“This. Is. The. Best.” Sara sighed across the room. She was sporting new caramel highlights that were probably going to make Noah lose his shit because of how grown up they made her look. She and April had gone for matching red glitter nail polish. Perfect for the Christmas reveal.

“Mmm,” Cat’s mother purred as Teddy worked on a delicate spot on the arch of her foot.

Paige, Kathy, and Mellody were animatedly discussing Mellody and Ricky’s upcoming wedding.

“You’re all set here,” Magic Fingers announced in a thick Austrian accent. “Don’t move.”

The woman shoved a warm towel around Cat’s neck and lumbered out the door. Cat could appreciate efficiency over friendliness. Especially when the results spoke for themselves. She’d been pampered to within an inch of her life and was content to just sit.

Her phone buzzed in her lap. Cracking one eye open she held the phone aloft.

Noah: We’ve had some drinks.

The attached picture made her grin wide enough to crack the facial and get antioxidants in her mouth. One of Gabby’s socked feet poked out from under the coffee table as did most of Drake’s lower body. Gannon was sound asleep, mouth open on the couch, while a grinning Henry carefully dotted his face with stickers. Ricky was either dancing in front of the TV or having some sort of seizure.

Cat quickly snapped a selfie and sent it back.

Cat: I’m busy getting beautiful.

Noah: Waste of time. You’re already beautiful. The most beautiful. Is that mayonnaise?

Cat: It’s not mayonnaise. It’s something very expensive and French sounding.

Noah: Have I mentioned I had some drinks?

Cat: You may have said something about that.

Noah: I’m probably going to ask you to stay tomorrow even though I know the answer’s no. But I hate surprises, so I thought I’d warn you anyway. Also, there were drinks.

Cat didn’t know how to respond. He’d gotten attached, just as she’d feared. And damn if he wasn’t the only one. She loved Noah’s grumpy predictability. His sexy nerd glasses. His unfaltering devotion to his daughter. His drive to do the best for everyone.

And just what the hell was she supposed to do about it?

--------

By the time the spa circus rolled up to Noah’s front door, they’d all been primped and polished to a new shine. They piled out of the SUV and trooped up the steps to the front door. A now mostly sober Noah opened the door with an enthusiastic flourish. “Ladies!”

Cat patted him on the cheek as she walked past him into the foyer. The living room was full of men. Sound asleep men. Gabby was sitting on Gannon’s lap happily watching creepy puppets sing on TV while her dad snored.