Merry nodded. “I don’t know how to turn the water off. The valve under the sink is stuck.”

  If Fitz wasn’t so busy grabbing towels to hand out, he would have been jumping for joy. The plan worked! Fitz could have used a little less water and a little more romance, but he’d take it. Merry had talked to Noel without running away! Colton hurried over to Ace, who was still wedged under the sink.

  “Love? Are you okay? Can I help?”

  “Hey, baby. Can you find me a wrench? This stupid valve is stuck.”

  “The main water valve is outside,” Noel said, heading for the kitchen door only to have Merry grab his arm.

  “What? You can’t go out there like that. You’ll catch a cold or worse!”

  “I’ll be fine,” Noel said, his smile wide. “It’ll just take a second.” He hurried out, and in no time at all, the water stopped gushing out. Thank goodness. There had to be a plunger around here somewhere.

  “Oh, thank goodness.” Colton let out a sigh of relief just as Noel hurried back in.

  Merry handed Noel some towels. “Remove your coat and dry off before you catch a cold. I can’t believe you went out there like that. Honestly.” Merry huffed and started towel drying Noel’s hair, which was adorable because Noel had to bend over so Merry could reach his head.

  “Love,” Colton said gently. “You need to get out of there and dry off. We’ll worry about the valve later.”

  “Right.” Ace pulled himself out from under the sink. He made to stand, slipped, and threw out a hand to catch himself, smacking an open bag of flour on the steel counter next to the sink. The bag exploded, flour raining down on everyone. “Shit!” He turned and slipped again, and this time, Colton made the mistake of grabbing onto his husband. They both crashed to the floor, the splash hitting everyone.

  “Ow,” Colton groaned.

  “Colton!” Fitz carefully hurried over, Jack right behind him. “Are you okay?”

  “What about me?” Ace grumbled. “I’m the one who fixed the sink.”

  Fitz and Jack helped Colton up onto his feet.

  “But did you?” Jack asked, turning to help Ace, which meant both he and Ace ended up on the floor. Jack glanced up at Fitz and sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

  Noel cringed. “Are you two okay?”

  Did Merry realize Noel had his arms around him? Merry looked up at Noel and smiled, his cheeks pink when Noel smiled warmly. Oh, they just had a moment! Squee!

  “We should go,” Fitz said. “Jack, stop playing around.”

  Jack sat up and arched an eyebrow at Fitz. “Right. Because falling on my ass in freezing water is fun.”

  Fitz widened his eyes and discreetly tilted his head to Noel and Merry. Noel was helping Merry get dry. They were drying each other and standing very close.

  “Oh, um, right. Yeah, we should get going,” Jack said, carefully standing. “Those cookies aren’t going to decorate themselves.”

  “We should also get some dry clothes,” Colton muttered. “I texted Gio and asked him if he wouldn’t mind bringing us some clothing.”

  Ace groaned as he got to his feet. “Really, babe? Out of everyone, you had to send the guy who’s dating Joker? I’m never going to hear the end of this.”

  Jack grinned wickedly. “It could have been worse. It could have been squirrels.”

  The laughter followed Ace out of the kitchen. As they waited for Gio and Joker inside the café, Merry made them all hot drinks and then disappeared into the kitchen. A short time later, Gio and Joker arrived with dry clothes and coats. Joker handed Ace what looked like a Christmas sweater, or at least a winter sweater because it was multiple shades of brown.

  “What the—” Ace held up the sweater, and everyone laughed. It had squirrels all over it. “Haha. Very funny. Laugh all you want, but when that pointy-eared villain sends his army of furry beasts to eradicate us, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He tugged the sweater over his head; his eyes narrowed at Joker. “I hope they come for you first.”

  Joker laughed as he left the café.

  Noel and Merry walked out of the kitchen, and Fitz did his best to pretend he hadn’t noticed how Merry’s skin was flushed to the tips of his ears. His lips were glossy, and he had a dazed, dreamy look. Seeming to shake himself out of it, he pulled Fitz to one side.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Fitz asked, blinking innocently.

  Merry gave him a knowing look. “This was your idea to get me and Noel together, wasn’t it.”

  “Honey, it is never my idea to send Ace to fix anything. That was all Jack’s idea, but I did ask him for help, so I suppose part of the credit goes to me.” He hummed. “Or blame? Let’s go with credit.”

  Merry laughed softly. “Noel said he would stay with me and help me clean up the kitchen.” He worried his bottom lip, then leaned in to whisper. “We kissed!”

  Fitz was so excited for Merry that he could barely contain it, but he did. “Well then, we’ll make ourselves scarce. Have fun…cleaning.”

  Merry’s cheeks flushed an even brighter pink. “I’ll see you all later.”

  All bundled up in warm, dry clothes, they left the café, returning to the tent where the cookie decorating had commenced. Fitz thanked Mason for puppy-sitting and called Duchess. She pranced over excitedly, and he pulled a treat from his pocket. No matter what item of clothing Fitz wore, he usually had a small treat bag inside a pocket. That and an empty poop bag. Spotting Clara, Fitz made his way over to her.

  “Are we all set to decorate the Ice Castle?”

