Page 64 of Ruin Me Sweetly

Fairy lights winked softly along the tree’s crooked branches, and the scent of pine had settled deep into the room, mixing with woodsmoke drifting faintly from the fireplace and the sweet, spiced warmth of the mulled wine Luke had insisted on simmering all afternoon.

Outside, the first proper frost of the season had crept over the garden, dusting everything silver beneath the porch light. We worked in comfortable silence, wrapping present after present, until the pile beneath the tree grew satisfyingly high.

Luke came and helped me up off the floor.

His arm locked around my waist, pulling me close, and he began swaying us together—though there was no music at all. I placed one hand on his shoulder, the other resting at his waist, and let him lead anyway.

He wasn’t exactly graceful. His steps were more enthusiastic than rhythmic, closer to a man attempting a waltz he’d only ever watched in films, and twice he nearly spun me straight into the coffee table, laughing every time I yelped and grabbed his arm to correct course.

“Our second Christmas together,” he murmured, twirling us around, entirely too pleased with his own footwork.

“It’s been like a fairy tale,” I said, smiling despite myself, despite the near-miss with the ottoman.

More like a Grimm fairy tale—the kind with darker, cautionary undertones.

“He’ll be up for a feed soon.”

“My milk shop is open for my boys.”

His deep chuckle warmed the whole room, and I let him spin me one more time, badly, joyfully, right past the tree that still hung crooked against the ceiling.

In a few short days, Amber and Zach would be here.

Our family would be complete.

❧ ❧ ❧

I watched as Luke hugged Amber. He’d been awkward with physical contact before Lewis, and now he openly hugged Amber without hesitation. The sparse hugs he gave Zach were a touch more non-consensual.

“Hello, poppet,” he murmured.

It was a pity I was holding Lewis, or I’d have taken a photo.

Zach had already carried all the bags and cases in himself. It looked as if they were moving back in. I should be so lucky. He cleared his throat, clearly attempting to mark his territory. In this case, the territory was my daughter.

Luke grinned and released Amber. He walked straight up to Zach and pulled him into a hug. The grunting, wrestling, and shit-talking began almost instantly.

“Try harder, old man,” Zach wheezed, and the two of them tilted sideways, colliding hard into the wall.

Amber walked over to me, muttering something under her breath, but her face lit up the second she spotted Lewis, and she plucked him straight out of my arms, leaving me momentarily bereft.

“Hello, darling,” she murmured to Lewis. “How’s my favourite brother?”

“I heard that,” Zach gasped.

I chuckled at how utterly ridiculous both of these men were, and kissed the side of Amber’s head.

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” I murmured, before guiding her into the living room.

The buffoons continued to grope each other in the foyer behind us. We left them to it. It was best not to interfere. They’d tire themselves out eventually.

Amber’s reaction to the Christmas tree was a timely reminder that Luke and free will were not always entirely compatible.

Yet this chaos was exactly what made our family unique.

Luke

This is why I continued to work out. To show Zach exactly who the alpha male was in this house. He’d become one of my main motivators on gym days.