The Reckoning, A Wilde Brothers Christmas (The Wilde Brothers Book 4) by Lorhainne Eckhart Page A

Julia. As he stood there with his brother, Jake flashed back to a moment he never wanted to relive: getting that call and not knowing whether Logan would live or die. It was something that stuck with him, the fear of losing someone so important that life wouldn’t have been the same without him.
    Logan patted his back and then held his shoulders when he stepped away, looking at him closely. “You okay?” he said.
    “Logan, who’s here?”
    Jake heard Julia before he could come up with an excuse. She waddled around the corner wearing a long nightgown, a pink housecoat overtop, too pregnant to close it. She had short dark hair and the most beautiful green eyes, though they were puffy and shadowed with traces of darkness. Her hand was pressed to her back as she walked, and her face lit up when she saw him. Logan reached out to her, and she went right to him, sliding up against him, leaning into him.
    “Hi, Jake! I didn’t know you were coming,” she said, snuggling against Logan. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, her hair sticking up in front. A gold band flashed on Logan’s finger as he held Julia and slid his large hand over her shoulder and arm, caressing her. It seemed so natural, the two of them together, and Jake was glad for his brother and thankful for this happiness he’d found. Out of everyone, he deserved it. Jake found himself wondering for a moment whether Logan would continue slipping away from them, though.
    “I just found myself driving,” Jake said. “I was supposed to go up to Mom and Dad’s first, but I saw the sign to McKay…and, well, here I am. I hope I’m not intruding?” He felt Logan’s hand on his head, rustling his short dark hair.
    “You’re kidding, right? You’re always welcome, you know that.”
    Jake wondered for a moment whether Julia felt the same way. Women could be funny about that sort of thing—as he’d found out with Jill.
    Julia glanced up at Logan and then back to Jake. “Logan’s right, Jake. Of course you’re welcome. You were coming with the rest of the family for Christmas dinner anyway, so what if you’re a day early?” She reached out and touched his shoulder, and then she yawned. “Oh, I’m sorry. I haven’t been getting much sleep. I can’t get comfortable at night now. I wake up often.”
    “Maybe I am intruding,” Jake said. He didn’t know the first thing about babies or pregnant women.
    “Uncle Jake!” Trinity, one of his eleven-year-old nieces, ran toward him and threw her arms around his waist. Dawn, her sister, was right behind her. Dawn’s dark hair was shorter than Trinity’s, which fell to her waist. They were both barefoot in pajamas. They were cute—a handful, he thought, although he didn’t know them well.
    “I hope I didn’t pull you two out of bed,” he said. It was late, of course. With single Logan, Jake had never had to consider the time. Married Logan meant he had to think first before just showing up.
    “We’re just getting ready for bed,” Dawn said. “We weren’t there yet, though, and we’re not tired!” She beamed up at Jake, and he noticed her green eyes were lighter than her sister’s.
    “Hey, it’s late,” Julia said. “Even though you don’t have school tomorrow, you’re still going to bed.” She looked to Logan, maybe for backup, Jake thought.
    Logan kissed the top of her head, squeezed her shoulder, and said something to her in a low voice.
    She glanced up at him and rolled her eyes. “Okay,” she murmured.
    “Girls, why don’t you help me make up the sofa for your uncle to sleep on?” Logan said.
    “I’ll get the blankets!” Trinity yelled and started down the hall after her sister.
    “Are you hungry? Did you have dinner?” Logan said. “Julia made a beef stew, with fresh bread she brought home from her cafe. Thankfully, today was her last day.”
    Julia rolled her eyes. “I told you I can’t just hand my business over to anybody. I had to hire and train someone to