  “Absolutely! We’ve moved all the decor and remaining containers into the Enchanted Ballroom and started on the smaller rooms, so you can join us after the gingerbread house decorating event if you’d like.”

  “Great! We’ll be there.” Fitz was looking forward to it. Once the Ice Castle was finished, the parties and bigger events could finally occur. Of course, they could still use more guests. He hoped whatever Gio was working on would help. Winterhaven’s holiday season would be in full swing with the Ice Castle back in business.

  Fitz found Red inside the tent and hugged him. “Congratulations! I knew you’d win. I’m sorry we had to rush out. There was an Ace-mergency.”

  “Do I need my medical bag?” Red asked worriedly. “It’s back at the cabin.”

  Fitz chuckled. “No, it’s fine. He managed not to knock himself out.”

  “Oh good.” Red shook his head. “I don’t even want to know what he was up to.” He looked around. “Have you seen Leo? Joker was looking for him.”

  “I haven’t seen him since we sat down for the contest. You think he’s off on his secret-not-so-secret Christmas mission?”

  Red shrugged. “Could be. I wonder what would take this long to sort out. I mean, he’s been at it for days.”

  Jack stepped up to Fitz and kissed his cheek. “Hey, I’m going to have to miss the gingerbread house decorating.”

  “Oh.” Fitz tried not to sound disappointed. “Work?”

  “No, actually. Leo.”

  “Leo?” Fitz was confused. “Wait, you know where he is?”

  “He texted me, asking me to meet him at the Ice Castle. Something about helping Santa set with some equipment? I don’t know. He needs my help carrying some tech stuff. I’ll text you once I’m done.”

  “Does King know?” Red asked Jack. “I haven’t seen him around either.”

  “Leo said something about King returning to the cabin for a video call with Bibi and the kids,” Jack replied. “I’ll let you know if I find out anything else. Better go. See you in a bit.”

  Fitz waved Jack goodbye and joined the gingerbread house decorating that was about to start. Thankfully, the large tent was heated. Hard to decorate with frozen fingers. Duchess made herself comfortable beneath the table Fitz had picked. He stood next to Joker and playfully bumped him with his hip.

  “You’re just full of surprises,” Fitz teased, receiving a side-eye that made him laugh.

  “Don’t go getting any funny ideas,” Joker grumbled. “I’m only here because Gio wants one.”

  “Where is Gio?”

  “Back at the cabin making calls. He’s all excited about his big idea.”

  “I hope he can help,” Fitz said with a sigh. “The town could use more guests.”

  “If anyone can do it, Gio can.” Joker removed all the pieces from the sealed box in front of him. He narrowed his eyes as Ace came to stand to the other side of him. “Go stand somewhere else.”

  Ace laughed. “Why?”

  “Because you’re shady as shit,” Joker replied. “If you touch my house, I’m going to teach your puppy to take a shit in your shoes.”

  “I’m starting to question your training methods. Also, I’m not going to touch your house. I have my own awesome abode to decorate. It’s going to be my gingerbread mansion.”

  Fitz held back a laugh at Joker’s unimpressed expression.

  “Your house has all the same size pieces ours does, you moose.”

  Ace snickered. “If I’m Moose, does that make you Squirrel?”

  Joker turned to Fitz. “Trade places with me.”

  “I love you, but no.” Fitz was not about to put himself in the middle of these two. That way indeed lay madness. They all started piecing together their gingerbread houses using the sticky icing, and Fitz noticed Ace was breaking up some of his pieces. “What are you doing?”

  “Remodeling my house.”

  Fitz glanced at Joker, who shook his head as he carefully joined two of his house’s walls. “Don’t engage. Trust me. Pretend he’s a bear. Stand very still and quiet, and he won’t engage.”

  Ace snorted. “Yeah, that doesn’t work on me, Squirrel.”

  Fitz stood very still and didn’t make a sound. A heartbeat later, Ace was working quietly on his house. Fitz carefully turned to Joker with wide eyes and mouthed, “It worked.”

  Joker snickered, and everyone got lost in decorating their houses. This was probably the quietest Fitz had ever seen Ace. At least until Ace started quietly singing “Carol of the Bells.” Wait.

  Fitz turned to Ace. “Did you make up your own lyrics to Carol of the Bells?” It was only then that he noticed Ace’s gingerbread house. “Sweet Saint Nick, what?”

  “What the hell?” Joker gaped at Ace. “How did you…?” He shook his head in disbelief.

  Fitz looked from Ace’s house to his, then back. He gasped. “Well, jingle my bells. Leo’s right. You do defy science.” How else would Ace have built a two-story gingerbread Victorian house out of the same pieces the rest of them had? It made no logical sense. It was intricately decorated with multiple sloped roofs and arched cathedral-style windows. Fitz leaned in. “Is that…?”

  “A tiny gingerbread puppy?” Ace asked proudly. “Why yes. Yes, it is.”

  “How?” Joker demanded. He turned to Fitz. “Explain this to me. This is the guy who stapled his shirt to the floor while replacing a carpet.”

  Fitz burst into laughter. He could just picture it. His phone jingled, and Fitz removed it from his pocket. “Oh, I need to go.”

