Time of Possession (Seattle Lumberjacks #5) by Jami Davenport Page A

Derek
usually liked everyone. In fact, in silent support of his cousin,
Derek poured a shot and swallowed it, even though it made him
gag.
    “Someone needs to watch out for her.” Tyler
snorted and put back another shot of whiskey, obviously working on
a good drunk.
    “I take care of myself just fine, and
Richard adores me.” Estie crossed her arms over her chest and
glared at her brother, but her doubts were growing.
    Tyler just raised both eyebrows and
grinned.
    “The food’s getting cold,” Rachel called
from the dining room as she placed the last bowl on the table and
waved them over.
    They jockeyed for position at the table, and
Brett found himself seated next to Estie in the seat that would’ve
been Richard’s. Brett couldn’t help but think he was in the right
place, wrong time.
    Derek’s father, Cole Ramsey, the family
patriarch, carved the turkey. Brett had heard Estie’s father had
died from a sudden heart attack when his children were still in
college. He didn’t know much more, other than rumors the man had
been a fighter pilot and a great father.
    Brett held his own in the resulting melee
that was this family’s Christmas dinner. He wasn’t a stranger to
big family dinners and the dysfunction and drama that goes with
them. For example, Rachel’s brother, Mitch, didn’t seem overly
impressed with Derek, his brother-in-law. Freddie belittled Estie
every chance she got. Their mother ran interference and tried to
keep her brood from killing each other. Cole attempted to control
the loud, rowdy crowd then finally retreated to his food and
Scotch, obviously deciding to let the kids have at it as long as
there wasn’t bloodshed.
    Brett couldn’t imagine this boisterous crowd
with little kids thrown in. The thought had him smiling. Imagine
that, a loner like him actually enjoyed all these people. For a
moment, he pictured himself in the middle of all this, instigating
some good pranks on Tyler with Derek and Zach’s help. Yeah, it’d be
fun to get even with the guy who’d been relentlessly driving Brett
into an early grave, though he couldn’t fault his try or his
intentions.
    “How you holding up, Brett?” Derek asked
from the side opposite Estie. “This group can be overwhelming.”
    “I’m fine. It’s fun.”
    “I’ve heard us described lots of ways, but
fun has never been one of them.” Derek laughed.
    Freddie smiled, a very rare smile for her.
“Yeah, remember a few years ago? Derek and Rachel took a waterfront
walk in downtown Seattle early Christmas day and came back with a
dozen Russian sailors who were in port for the holidays.”
    Tyler almost snorted up his mashed potatoes
and gravy. “Hell, yeah, Derek’s always bringing home strays, just
like Estie, but the human kind. None of us spoke Russian, and they
didn’t speak English.”
    Estie turned to Brett, her eyes shining. “We
communicated via charades and sign language.”
    “Hey, it was one of the most entertaining
Christmases I’ve had in a long time.” Derek spoke up.
    “Yeah, though I liked the year we invited
the senior center group over. They were a hoot.” Tyler argued.
    Estie explained for Brett. “Tyler loves
animals and old people.”
    Interpreting Brett’s open-mouthed expression
as disbelief, Lavender jumped in to explain. “Tyler has a soft spot
for geriatric veterans and homeless animals even though he’ll never
own up to it.”
    “I own up to it. I’m turning Harris Mansion
into a retreat for disabled veterans.” Tyler crossed his arms over
his chest and scowled, as if he’d been insulted.
    “It doesn’t matter what we do for Christmas
as long as we spend it together,” Cole Ramsey interrupted and
raised his glass.
    “Here, here,” they all shouted in chorus,
clinking glasses together. Brett watched it all with sense of envy,
part of the group but not belonging, always on the outside looking
in. Hell, he felt that way even in his own family.
    After an excellent dinner, the best Brett
had