A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club #5) (76)

“Let her breathe, Mary,” Colton’s father scolded playfully.

His mother let go, stepping back with a laugh. “Sorry. I’m just so happy you could come tonight.”

“Kyle Wheeler,” Colton’s father said, holding out his hand.

His grip was strong, his hand massive. If she hadn’t already known he’d once been a football coach, she would’ve guessed it by now.

“This is my sister, Jordan,” Colton said, motioning to a petite brunette with the same deep dimples as her brother. Next to her was a youngish man with glasses and a slouchy wool beanie, the kind the hipsters wore around the East Side neighborhood. “And her husband, Danny. And these are their kids, Daphne, Phoebe, and Gabe.”

Gretchen filed the names away in her mind as everyone greeted her.

“My brother, Cooper, won’t get in until tomorrow,” Colton added, as she tried to keep up.

“Finish taking those suitcases upstairs,” Mary said to no one in particular. “Gretchen, come keep me company in the kitchen while the men do some heavy lifting.”

Colton gave her that special wink of his before grabbing a suitcase in each hand and rolling them toward the stairs. His father and brother-in-law followed, and soon they were trudging up the stairs and bitching playfully about how much the women had packed.

“Kids, go finish hanging the candy canes on the tree,” Jordan told her children. They ran off with another one of those squeals. Jordan tipped her head back and let out a long breath. “They are never going to sleep tonight.” She looked at Gretchen then. “Welcome to the circus.”

“How was your flight?” Gretchen asked, following Jordan and Mary into the kitchen.

“Long. Traveling with kids is like opening a bag full of squirrels on a plane.”

Mary made a psh noise. “Oh, they were fine. Kids are supposed to be excited at Christmastime.” She gestured for Gretchen to sit at the island. Exactly the same spot where a few days ago Colton had done very naughty things to her. She gulped.

Mary returned to a cutting board where carrots, potatoes, and celery had already been chopped into bite-size pieces. “I’m making beef stew. It’s Colton’s favorite. I always make it the night we get here.”

“Can I— Do you want some help?” Gretchen asked.

“Nope. Just take a seat.” She barely paused to take a breath. “So tell us about your legal clinic. Colton has told us some, but I want to know more. He says you’re working on some pretty big cases right now.”

“Yes. Well, big for me. Most people probably wouldn’t pay much attention to them.” She hoped her cynicism didn’t come through in her voice.

“It’s barbaric, what they’re doing,” Mary said, her voice for the first time conveying anything other than congeniality. “Taking children from their parents. Deporting people who’ve been here all their lives. It’s not right.”

“Sometimes I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle, though. Every time one case is resolved, two more land in my lap.”

Mary looked up from the cutting board. There was a glint in her eye that looked so much like Colton that Gretchen actually sucked in a breath. “Colton’s got a thing for smart girls. I can see why he’s so smitten with you.”

Gretchen’s cheeks blazed with heat, and Mary laughed. “I’m sorry. I’m embarrassing you.”

Colton bounded back into the room. “You’re embarrassing my girl?”

“I was just about to tell Gretchen how she’s the only woman you’ve told us about in years.”

“Oh, man. Don’t do that. She’ll get all flustered and lawyerly and pretend she doesn’t care.”

Mary laughed again. Colton stopped next to Gretchen’s chair and did the unthinkable. He dropped his head to hers and plopped a hard, purposeful kiss on her mouth.

Oh God. His mother and sister didn’t even blink, though.

“Colton tells us your family owns the CAW whiskey company,” Mary said, scooping handfuls of vegetables into a pot.

“She’s about to join the charitable foundation board,” Colton said, popping a carrot in his mouth. His mother playfully swatted at him.

“CAW is Kyle’s favorite whiskey. He almost died when Colton told us you were connected to the family.”

“Really? I could, I mean, if you’re interested, I could take you guys on a tour of the tasting room and distillery, if you want.”

“Kyle would love that.”

Colton’s father walked in then, a hand on his lower back. “What the hell did you pack, Mary?”

“You know exactly what I packed. In fact, you can start putting some of it under the tree.”

“Yeah, old man, and get a fire going while you’re at it.” Colton punched his dad on the arm.

“Get a fire going,” Kyle grumbled. “You mean turn on your fancy gas fireplace with the remote control?”

Jordan snorted. “You really want to leave him alone in this big house with matches?”

Mary looked at Gretchen with a mischievous expression. “Colton once burned down the high school chemistry lab.”

Colton held up his hands. “Okay, first of all, burned down is a gross exaggeration.”

“The biology teacher had to come running in like Rambo with a fire extinguisher before throwing himself out the window,” Jordan said.