Will

WILL

"You're here! I'm so glad you made it! Merry Christmas!"

Those last two words pierced straight through Julie Benton's heart. "I'm so glad you invited me here. I think I really need this."

Stacey Williams, Julie's best friend for many years, kept an arm around her as they walked up the pier and away from the ferry Julie had just taken from Boston to Provincetown. "Of course! You can't spend Christmas alone. I guess Molly must really be enjoying her time in England."

"Actually, she's in France now," Julie replied. Her heart clenched with pride and pain when she spoke about her daughter. Not everyone had the chance to study abroad, not to mention the wherewithal to actually make it happen. She was sure Molly was having some good times, and perhaps having more fun than Julie wanted to think about, but she was also gaining an education unlike anything she could get by staying home.

"Wow, that's amazing," Stacey enthused. "My car is right over here. Let's get your suitcase in the back. You must really miss her."

As she hefted it into Stacey's car, the suitcase was heavy enough that she was beginning to think she'd overpacked. "I really do. I'm happy for her, and when she started talking about this trip, I was the first to support her. Somehow, I thought she'd come home more often, or at least for the holidays."

They got in, and Stacey patted her hand before she put on her seatbelt. "It's got to be hard. I can't even imagine Christmas without kids in the mix. You can borrow mine all you want, though. Vivian is obsessed with The Nutcracker and has been dancing everywhere she goes instead of walking. She doesn't even care if it's in the middle of the grocery store."

"A true performer," Julie noted.

"And Eli has realized how many documentaries he can get his hands on with streaming services. He spouts tons of historic and scientific facts at me, then gets upset when I don't remember them all." Stacey laughed and shook her head. "What do you do?"

"Just hold on tight and love them," Julie replied wistfully. "I very well might take you up on that and borrow them a bit. I'll need some distractions."

"Speaking of, what about that guy you've been dating? What's he doing for the holiday season?" Stacey wound through several side streets full of charming cedar shake homes. Bits of the shore peeked through every now and then.

Julie puffed up her cheeks as she blew out a breath. "We broke up."

"Oh, no. Really?" Stacey shook her head. "That sucks."

"No, don't even worry about it. I'm bummed, of course. I mean, it's right before Christmas, and there's nothing you want more during the holidays than to be with people, but it's for the best."

"What happened?" Julie guided the car onto Route 6, and the glistening waters of East Harbor took up almost the entire view to their left as they headed toward Truro.

"Just the kind of thing you'd expect from an executive at a big financial firm," Julie explained simply, wondering how she hadn't seen it coming in the first place. "He was attractive and made good money, but it's not like I ever saw him. His phone was constantly blowing up whenever we had time together, and he refused to put it on Do Not Disturb and leave it alone. I think I've only ever seen his face illuminated by a phone screen as he answered emails. So yeah, not really a loss during the holidays."

"Well, you're going to have a great time here," Stacey assured her.

Though Julie had been looking forward to spending time with her friend, she felt a bit worried. "I really don't want to intrude on whatever holiday plans you have with your new man and family."

"If you were intruding, I wouldn't have invited you," Stacey insisted. She pulled her car up behind another one in a crowded driveway. "Besides, there's plenty of room for you here."

"I'll say." Julie took in the expansive Dutch Colonial house with its gambrel roof and front dormers. The cedar shake that was ubiquitous all over Cape Cod was used here as well, though it didn't stand out compared to all the beautiful windows that lined the ground floor. "You sure fell in love with the right neighbor."

Stacey laughed. "You're going to fall in love with everyone here, too. Your timing couldn't be better, by the way. Everyone is here decorating for Christmas, so it's your perfect chance to meet all the Brighams."

"I can't wait." Julie had heard Stacey talk about what a big, wonderful family she had here. It would make her a bit sad, probably, but it could also be just what she needed. She pulled out the handle on her suitcase and followed Stacey to the front door.

The front living room was a bustle of activity. Garland was being strung along the mantel and up the banister. Children were gathered around the Christmas tree, discussing exactly where to hang the ornaments they pulled out of a box. A scruffy little dog darted around their feet, his tail wagging constantly. Old holiday tunes blared out of a vintage record player. The sweet smell of cinnamon drifted in from the kitchen, where someone must have been baking a delicious treat. It was like a holiday movie come to life, and Julie could already feel the chill in her heart starting to melt.

"Julie!" Carol, Stacey's mom, rushed forward to pull her into a big hug. "I was so happy when Stacey said you'd be coming over. I didn't like very many of her corporate friends, but I always liked you."

"Mom!" Stacey warned.

"Hey, I'm just being honest. A lot of those folks had giant sticks up their asses," Carol replied with a shrug.

Stacey blinked slowly, trying to keep her composure. "Do you think we could keep that to a minimum with the kids around?"

"Fine," Carol conceded. "Can I say they hung mistletoe off the backs of their shirts, hoping everyone would kiss their butts?"

Stacey shook her head. "You're hopeless, Mother."

"Rick doesn't think so. Rick, come and meet Julie!" Carol called.

"Ah, the great Julie I've heard so much about. It's nice to meet you." Rick gave Julie a firm handshake. His gray hair suggested he was about Carol's age, but his muscular arms and flat abs suggested he'd really taken care of himself. He was wearing a Santa hat, and Julie noticed Carol was, as well.

