City planner Remy McIntosh is looking forward to spending the holidays with his lover, architect Lane Anders. For the past six months, he’s been planning the perfect getaway -- two weeks in a forest cabin at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Remy also has a special gift he can't wait to give Lane on Christmas Day: a wedding ring. But Remy's ex-wife changes her Christmas plans at the last minute, and asks him to take care of their eight-year-old son, Braeden. Remy loves spending time with his son, but balks at the idea of taking a child along on vacation. The main problem is that Braden has never met Lane, and doesn't know his father is gay. Lane is ready to take his relationship with Remy to the next level, and has a secret Christmas gift of his own. Having a young boy along will put a crimp in their plans, to be sure, but Lane wants to be a part of every aspect of Remy's life, and that includes Braden. How will Braden deal with meeting the "other man" in his father's life? What happens when Remy’s romantic holiday for two must also include his son?

Just the Three of Us

“A Nintendo Wii U!” Braden fell into Lane’s lap and hugged him, too. “Thank you! I wish the power wasn’t out.”


Remy laughed. “Yeah, that’s the only reason why you can’t play it here.”


“Keep going,” Lane said. “I see more gifts under the tree.”


In the end, Braden was ecstatic with everything he got, and didn’t even seem bothered by the fact that most of it was useless at the moment. Without power, the few things he could play with—like the iPod—couldn’t be charged.


When all his gifts were open, he scooted close to the couch and leaned his chin on the cushion beside Remy. “Open the one I got you,” he said.


Chapter 59