“Honestly, Kane, you look ridiculous. We can’t pick them up at the airport with you dressed like that.” Nora propped her hands on her hips and stared at him. She wasn’t fooling him one bit, though. Her wide smile told him she loved every moment of his antics. In fact, he had no doubt it was one of the reasons she’d fallen in love with him all those years ago.

Kane shoved his thumbs behind his large white suspenders and snapped them against his chest. “Why not? I look damn good in this Santa suit. Hell, I’m downright jolly.”

Nora laughed. “You’ll be lucky if you don’t get detained by airport security.”

“Come on, kitty.” He reached out and pulled her against him, curving his palm against her ass and squeezing. Damn, she felt good. “Haven’t you ever wanted to be Mrs. Claus for a night? Play a little Santa Baby? I’m sure you’ve been ‘awful good girl.’” He sang the last part like the lyrics in the song.

“Mrs. Claus has a ring on her finger.” She held up her bare left hand. “I do not.”

For now. Kane grinned at her then pulled her in for a kiss. Uncomfortable conversations were always easy to avoid with a lip lock, and he’d never tire of kissing her. He wasn’t about to ruin her Christmas present by telling her that he already had her engagement ring hidden in his nightstand upstairs, but he couldn’t fucking wait to give it to her.

They’d chosen to stay unmarried for many years, despite his mother’s chagrin. At first, the excuse had been that they were just too busy. She was finishing school and then starting a new job. He was at the height of his career as a mixed martial arts fighter and was constantly traveling the globe. It left them apart a lot, and doing the long-distance thing more than once.

As much as he’d hated being apart from her, they’d made it work. But everything was different now that he was retired and officially settled back down in the Woodlawn area to be near his family and help out at Legends gym. He and Nora had purchased a house together and were basically already living like they were married.

But as Dee constantly reminded them…they weren’t.

Kane could tell that this was beginning to bother Nora since all the reasons why they’d waited were gone, and now, she was just left wondering why. She wouldn’t have to worry long, though. He had no plans on ever letting the love of his life slip through his fingers.

“We’re going to be late.” Nora pulled back, her arms still wrapped around his neck and her voice breathy and eager.

Kane growled against her neck, kissing his way down to her collarbone. “They can wait.”

Nora shivered, but batted him away. “Come on. We’ve got to go. Quinn’s already going to make fun of you for wearing that suit.”

“Watch him get some fucking coal in his stocking then,” Kane replied, grabbing his car keys and swatting her on the ass as they headed out the door.

“The moment you take off that suit, I’m hiding it.”

Kane smirked, holding the passenger door open for her. “The moment I take off this suit, kitty, I’m going to be deep inside you.”

Her cheeks turned bright red, the corners of her lips fighting off a smile. “Jesus Christ.”

“It’s actually Mr. Claus. Mr. Christ is a whole other Christmas story.”

She rolled her eyes as he closed the door and then walked around the car to the driver’s seat. An hour later, they were walking up to baggage claim in search of his younger brother and new sister-in-law. Kane was only a year or so older than Quinn, so they’d always been very close, and he’d known Kiera since they were children. There had never been a doubt in anyone’s mind that Quinn and Kiera would end up together one day, but they’d certainly taken their goddamn time going about it. Either way, he was happy as hell that they were married now.

What he wasn’t happy about was the distance. When Quinn had decided to move to Seattle to be with Kiera, Kane had definitely supported him, but he’d been so sad to see him go. All of them had. The Kavanagh’s were tight knit and practically overpowered the entire Woodlawn neighborhood of the Bronx. Having one of their own across the country was hard, and he’d especially seen how difficult it had been for his parents. His father had been dealing with a lot of health problems lately, and Quinn used to be his right-hand man for everything. His mother, of course, wanted her children all under one roof forever and never growing up, so of course she hated him being so far away.

Luckily, Kane had been able to convince them to fly out for Christmas this year after telling Quinn his plans to propose to Nora. They definitely couldn’t miss that, so they’d agreed wholeheartedly. Plans were already in motion, and though Kane was certain Nora would say yes, a part of him was still nervous about it all.

“Kane!” Quinn called out to them, waving from across the baggage claim area.

Kiera turned to look their direction then waved as well.

“Q!” Kane grabbed Nora’s hand and headed in the direction of his brother. When they all met up, they hugged and said their hellos.

“I was like, who the fuck is that idiot in a Santa suit? Where’s his donation bucket?” Quinn teased, yanking on Kane’s giant black leather belt.

“Sorry for wanting to spread the Christmas cheer,” Kane said with a laugh, punching his brother in the arm.

Quinn scoffed lightheartedly. “That would work better if you were in a full Santa suit, not just a Santa hat, pants, and suspenders under a white tank top. Aren’t you fucking freezing? It’s practically snowing outside.”

“I’m GQ Santa, ready for my cover shoot.” Kane slicked back his hair with his hands. “I’m hot as fucking sin.”

“Can you believe we’re with these idiots?” Nora asked Kiera, linking her arm through hers as the two girls laughed at them.

“Right?” Kiera agreed. “How they ever landed catches like us still blows my mind.”

“Temporary insanity on our parts,” Nora replied. “Grab the bags, guys! Let’s go!”

Quinn chucked a suitcase at him. “Come on, Santa. Load up your sleigh.”

“I have not missed your wiseass one bit.” Kane hooked a duffel bag over one shoulder then began pulling a roller suitcase behind him.

“Liar,” Quinn teased, following him. “You probably cried yourself to sleep every night thinking about me.”

“I swear to God, if you two don’t stop razzing each other, we’re leaving you here!” Kiera called out from about twenty feet ahead of them.

“You heard your wife,” Kane said. “Better be a good boy.”

Quinn punched him in the arm. “At least I have a wife. Nora is going to say no at this point.”

“You still on board to help with the proposal?” Kane asked, ignoring his brother’s last jab. Luckily, the women were far enough ahead that they couldn’t hear their hushed conversation.

His younger brother nodded. “Fuck, yeah. It’ll be goddamn magical.”

“But don’t tell Ma.”

“Of course not,” Quinn agreed. “I know Ma can’t keep a secret to save her life. She’d probably start crying every time she sees Nora with how excited she’d be. Give it away right then and there.”

“Exactly. Sunday dinners have been tense enough lately.”

“Really?” Quinn frowned. “I miss them. I can’t wait for tonight. It’s been almost two years since the last one I went to.”

“And Ma doesn’t let you forget it,” Kane replied, chuckling. “Nah, they’re fine. Great to see the family, as always. Just been tense lately, man. Everyone’s got some shit going on and it’s just…tense. No one tells me shit, of course.”

“That’s because you’re as bad as Ma at keeping secrets.”

Kane grinned. “Merry Christmas to you, too, asshole.”