Read Trevor (A MacLaughlin Family Novella) Online
Authors: Krystal Shannan
Footsteps behind her made her turn. Trevor was leaning against the doorway of the kitchen.
“Can you get us some plates?” She pointed to a cabinet near him.
He nodded and moved forward, opening the cabinet. The glass plates clinked softly as he set them on the counter in front of her.
“Wine? Beer?”
“Oh, yes. Grab me a Shiner out of the fridge and help yourself. Dad always keeps a good selection in there.”
Her gaze trailed after him across the kitchen, admiring the way his ass looked in the jeans he was wearing.
God. I have to stop. Bad brain. Food is on the agenda. Not stripping the gorgeous Trevor MacLaughlin out of his clothes again.
“I can feel your eyes.”
She erupted into giggles. “I can’t help it.” She scooped out Lo Mein, Sweet and Sour chicken, and rice onto the two plates.
“Here,” he answered. With a chuckle he handed her a beer and took one of the plates she’d filled with food.
“Table?” He glanced across the counter to the small round wooden kitchen table.
“Couch.” She answered and nodded her head back toward the living room. “I’m in the mood for some White Christmas.”
“I can handle that.”
She followed him into the living room and they settled their food on the coffee table in front of the big couch. He grabbed the remote and scrolled through the on demand feeds until he found White Christmas. She sighed as the familiar opening song rolled from the speakers.
“It’s not really Christmastime until I’ve watched this movie.”
“Can’t go wrong with a classic. But the MacLaughlin’s like It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“I know. I watch that at least twice with Lizzy every holiday season.” She took a bite of her chicken dunked in sweet and sour sauce.
Heaven.
“Mmmm.”
“Good?” Trevor took a bite and grinned.
“Dad always says I would eat anything if it were dunked in this sticky sweet sauce.”
They both finished their food quickly and snuggled together on the couch to finish the movie. Halfway on his lap and with one of Trevor’s arms wrapped around her waist she tried desperately to stay awake, but sleep tugged her eyelids closed to the beautiful bass voice of Bing Crosby.
<><><>
A bell sounded. Lorelei shot straight up. Where was she? Was it morning already?
She pushed off the blanket and pushed herself out of the mushy couch cushions.
They’d fallen asleep on her parent’s couch. So comfortable.
“Trevor?”
“In the kitchen, sweetheart.”
I’ll never tire of hearing that.
She crept to the kitchen and poked her head in. The smell of freshly made coffee greeted her, but she was afraid to stay long. Her hair tended to be inspired by Medusa in the morning.
“I’m gonna get a quick shower and then be right back.”
“Sounds good. I’ll put your coffee in a thermos. I talked to mom a little bit ago and she insists you come over and spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with the family. She can’t wait to see you.”
“It is Christmas Eve, isn’t it?” The days had just flown by.
So much had changed. She had graduated college. Moved back to town. Was with the man she’d loved from a distance and he returned her feelings. Trevor MacLaughlin liked her. Maybe…loved her.
<><><>
“Lor!” A tall blonde raced down the walkway of the giant MacLaughlin home.
Lorelei smiled. Lizzy’s energy never ceased to amaze her. She hugged her best friend. It had been months since they’d seen each other last, but they talked on the phone every day.
She released her and Lizzy nodded her head up to her brother. “How was the trip, Trevor?”
“It was fine.”
“So Lorelei was able to help?”
He snorted and hugged his sister until she squealed for mercy.
Lizzy grabbed Lorelei’s hand and pulled her quickly down the walk toward the door. “Mom can’t wait to see you. She says you should have come over as soon as you got back.”
“I know. But I wanted to spend as much time with mom and dad as I could before they left.”
“She understands. But now we’ve got you for good, don’t we?” Lizzy winked and Lorelei looked back at Trevor, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Go on in. I hear Caiden and Harvey in the garage.”
She nodded and followed Lizzy inside. The smell of cinnamon and apples greeted her at the door. She took a deep breath and sighed, her mouth was already watering for Susan MacLaughlin’s apple pie.
“Mom!” Lizzy hollered around the corner.
Her mom came bustling around the corner in a flurry. “I thought I heard you outside. Oh, Lorelei. It’s so good to have you with us this year. Thank you for filling in for Karen in the office. I know Trevor appreciated the help.”
“I didn’t really do that much, Susan.”
“Nonsense.” The older woman winked at her. “Everything worked out the way it should’ve.”
“We never had a choice in this set-up did we, Lizzy?”
Her friend blushed bright red and stared at the ceiling. Lorelei turned back to Susan MacLaughlin. “I can’t believe you were both in on this.”
Susan hugged her again and then handed her a plate of apple pie with a generous dollop of whip cream. “Now, now. Eat some pie, sweetie. Both of you just needed a little nudge to find your way.”
“This isn’t fair. I can’t be upset when you give me the best pie in the world to eat.” She smiled at them both and then took a big bite of pie. Velvety apples laced with cinnamon and brown sugar. The crust was just the right amount of flaky and chewy. She moaned a little and swallowed the delicious bite of heaven.
“Finish up that pie and come choose an apron. We have lots to do to get dinner ready for this afternoon.”
<><><>
“Hey, bro.” His little brother stood from the stool and gave him a quick fist bump. “Sorry, I’d hug you, but grease is a bitch to get out of nice clothes like those.”
Trevor laughed. “I don’t give you guys hell about digging around in car engines. Don’t give me grief over my choices in attire.”
