LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter Eight

      Logan pushed away the cup of “eggnog” Jayden held out and smiled politely. He had lived long enough to learn the value of self-preservation, and any concoction the twins offered was suspect.

      “No, thanks, buddy.”

      Logan glanced at the massive cypress tree, glowing with white lights. The annual Christmas tree lighting had become a crowd favorite at Raintree. Guests and locals alike turned out every year to help decorate the tree and huddle around the warmth of the festive bonfire.

      The group of guests had dwindled down on account of the late hour and most of them had retired to their rooms for the night. Only family remained, along with a few hands who were finishing off the last of their sweet desserts or beer on hay bales used as makeshift seating. Logan spotted Amy silhouetted in the bonfire’s blaze, recognizing the familiar shape of his Stetson atop her head.

      He grinned. The only time she’d removed it since their ride several hours ago had been when she’d let Kayden climb onto her shoulders to hang a cloth angel on a high branch of the Cypress tree. And, even then, after lowering Kayden to the ground, she’d scooped the hat up and put it right back on.

      “But you ain’t had no eggnog yet.” Jayden stepped on top of Logan’s boots and thrust the cup closer to his face.

      Logan frowned and examined the liquid. The flickering light from the bonfire blazing several feet away enabled him to make out the white liquid filling the lower half of the clear mug. It looked safe enough. But the thick, red film floating on top turned his stomach and called for hesitation.

      He twisted his lips and glanced at Amy. She had her back to him, sharing a laugh with Cissy, Betty and Traci. At least, she wouldn’t witness him being a heel.

      “Nah, I think I’ll pass.” Logan lifted Jayden off the tops of his boots and set him back on the ground.

      Dominic and Pop shifted at Logan’s side, cocking their heads and leveling disapproving frowns on him. Well, hell. He’d get no support from them.

      “Come on.” Dominic nudged Logan. “Don’t want to disappoint the little fellas, do you?”

      Logan sighed and surveyed the boys. Jayden and Kayden stood side by side, blinking up at him with wounded blue eyes.

      His stomach dropped and he shifted uneasily. Nothing stripped your defenses better than kids.

      He rubbed a hand over his brow then reached for the cup. “I’m not that big on eggnog, fellas.”

      “But it’s good.” Kayden smiled. “We made it special, Uncle Logan.”

      That, he believed. The strong scent of spices wrinkled his nose as he lifted it to his mouth. He hesitated, holding the cup to his lips.

      “Please try it,” Jayden said. “Just one taste?”

      Logan’s mouth twitched. Whether it was from laughter or distaste of what he was about to put in it, he wasn’t sure. But he proceeded, tossing back a healthy swallow of the goop.

      A flash of heat engulfed his gums and scorched a path down his throat, choking him. He spewed the last globs of it out of his mouth and doubled over. His eyes watered and tears coursed down his cheeks as he gasped.

      “Lord, have mercy, Logan.”

      Betty approached, her shocked voice barely rising over the gales of laughter from Pop and Dominic. A hand slapped his back, pounding hard, then shook his shoulder.

      “Get it all out, son,” Pop chuckled.

      “What in heaven’s name have you done to him?” Betty pressed against his side, clutching a glass of sweet tea and peering into his face. “You okay, Logan?”

      He snatched the glass from her hand and tossed it back in one gulp. The cold beverage masked the fire coating his throat, allowing him to catch his breath.

      Dominic winked. “He just had a taste of the boys’ special brew.”

      “Oh, Dom.” Betty clucked her tongue. “I told you to throw that stuff out.”

      Logan sucked in a lungful of cold air and glared at Dominic. “You mean to tell me you knew what was in that?”

      “Of course he did,” Betty said, taking both glasses from Logan’s hands. “The boys used up every bit of my cayenne powder making this gunk. They thought it was cinnamon. Heaven knows what else they put in it.”

      Dominic held up his hands and adopted an innocent expression. “Easy now, big bro. I only knew because I got talked into trying it, too.”

      Logan choked back a laugh, stretched around Pop and grabbed a handful of Dominic’s shirt. “You little shi—”

      “Language, boys,” Cissy admonished.

      The rest of the ladies had arrived. Traci covered her mouth as a fit of giggles overtook her and Amy smiled a mile wide. Cissy, however, shoved between the men and rose to her toes, prying Logan’s fist from Dominic’s shirt.

      “Not in front of the little ones.” Cissy smoothed her hands over Dominic’s collar and the corner of her mouth kicked up. “Besides, my husband looks especially nice tonight and I’d like to keep him that way.”

      Dominic tugged her close and whispered in her ear. Cissy’s cheeks reddened. She batted at Dominic’s chest, disentangling herself from his hold and started for the main house.

      “Time to go in and get a bath, boys. It’s getting late and you both need your rest.”

      The twins groaned.

      “Aw, come on, Aunt Cissy.” Kayden scowled. “Just a little longer. We ain’t got no school all week.”

      “That’s, we don’t have any school this week. And from the sound of those double negatives, I think they should’ve canceled vacation and kept you in class.”

      “But—”

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