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Holiday Heir

Page 179

by Maggie Cole

I fight a grin.

Her eyes narrow.

"Jagger."

"What?"

"I've never seen so many presents."

"It's not that many," I claim.

"We can barely walk in our living room."

I shrug. "So."

Her eyebrows lift. She shakes her head. "You know she's not going to remember any of this."

"I'll remember it."

Her expression changes.

I add, "I missed enough firsts."

Her hand slides over mine. "You're here for this one."

"Damn right."

Charlie smacks my chest and babbles something that sounds suspiciously demanding.

I look at her. "Should have gotten you some boxing gloves, peanut."

Lainey giggles, sits up, and pulls Charlie onto her lap. She bites her bottom lip.

I straighten. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You should never lie on Christmas."

She looks toward the closet. Then back at me.

I turn my head and look at her sideways. "What are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding anything."

"You're a terrible liar."

"I'm actually an excellent liar."

"You hid my daughter from me for almost a year."

Her mouth drops open.

I grin.

She proclaims, "That wasn't lying!"

"Worked, didn't it?"