Claire

If she felt awkward at the simple office party, getting ready for the big shindig was an exercise in avoiding a full-on panic attack.

Claire had never been to a party this fancy. No matter how much Devin assured her it wasn’t “that fancy,” she could not express to him just what she meant. Her family simply did not do holiday celebrations. They didn’t drink. They certainly did not allow women to wear low-cut sparkly dresses or makeup.

Grandma may have enjoyed some of these things, may she rest in peace. Damn, did she ever miss her this time of year. Especially this year.

For now, Claire tried to focus on the fact that Devin would be there, sitting next to her, taking her on a real, actual first date.

And yes, this would be her first real date of her entire life. Dating without a chaperone was not allowed back in Ohio, in her parents’ house. The very idea had given her the creeps, so she had avoided fraternizing at all with men she found attractive, until Devin brought her out of her shell.

In the mirror, she held up the red sweater and then the black sweater. Neither of them looked very festive. Any spending money she had saved had gone toward her green dress suit for her job interview, and everything she wore to work besides that was that suit, mixed and matched with different tops, scarves, sweaters, one pair of khakis and one wool plaid skirt.

So tonight it would have to be the wool skirt, patterned tights, flats, red sweater and some of her grandmother’s jewelry. That’s it. That was the best she could do with what she had.

She hoped it was good enough. Then she was reminded that the bottom line was, she would get alone time, without kids, with Devin.

When Devin arrived to pick her up, he had a whole different plan altogether.

“You look beautiful as always, Claire,” he said when she let him in. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek in front of all her siblings, and they laughed. Layla, the oldest, had no visible reaction other than trying to read Devin.

He handed her a small bouquet of red roses with Christmas greenery and holly berries. She smiled. “Thank you, Devin. Nobody’s ever brought me flowers before.”

He took her hand and said, “Then I’m going to have to make up for lost time by bringing you flowers every day.” He then gestured to the kids. “I’ve got a surprise, kids. You want to go to the farm and pet some goats, horses and donkeys?”

They all stood and cheered, “Yes!” Even Layla.

Devin replied, “Then pack up your gear, you’re going to go hang out at my sister’s farm while your big sister and I go on a date. Is that OK with you all?”

Was it OK? Claire had never seen them move so fast to get their crap together and pull on their shoes, coats, hats and mittens.

As Devin helped her on with her coat, she muttered, “What in the world, Devin?”

“I told you I would take care of everything. My sister and her husband love kids and they said they’d be glad to entertain them for the evening. Is that OK?”

“I guess it’ll have to be OK.” Truth was, Claire was relieved to know they would be off-site, and not at home alone with Layla in charge, or with a babysitter who was clueless about their situation. Bringing them somewhere else was a better idea. The closer the days got to Christmas, the twitchier Claire seemed to be feeling about falling into a trap that would send the whole family right back to where they started. And that place was a bad place.

When Devin’s truck arrived at Morning Glory Farms, the kids piled out like they were headed for an amusement park and not just somebody’s house that had animals. Let no one dare separate her people from their love of animals.

No doubt some of the excitement stemmed from the fact that the kids had to leave behind their chickens when they bugged out of Ohio for good. They were saddest about leaving their animals. So this was no surprise.

Devin held the door for her. She stepped out and saw a pretty white farmhouse with an addition on the back and the front all done up in green garlands with red berries and other wild things, and giant bows. There was a huge wreath on every window, and garlands with white lights over the front door and along the porch rail. It looked like the most inviting home she’d ever seen in a magazine.

Inside waiting for them was a petite woman holding a baby in her arms and a toddler clinging to her leg.

Claire immediately felt like her family was overwhelming this busy young mother. “If this is too much for you, just say so. Devin didn’t tell me you had such little ones; you must be exhausted.”

“No, it’s fine! Anything for my big brother, right, Little Devvy Snack Cake?” She reached up and pinched his cheek, and it was truly ironic the way this small woman was calling him “little,” when he towered over her and had about 70 pounds on her.

Claire smirked. “Nice nickname.”

Devin shook his head. “Don’t even start.”

She couldn’t help herself. “Snack cake? Oatmeal cream sandwich or Christmas tree cake?”

“Stop,” he said, but couldn’t help but smile. Maggie took the kids into the kitchen after announcing she had mac and cheese.

“I’m going to get a bite of your Nutter Butter either way. So you may as well tell me,” Claire said.

Devin turned at looked at her, a little shocked. “I believe your inner naughty girl has woken up. I like it.”

She blushed and smiled as he leaned in to deliver a sensuous little kiss on her neck, just below her ear. It was the briefest of kisses, but it was enough contact with Devin to arouse her sex. She could feel her nipples harden with the thrill of his lips on her. Down below, her thighs began to ache for the moment they could wrap around him.

Maggie got the kids settled, then when over the itinerary. “Jackson and I will take them out to the barn after dinner and let them feed and water the animals, if that’s OK with you, Claire. Then we’ve got a little horse-drawn sled that Jackson has just put together, so we’re going to try that out. Then come back for hot chocolate and the Grinch movie. Is all that good with you?”

But Claire was more focused on Maggie’s outfit than on the words she was saying. She had on a cute black dress with festive leggings, a sparkly scarf and cowboy boots.

“Wow, you’re more dressed up to babysit on a farm than I am for this big fancy party,” Claire commented before she could think to stop herself.

Maggie cocked her head and looked at Claire’s outfit. Clearly she was trying to think of something nice to say about her clothes. “Well, you’re extremely beautiful. Too beautiful for my annoying big brother,” she said, winking at her brother, “so you would look fabulous in any outfit. But you look about my size. You want to raid my closet?”

Claire immediately shook her head. “No, I couldn’t.”

Maggie smiled and grabbed her hand. Then she handed the baby over to Devin. “Watch Max for me, hun.”

Before Devin could object, the two women were off to Maggie’s closet upstairs.