  “Everything okay?” Joker asked.

  Fitz nodded. “It’s just Jack. He wants me to meet him at the Christmas tree lot. He needs my help with something.” He patted his leg and told Duchess to come with him as they left the tent and headed toward the end of town.

  “What do you suppose your daddy needs?” Fitz asked Duchess as she trotted down the street next to him. She looked up at him, then ahead as if shrugging. Fitz laughed. “Yeah, your guess is as good as mine.”

  The sun was setting, the sky turning a stunning purple that blended into orange and pink. When they walked into the tree lot, no one was there. What the heck was going on?

  “Back here,” Jack called out.

  Curious, Fitz hurried toward Jack’s voice, Duchess on his heels. They ended up at the side of the lot. They maneuvered through all the Christmas trees and ended up at a red wooden fence. What on earth was his boyfriend up to?

  “Jack?”

  A door in the fence opened, and Jack popped his head out. “Hey, gorgeous.” He laughed when Duchess bounded over to him. He let her inside and then turned back to Fitz, motioning behind him. “Come on.”

  “What is it?” Fitz murmured as he met Jack at the door. Jack took his hand and pulled Fitz inside, closing the door behind them. When Fitz turned, he gasped. “What…?”

  Christmas trees decorated with twinkling white lights surrounded the small fenced-in area, and more lights were strung up from one side to the other, creating a canopy of sorts. At one end was a white screen, and a few feet away, a fire pit. There were heaters and, in the center, what looked like a reclined sofa without the base. It was covered in pillows and big, cozy blankets. Duchess had already made herself comfortable on one of the blankets.

  “Oh, Jack.”

  Next to the couch was a bucket with ice, a wine bottle, and two glasses. There was even a big bucket of popcorn and another bucket with movie snacks. Fitz whirled to face Jack.

  “You did all this? For me?”

  Jack brought Fitz into his arms. “I’m constantly in awe of you and everything you are. I am so damned lucky to be loved by you. You are my whole world. I love you so much, sweetheart, and I promise to never take what we have for granted. Merry Christmas.” He pulled a small remote from his pocket and pressed a button. The screen lit up, and The Holiday started playing.

  “My favorite Christmas movie.” Fitz turned to Jack, tears of joy welling in his eyes. “Thank you. I love you too, Jack. So very much.” Jack led him to the couch, sitting down first so Fitz could sit between his legs, his back to Jack’s chest. He snuggled close, and Jack wrapped them in warm, fuzzy blankets. Duchess got up and, after a couple of turns, curled up in a fluffy ball against them.

  Jack kissed the side of Fitz’s head. “This is the beginning of lots of moments like this for us.”

  Fitz’s phone jingled, and he pulled it out to check the text. He gaped at the screen, unable to believe what he was seeing. “He did it!”

  “Who did what?” Jack asked, puzzled.

  “Gio.” Fitz sat up and turned. He showed Jack his phone screen and the screenshot Joker had sent him of Winterhaven’s travel website. “Sold out.”

  “Holy shit, he did it!”

  They cheered, and Fitz cupped Jack’s face, his heart overflowing with joy and love. Not only had they helped Winterhaven launch their holiday season, but the small town was about to be inundated with guests, saving Christmas.

  As Fitz kissed Jack, love pouring out of them, he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe there was a little something magical in the air around them. Whatever the reason, Fitz would always treasure this moment and the amazing man in his arms.

  The Kings and Wild Cards holiday shenanigans continue with Home for the Howlidays, book 3 in The Kings: A Treemendous Christmas series.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Thank you so much for reading Sleigh It Ain’t So, the second book in The Kings: A Treemendous Christmas series. I hope you enjoyed Fitz and Jack’s holiday hijinks, and if you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.

  Continue the adventure in Home for the Howlidays, Book 3 in The Kings: A Treemendous Christmas series (Gio and Joker’s holiday story).

  Reviews can have a significant impact on a book’s visibility on Amazon, so any support you show these fellas would be amazing.

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  Thank you again for visiting the Kings Universe. We hope to see you soon!

  ALSO BY CHARLIE COCHET

  Shifter Scoundrels Series

  Co-written with Macy Blake

  FOUR KINGS SECURITY UNIVERSE SERIES

  Four King Security

  Four Kings Security Boxed Set

  Black Ops: Operation Orion’s Belt

  The Kings: Wild Cards

  The Kings: Wild Cards Boxed Set

  Runaway Grooms

  The Kings: Royal Flush

  The Kings: A Treemendous Christmas

  THIRDS UNIVERSE SERIES

  THIRDS

  THIRDS Beyond the Books

  THIRDS: Rebels

  TIN

  THIRDS Boxed Sets

  OTHER SERIES AND NOVELS

  Paranormal Princes Series

  Soldati Hearts Series

  North Pole City Tales Series

  Love for the Reaper

  DID YOU KNOW?

  If you own a book or borrow it through Kindle Unlimited, you can get Whispersynced audiobooks at a discounted price. Interested in audio? Check out the Charlie Cochet titles available on Audible.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.

  Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a highly opinionated sable German Shepherd and a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.