Page 246 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

God, this is mortifying.

“I assume you two are hungry and ready for breakfast. Hell knows we all are. We wanted it an hour ago.”

“Merry Christmas, Sally,” Calvin says politely, marching toward her and handing her a potted plant that he bought for her yesterday. He’s carrying a big bag of gifts, but the plant is the only one I’ve been allowed to know about.

“Oh, Calvin, that is so sweet of you.”

He gives her a kiss on the cheek, and I swear she blushes like I’ve never seen her blush before. I get it. He has that kind of effect on me as well.

“Are we going to get cracking now, then?” Dad asks, joining us with an empty coffee mug in his hands.

“Merry Christmas,” Calvin repeats, holding his hand out. “Thank you so much for allowing me to spend the day with you.”

Behind them, Mom catches my eyes, raises her brows, and nods her head in approval. ‘I love him’ she mouths, making me shake my head. “Garrett, get the coffee machine working. I’m gonna get the waffles happening.”

“I’m not sure I have the energy,” he complains like an annoying child.

“Well, we all know that Calvin and Sienna don’t.”

Garrett, Calvin, and even my father snort a laugh while I wish the floor would just swallow me whole.

“Okay, can that be the end of the jokes about us being late, please?” I beg.

“Absolutely not,” Garrett announces as he turns the coffee machine on and grabs more mugs. “I’m loving this.”

“That’s because you’re the one who’s usually late or has done something wrong.”

“Second child,” he says, pointing at himself. “I can get away with more.”

I scoff. “Don’t I know it.”

“He’s got a point. My sisters could have burned the house down when we were growing up and probably gotten away with it. But I abandoned a pair of sneakers at the front door and it was like the world ended.”

“Wait,” Garrett pipes up. “You had sneakers back then? I thought you only wore cowboy boots.”

Laughter erupts, filling the kitchen with the sound I love the most when I come home. But as I giggle at their banter, I can’t help picture Calvin in a pair of boots and a hat…Hmmm, I think I can get on board with Cowboy Calvin.

I don’t realize he’s moved closer until his breath tickles over my neck. “You might want to wipe that expression off your face, darlin’,” he whispers.

I school my features. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I hiss.

I glance over my shoulder in time to see his smirk.

“Of course you don’t,” he teases before he approaches Mom. “What can I do to help?”

“Well, seeing as you’re so late, nothing. But once we’ve had breakfast, there are plenty of jobs.”

“Calvin is a great cook,” I say in the hopes of sliding right past the comment about our tardiness.

“Really?” Mom asks with interest. “Have you been cooking for our girl?”

“I have,” he says proudly as he takes a mug from Garrett and brings it over for me.

“He makes all his own food, follows his nutrition plans to a tee.”

We chat about what Calvin’s diet looks like during the season, and before long, we move to the dining table and devour Mom’s holiday waffles. It’s not quite in line with Calvin’s diet, seeing as they have ice cream, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles, but Mom always puts protein powder in the batter, and she serves them with fresh fruit, so not all is lost.

Dad and Garrett disappear into the living room after doing their washing-up duties, leaving Mom, Calvin and me in the kitchen to finish up dinner prep.