Merry Little Cluster Fudge (The Price of Love #3.5)

1. Chapter One

Emmett

"Daddy, can we watch Frozen ?"

Wick replied before I could open my mouth. "Good idea, monkey! Let's put it on the big screen."

Lilah followed her uncle to the media room just beyond the main cabin of the Price Industries private jet, her cousins, Lucas and Mia, trailing behind them.

In the years since we'd been married, Callie had convinced me to forego commercial travel in favor of the company plane. For the kids , she'd said.

I knew better.

I'd spoiled my girl. She preferred curling up on the couch of the media room or fucking in the spacious shower over being crammed in a middle seat, attempting to wrangle our spirited daughter without incurring the wrath of fellow travelers.

Speaking of my wife, she was still working, phone pressed to her ear as she paced. "I understand it's the weekend before Christmas, George, but that's the point, isn't it? A community center in an underprivileged neighborhood springing a leak and flooding the streets is not the kind of holiday cheer we're aiming to spread. Get it fixed."

Our eyes met, and I raised a brow. "Please, George," Callie amended, and I smiled. She was fierce, efficient, and ambitious—all things I loved about her—but sometimes she needed a little reminder to soften up.

Her shoulders sagged with relief, then she thanked the contractor and ended the call. She'd been heading up the Price Industries Special Projects department for the last eight years, and she was doing it far better than I ever had. "All good?" I asked.

"Yes, thank god. George said he'll get a team over there ASAP, but I owe him."

"No sexual favors, Mrs. Price. I don't share."

"Emmett, gross!"

I chuckled, wrapping her tight in my arms. "Couldn't help myself. Send him and his family something for Christmas?"

"Yeah, I'll send Meredith an email."

"And then you're done, got it?"

"Yes, sir."

My cock twitched in my pants. "You better watch it, baby."

Before she could respond, Meghan and Marco stumbled out of the bedroom cabin connected to the media room, dodging the kids and giggling like teenagers.

"Looks like someone beat us to it," Callie whispered, arms settling around my waist.

"Who wants champagne?" Meghan shouted.

"Me!" Lilah piped up. Callie shot her a glare. "Just kidding." Lilah broke into a fit of laughter that only grew louder when Wick started tickling her, which prompted Lucas and Mia to tickle her too. The four of them rolled around on the airplane floor like a bunch of Looney Tunes.

Meghan sauntered over and handed Callie and me a flute of bubbly each. Marco followed close behind, looking like the cat who ate the canary.

"To a very merry Christmas," Meghan declared, raising her glass.

"And a happy new year," Marco added with a wink.

We clinked our glasses, filling the cabin with the sound of singing crystal. The champagne was a crisp, dry tickle on my tongue. Damn, that's good. My little sister has excellent taste in booze.

I was about to take another sip when the main cabin door burst open. A harried looking Carter strode in, Olivia hot on his heels. Case trailed behind them, his face set in a serious expression that mirrored his father's, while little Cara bounced excitedly.

"Sorry we're late," Olivia said, flashing an apologetic smile. She jerked her thumb at Carter. "This one insisted on triple-checking the security system."

Carter's brow furrowed. "I wasn't about to leave the house vulnerable while we're gone for two weeks."

I bit back a laugh. Same old Carter—meticulous to a fault.

Olivia rolled her eyes in fond exasperation. "Honey, between the state-of-the-art alarm system you installed and the private security firm we hired, I'm pretty sure our place is more secure than Fort Knox."

"Better safe than sorry," Carter grumbled.

Callie stepped forward and wrapped Olivia in a warm hug. "We're just glad you made it. Now the party can really start!"

As if on cue, a shriek of laughter erupted from the media room. Cara's eyes lit up. "Is that Lilah?" she asked, bouncing on her toes.

Callie nodded. "Why don't you go join them? I think they're about to start Frozen ."

Cara took off like a tiny rocket, Case following at a more sedate pace.

I clapped Carter on the shoulder. "C'mon, man. Let me get you a drink. You look like you could use one."

As I led him towards the bar, I felt my face split into a grin. Our motley crew was all here.

I handed Carter a tumbler of whiskey. He took it gratefully, downing half in one gulp.

"Where's Thomas?" Olivia asked, glancing around the cabin. "I thought he'd be joining us."

"Flew down earlier in the week," I said, taking another sip of champagne. "I suspect Mom wanted some 'quiet time' without the kids running around."

Meghan snorted, and I shot her a warning look. Our relationship with our mother was... complicated, to say the least. But this was supposed to be a fun family vacation. No need to dredge up old resentments.

Changing the subject, I turned to Carter and Olivia. "Your parents are flying down later today, right?"

Carter nodded, his posture relaxing slightly as he sipped his drink. "Yeah, Dad's closing up the office this morning. He's meeting up with Bob and Ellie afterward. They should make it in by late afternoon."

Olivia beamed. "Mom and Dad can't wait. They've been talking about nothing else for weeks."

Her enthusiasm was infectious. Somehow, my grin got even wider. Ellie had always been more of a mother to me than my own, and Bob had really turned things around for his family in the last few years. Wonder if they'd be up for an adoption. I'm only thirty-eight, probably still young enough, right?

"Well," I said, raising my glass, "here's to two weeks of sun, sand, and?—"

A high-pitched squeal cut through the air, followed by peals of laughter. We all turned towards the media room. The kids' voices had risen to an octave that would probably alarm air traffic control.

Callie sighed, setting down her champagne. "I better go check on them before they tear the plane apart. Or Wick."

I caught her wrist as she moved further into the plane, pulling her close. "Don't be long," I murmured, brushing my lips against her ear. "I've got plans for you, Mrs. Price."

She shivered, her green eyes darkening. "Is that so, Mr. Price?"

I nodded, a wicked grin spreading across my face.

Callie's breath hitched, and she bit her lip. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Emmett."

Fuck, she knows exactly how to push my buttons.

I growled low in my throat, my hand sliding down to cup her ass. "Oh, I intend to keep every single one of them, baby. Starting with?—"

A loud crash sounded from the media room, followed by a chorus of "Uh-oh!" from the kids.

Callie sighed, reluctantly pulling away. "Duty calls."

I watched the swing of her hips as she sashayed away. God, how did I get so lucky?