The next thing Julie knew, Stacey was bringing her around the room and introducing her to everyone. "This is Dylan."

"I've heard so much about you," Julie replied as she shook his hand. With his thick, dark hair, gentle eyes, and wide shoulders, it was no wonder Stacey had fallen for this guy. He was also wearing a Santa hat .

"Hopefully nothing too terrible," he said with a laugh. "This is my daughter, Lila. If there's anything you need while you're staying here, just make sure to let us know. We're happy to have you."

"Thank you."

"Oh, over here." Stacey brought her over to another couple. "This is Jace and Erin, and their son Arden. Jace is Dylan's brother."

"I would've guessed that. It's nice to meet you." Jace had the dark hair that seemed to run in the family, but his eyes were hazel. His wife was short and cute, with choppy black hair and a nostril piercing. What truly caught Julie's eye was the baby she held. "Oh, how darling! How old is he?"

"Nine months," Erin answered proudly.

"Did he make the trip all right? Jace and Erin live up in Salem," Stacey explained.

Jace lifted one shoulder to his ear while scrunching up his eye. "I mean, as well as a baby can handle a drive like that! I get a little cranky when I'm in the car, too, but it's really nice to be home for the holidays."

Stacey whisked Julie through several more of the Brigham family, and it was getting hard to remember who was who and how they were all connected. It was fun, though, and Julie couldn't think of a better way to start her Christmas vacation. Eventually, an older woman with a tray of champagne flutes approached them.

"I see two ladies who need some refreshments," she said as she held out the tray. "You must be Julie. I'm Barbara, and this is my husband, Paul."

Paul, an older and slightly burlier version of Dylan and his brother, nodded silently.

"We're so glad you're here with us," Barbara continued, "and don't you worry. It's tradition for all of us to wear our Santa hats while we decorate, and we've got one for you, too. I've just sent Will to find the other box of them. He should be down shortly.

"Mom!" Vivian appeared at Stacey's side, her arms arced over her head like a ballerina. "We're done with the tree. Can we go in the kitchen and help Holly with the gingerbread cookies now?"

"Yeah," Eli butted in. "She said she had different candies we could decorate them with."

"Don't you two want to say hi to Julie?" Stacey prompted.

"Hi!" both kids answered in unison.

"All right. Go on, then. I guess that's about as good as we're going to get for now, with all the excitement," Stacey said in an aside to Julie.

"That's perfectly fine." The place was absolutely chaotic, and it impressed her that no one seemed the least bit flustered by it. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and it was all the better if the kids were happy, too.

Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Julie turned to look. She saw first a pair of black boots, followed by skin-tight red pants. A matching red vest lined with white fur came next. The big black belt barely kept it buckled in the middle, showing plenty of abs both above and below it. "Ho, ho, ho!" the man's deep voice boomed. "I came to see who's been naughty and who's been nice!"

"Will!" Dylan stretched his thumb and forefinger over his brows. "Where the hell did you find that getup?"

"At the North Pole, of course," the newcomer replied, pulsing his hips forward on the last two words.

The tight pants did very little to disguise Santa's package. Julie took a sip of champagne, but it wasn't the alcohol that was starting to make her feel warm under her sweater. She glanced back and forth between Will and Dylan. Several brothers were there, she knew, but these two looked much more alike than the rest.

"Let's see, now. The naughty and nice list. You two." Will strode over to Jace and Erin and looked down at little Arden. "I see you've been very naughty in the past year if you managed to make this little one. Good job." he handed them each a candy cane.

Carol was cackling with laughter. "You're showing me up, Will. I thought I was the life of the party!"

"Not when Santa's in the house, Carol. I don't even have to ask. I know you've been naughty." He handed over two more candy canes.

Dex, who looked the least festive of all in his Camp Brigham t-shirt, was shaking his head. "Dude, this is gross. No one wants to see that!"

"Don't be jealous. No candy cane for you," Will retorted.

"You're going to have to come to Captain's Quarters dressed like that," Ross said. He stood by the fireplace with his husband, Hart. "Everyone will love it!"

"Very naughty. I like it." Will rewarded them with candy canes of their own.

He turned, and his eyes met Julie's. Will had been casually strutting around the room, more than happy to gross out half of his family and make the other half laugh. He faltered for a moment as he looked at her, though .

Stacey made a noise somewhere between a giggle and clearing her throat. "Will, this is my best friend, Julie. She's staying with us for the holidays."

"Julie."

Shivers went up her spine when he said her name, clashing against the warm tingle he'd inspired everywhere else on her body. She hadn't come there to meet a man. In fact, she'd sworn off them completely right before she'd left Boston. But that was before she met him , before she saw those rock-hard muscles, daredevil eyes, and the faded anchor tattooed on his forearm. This wasn't some boardroom exec who collected designer suits. Not by a long shot. "It's nice to meet you." Julie extended her hand.

He took it and held onto it as he stepped forward, those eyes narrowing in on hers. "What about you, Julie? Have you been naughty or nice this year?"

Julie shrugged a little, hoping she wasn't smiling too wide. She couldn't control her body, and she barely had control over her face. "Mostly nice, but there's still time before Christmas."

Christmas Midlife Mate will be out soon!

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