Holidays with the Walker Brothers (Alluring Indulgence #4)(46)
Author: Nicole Edwards

Zoey beamed, meeting Lorrie’s eyes. “Did they…?” Letting the question hang, Zoey felt a surge of excitement pulse through her veins.

“Of course they did,” Lorrie said with a grin. “Those boys would walk through fire to make sure they got her present completed.”

Of course they would, but the way Travis had been acting had Zoey wondering. It was just yesterday morning that Travis had called Kaleb, scrambling at the last minute for something, she had no idea what.

“Come on in here, I’m going to have you start on the eggs.”

Zoey followed Lorrie back into the kitchen where the air smelled heavenly. Like sage and nutmeg, turkey and pumpkin. In fact, it smelled so wonderful, her stomach started to growl.

“Are you hungry?”

Zoey laughed. “I’m always hungry these days,” she told her mother-in-law.

“Well, you sit right here, I’ve got biscuits and gravy almost finished. You can eat with Curtis while we wait on the others.”

As though he’d been summoned, Curtis made his way into the room, heading directly toward Lorrie. “Good morning,” he whispered sweetly, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

Zoey watched the couple, utterly in awe of the way they acted with one another. They were always like this. Greeting one another with gentle kisses, adoring looks passing between them, and they were always putting one another first. Based on the stories she’d heard throughout the years, Zoey knew that Lorrie and Curtis hadn’t always had it easy, but the one thing they insisted they always did have was one another. And just like other girls, Zoey had always admired the relationship these two shared.

“Hey, kiddo,” Curtis greeted her, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek and Zoey blushed.

“Good morning, Curtis. You sure are chipper this morning,” Zoey teased.

“It’s the food. I only get turkey and dressing twice a year. It’s kind of like… Oh, never mind.”

Zoey watched the older man blush bright red, and she couldn’t help but laugh. Was he seriously about to say what she thought he was? Curtis Walker? He was one of the most respectful men she’d ever met, but she knew he had a naughty side. Seriously though. How could he not? After all, Zoey had met all of his children.

Lorrie chuckled from behind them, and Zoey turned to see her turning quite pink herself. “So, you’re saying that since you abstain from having turkey, it makes you want it even more?”

Zoey’s mouth fell open, her laugh erupting from her chest as she turned back to see Curtis doing the same.

“Woman, be careful this morning. It’s not nice to tease a hungry man.”

Zoey laughed again, completely stunned by the innuendos flying out of their mouths. These were her in-laws. Kaleb’s parents.

Thankfully, the back door squeaked open and in walked V, grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s going on in here?” V asked, coming to a stop just inside the door. “Why does it look like you’ve all been caught doing something really, really naughty?”

Another bout of laughter filled the room, and Zoey had to wipe tears from her eyes before she could face V again.

“Where’s Jessie? I thought she was coming with you?” Zoey asked.

“I dropped her off at Brendon’s. She wanted to give him his Christmas present before she came over,” V said with a wink.

Lorrie moved across the room to retrieve V’s coat, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glittering with humor. When V took the seat beside Zoey, she leaned over and said, “What did I miss?”

“Oh, nothing,” Zoey said loudly, glancing over at Curtis. “We were just talking about the repercussions of abstinence.”

V’s eyes widened as she sat up slowly, her eyes moving between Curtis and Lorrie and then back to Zoey. And as though she’d been privy to the conversation, her face turned red as well.

“Let’s eat, shall we?” Curtis asked, having to clear his throat in order to complete the sentence.

Chapter Nineteen

♂♀♂

Travis

“Don’t peek.”

“How could I possibly peek? Both of your hands cover my whole face.”

“Be quiet too.”

Travis grinned when Kylie batted her hands behind her in an attempt to hit him. He directed her forward, his body at her back, his hands covering her eyes – or, more accurately, her entire face as she mentioned.

“Watch your step,” Gage called from a few feet in front of them. “And don’t let her peek.”

“Will y’all stop?” Kylie laughed. “I can’t see anything at all.”

“Mmmm, I like you blindfolded,” Travis murmured against her ear as he continued to guide her through the front door.