Loving Mindy (Lone Pine Lake 2.50)

“Josh.” Jane Nelson went to him, crushing him in a giant hug. “It’s so good to see you.” She withdrew from Josh’s arms and turned to her husband. “You remember how I told you Josh used to always hang out at our house, right? He and Patrick and Mindy were such good friends. Then he just…disappeared.”

“How could I forget? You’ve only told me about fifty times since we got together,” Chris teased.

Ah, leave it to Jane to call him out. Not that she really knew. Mindy always kept that sort of thing private. She used to complain to him all the time when they were younger what a nosy sister Jane was.

“I’m back.” Josh smiled, looking around in the hopes he’d catch sight of Mindy. “It sure is great to be here.”

“I bet Mom and Dad are thrilled.” Jane’s smile grew as she followed her husband with her gaze as he headed to the giant Christmas tree standing proud and tall in the corner of her parents’ living room. “And Patrick. Maybe even Mindy.”

He wanted to snicker but he restrained himself. Now she was fishing. And that was sort of cute, especially since he knew they had planned on getting them together. “I came with Mindy.”

Jane’s eyes widened, and she rested her hand on her chest. “You did? Well, that’s certainly a pleasant surprise.”

Yeah, right. This was exactly what she was hoping for. “Glad you think so.”

Before they could get into it further, the front door burst open, Jane’s three children running inside still clad in their snow gear. “Get back outside on Grandma and Grandpa’s porch and take all that off,” Jane yelled.

The kids turned tail and marched right back outside, the door slamming behind them.

“Unbelievable,” Jane mumbled, and this time Josh did laugh.

He and Mindy had finally made their escape from her house late afternoon on Christmas Eve, after the power had come on and the snowplows had come through. She’d driven him over to his house after she’d showered and changed, so they could check and make sure everything was okay and where he’d taken a shower and changed into fresh clothes as well.

They’d gone on to his parents’ house to see if it had weathered the storm before they headed back to Mindy’s. Where he spent another night.

This time in her bed.

The McKenzie household was filled to the brim with family, both distant and immediate. They were all seated and eating dinner within minutes of Chris and Jane’s arrival.

Patrick came with his family and he and Josh sat next to each other, playing catch up throughout the meal. Cam and Chloe sat across from them, unable to keep their hands off each other and Chloe was absolutely radiant. Chris and Jane, who sat right next to Chloe, had made their special announcement right after the dinner plates were cleared that they were going to have a baby, too.

Mindy’s youngest brother Mac was there, looking a little lost and lonely among the hustle and bustle of everyone’s big families and Josh felt sort of sorry for him. He could relate. Hell, not even a few days ago he felt exactly the same way.

But now he had Mindy. Though their relationship was fresh and tentative, he knew without a doubt he was in for the long haul.

And so was Mindy.

“Are you having fun?” she asked him long after dessert had been served and the gifts for the kids opened. She wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him like she didn’t care who noticed, which thrilled him to no end. “I’m so glad you came with me.”

“I’m so glad you invited me.” He leaned in and dropped a discreet kiss on her nose. “It’s been great, catching up with everyone. Your family has grown so much. I guess I never realized it until I saw everyone together.”

She smiled, her eyes glowing as she stared up at him. “Mom said she’s happy to have you back as part of the family again.” Her smile immediately turned into a frown. “Not that I mean anything by that. I mean…I’m not trying to say that we’re going to be anything beyond friends who date or whatever or—”

“Min.” He kissed her, silencing the words she was tripping over left and right. “You’re babbling again. It’s the cutest thing ever, but you don’t have to worry. I think we’re on the same page here.”

“You two are way cute.”

They both looked to their right to find Cameron McKenzie smirking at them. Mindy withdrew from Josh to sock Cam in the arm. “Shut it.”

“Serious. I know Chloe and I upped the gag factor around here. Mac looks like he wants to murder me sometimes and Patrick gives me endless shit but I gotta say, you two are probably going to take over the sickeningly into each other crowns that Chloe and I have been wearing since we got together,” Cam explained.

“‘Sickeningly into each other’?” Mindy scrunched her nose, looking absolutely adorable.

“Yeah. You two are so into each other it’s sickening.” Cam grinned.

Mindy rolled her eyes, her cheeks pink. Josh couldn’t help it. He dipped down and pressed a kiss to her cheek, making her blush brighter. “Stop.” She shoved at Josh.

“Ah, just like when we were kids. Gotta love it.” Cam shook his head and walked away from them.