head snaps up at the sound of Cam’s voice, and the emu stares at him. Cam’s been avoiding the emu since their little naked run-in the other day. Cam slowly steps back, and Lucky tracks the movement.

“Clever girl,” Emery quotes from one of the best dinosaur movies of all time, making me and Mason chuckle at the standoff going down.

“Don’t do it.” Cam holds out a hand.

The bird ignores Cam’s warning and bounds forward. Cam shuffles back, tripping over his feet as Lucky hops forward. It continues this way until Cam is at the door, with Lucky less than five feet away.

“Fucking hell.” Cam turns and takes off out of the barn at a dead sprint, the emu hot on his heels.

“Uncle Cam! Don’t run. Lucky, come back here!” Rhys shouts and chases them out of the barn.

We all follow and watch Cam sprint across the field, with Lucky hot on his heels and a shouting Rhys trailing behind.

Jeff steps beside me and rubs his temples, mumbling curses and threats about killing wild animals on his land.

“Ignore him. He doesn’t mean it. Jeff loves Lucky,” Hilly says, trying her best to convince us—and herself.

“Not as much as Lucky loves Cam,” Mason mumbles as the five of us witness the big, badass baseball player run away from a dinosaur bird.

I pull out my phone and film. “Hey, Cam, wave for the camera!”

“Fuck you, E!” He gives me the finger as he zigzags across the courtyard.

Rhys, always one to call us out, shouts, “You owe the jar twenty bucks, Uncle Cam!”

“Worth it!” Cam yells as he reaches the back deck of the inn. He leaps up the stairs and into the house. He slides the glass door behind him, locking the bird out. ,

We all break into laughter as we watch an angry Lucky squawk and peck at Cam from the other side of the glass door.

Callie walks over and wraps her arm around my waist. “What’s wrong with Lucky?”

“He’s angry his prey got away.” I kiss the top of her head, breathing in her sweet floral scent.

“Poor Cam.”

“He’ll live.” I chuckle.

This is turning out to be an even better holiday trip than I planned. I’m about to ask the love of my life to marry me, and I get to watch my baby brother get chased by an emu.

It’s a Christmas miracle.