His older brother Caiden stepped back from under the hood of the 67’ mustang he’d been working on for the past two years. Harvey helped whenever he was in town, but the car was Caiden’s baby. Trevor watched. He appreciated the beauty of the old muscle car, but had no desire to rebuild or work on it. He’d much rather work with wood. Anything to do with carpentry was more his style.
“Glad you made it back today. When did your flight get in?”
Both of his brothers wore huge grins.
What the hell?
“If you already know, why are you asking?”
They both busted out laughing. Trevor shook his head.
“Dude, you owe me twenty. I totally called it first,” Harvey said, clapping Caiden on the back.
“How did you know we were back? Did Brad call you?”
Caiden raised an eyebrow. “No, but I’ll be sure to ask him what he knows now.”
“Lizzy knew yesterday, Trevor. Lorelei posted something on Facebook and it pinged her as being in Fort Worth,” Harvey added.
“So where were you last night?” Caiden leaned back under the hood with a giant wrench.
“None of your business.”
“So I don’t need to ask Lorelei to marry me anytime soon to keep her in the family?”
“Not funny,” Trevor growled. “Where is it?”
Caiden chuckled. “It’s in the top of my tool chest.”
Trevor walked over to the giant red and black toolbox. On the top rack sat a little red velvet box. “Did Phil give you any trouble at the store when you picked it up?”
“Nah, just told me to tell you he was glad you were finally going to ask her.” Caiden turned and met Trevor’s gaze. “How long have you had that ring?”
“Three years.”
“What!” Harvey exclaimed from the other side of the garage. “But you’ve never even dated her.”
“She’s always been the one, Harvey. I didn’t set out to buy the ring. I just saw it one day when I was shopping for a present for Mom. It just looked like something she would really like.”
“Oh, I’m sure she will. But you’ve only spent the weekend together. Don’t you think proposing might be a little quick on your relationship timeline.
“Nope. I think we are both ready.”
<><><>
Christmas Eve dinner with the MacLaughlins was just how she remembered it. Caiden and Harvey had come in from the garage with Trevor and both had given her bear hugs after cleaning up at the kitchen sink. They told her how glad they were she was spending Christmas with all of them. They were her second family. They always had been. She’d missed seeing them over the last couple of years. While she’d been in college she had worked over most semester breaks and when she’d come home for visits, they’d been short and with her parents.
Lorelei sat down at the table next to Lizzy and Trevor quickly slipped into the chair on her left. Susan sat at the head of the table and the other two boys sat across from her and Lizzy.
She had helped Susan and Lizzy set out the fine white china and crystal goblets. They’d polished the silverware and folded the Christmas red cloth napkins into a fan. The table looked like a spread from a Home and Garden magazine. It was beautiful and the food smelled divine.
Caiden stood and lifted his glass. “Now, in keeping with the MacLaughlin Christmas Eve tradition. Each woman at the table receives a jewel. It represents how special you are and how very dearly the men of this family treasure you.”
“Mother, here’s yours,” Harvey pulled a small flat velvet box from his shirt pocket.
Susan’s eyes were glazed over and took the box. She opened the box and turned it for them to see. “Thank you boys. It’s beautiful.” A cross set with emeralds hung on a thin golden chain. It was beautiful and Lorelei’s heart tugged at the loving gesture the boys were still keeping alive. She’d seen the gift giving twice before when she’d spent Christmas with them as a child and been included in receiving a gift. Susan told her years ago that Mr. MacLaughlin started it on their first Christmas together as a married couple. Even after their father passed away, the boys always made sure to remember the gift for the jewels of the family.
“I have yours, sis,” Caiden said and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small square velvet ring box.
Lizzy squealed with glee and Lorelei along with the rest of the table couldn’t help but laugh. “This is my favorite gift every Christmas. It always has been.” Lizzy took the box and popped open the lid. A beautiful ruby ring in a white gold setting sparkled in the light. “I love it. Thank you, guys!”
“Now, for Lorelei, the sweet but devilish angel who stole my brother’s heart a decade ago.”
Heat climbed into her cheeks at Caiden’s words. She stole a glance at Trevor. He was nodding. “I have your jewel, sweetheart. I hope you will accept it along with my heart.”
Her breath caught in her throat.
Holy popcorn balls!
His words sounded reminiscent of...
He pulled out a red velvet box, pushed back his chair and knelt down beside her on one knee. “Lorelei May Ward, will you marry me?”
He pulled apart the box and her heart skipped at least one beat. Inside the velvet box was a gorgeous pink diamond solitaire. The setting was intricately carved and the diamond appeared to be set in the strands of a vine. It was breathtaking.
Tears welled in her eyes.
He wanted to marry her. The whole family was waiting for her answer. There was only one to give.
“Yes.”
Clapping erupted around the table, but she barely heard it. All she could see was the joy in Trevor’s eyes. He slipped the ring on her finger, stood, and pulled her into his arms. His mouth closed over hers and she melted into his kiss.
“I’m officially going to be part of the family,” she exclaimed when he finally pulled away.
“You were always meant to be part of this family,” he whispered, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you, Trevor MacLaughlin.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Romance author, Krystal Shannan, lives in Texas and is married to the love-of-her-life. They have a spunky young daughter who believes in fairies. Krystal professes to loving shoes, but avoids wearing them at all costs. She teaches in the public schools and writes as much as she can in her free time. If any more spare time can be squeezed from her day, she enjoys reading romance in all genres, but especially paranormal.
If it has a 'Happily Ever After', she's on board!
She is an active member in her local RWA chapter DARA.
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