The three guys grinned at each other, pleased with themselves.

“Merry Christmas.” Kaden swept low in a bow, gracing me with one of his charming grins.

Steele cast a rare grin in my direction.

“From our condo to yours,” Easton added. His eyes lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree. He was getting a kick out of this. “Where are the twins?”

“Junie took them with her for some last-minute shopping.”

“Let’s get this set up before they arrive home.” Easton rummaged through the stack of boxes until he found the Christmas tree stand. I’d never had a real tree. Mark and I had a pre-lit artificial tree. It’d looked like the real deal but didn’t spread needles all over or need to be watered. I glanced downward in disdain at the trail of needles across my clean carpet.

Easton could’ve asked first. I didn’t like being surprised. I’d had a plan, and now he’d messed up my plan. He was becoming quite talented at that.

Regardless, I was being ungrateful, and I didn’t like being that person.

~~Easton~~

If I’d been decorating the tree, I’d string the lights wherever, not really caring how they looked, just getting the job done quickly. Not Caro. Every light had to be perfectly placed the same distance apart and uniform rather than concentrated in one place and sparse in another.

It was just a fucking Christmas tree.

My buddies retreated to our condo, not interested in anal Christmas tree decorating.

“Easton, the top left side, right there, the lights are in a big glob.” Caro pointed upward, and I sighed.

I squinted to see what she was seeing. Looked fine to me. I stood on the stepstool and moved the lights around.

“You made it worse.”

I glanced at Caro over my shoulder. She stood several feet away, hands on hips, chewing on her lower lip as she cocked her head to view the tree at a different angle. Fuck, she was hot in her red sweater and worn jeans. My annoyance gave way to desire. I lost my concentration. Arms flailing, I fought to keep my balance on top of the short ladder.

Caro giggled. “Are you okay?” she said between bouts of laughter.

“I’m fine.”

“It’s a good thing you skate better than you stand on a ladder.” She covered her mouth with her hand, still snickering.

The uncontrollable urge to wipe that smile off her face overcame me. I scrambled down the ladder and stalked toward her, my intent clear in every determined step I took. She backed up, laughing harder. I gave chase, and she sprinted around the kitchen island. I lunged for her. She eluded me, keeping the counter between us.

For a long moment, we froze, regarding each other, the hunter and the prey. Her chest was heaving, drawing my eyes to her delectable set of tits. I didn’t know of one other woman who made me feel so many things, so intently, and so deeply.