Aiden faced Sadie again. “You’re going to want to get my present.”
She pursed her lips and pretended to consider. “I don’t know…I really could use an island. What’d you bring?”
“Remanned carburetor.”
She grasped the waistband of his jeans and tugged. “Ohh, sexy. You know what I like.”
Aiden’s eyes darkened and a feral spark lit the sea of green. “I do know what you like.”
Sadie’s heart kicked up about three hundred notches.
“I bet we could sneak out to the tree house and be back before they start the gift exchange,” Aiden said. Another whoop came from the den, and Sadie imagined everyone tossing back another mouthful of scotch. “They’ll probably forget we were ever here.”
He kissed her neck as she sighed and weaved her fingers in his hair. So sexy. “But it’s freezing out there,” she protested weakly as his rough jaw abraded her neck.
“I’d keep you warm,” he murmured into her hair, his fingers sliding just beneath the edge of her sweater.
“I bet you will.” She gave him a gentle shove. “Let’s go to the den and open presents.”
He curled his lip in protestation.
“And afterward, we’ll check out the tree house.”
Landon entered the living room next, swaying slightly, probably caused by the drink in his hand. Sadie had never seen him so loose. He looked more approachable with his hair mussed, wearing a casual V-neck sweater. “Shane bought an island? Seriously?” He frowned, gave them assessing glances. “You two at it again?”
“Leave us alone,” Aiden growled, but his eyes danced with humor.
“I’ve never seen my brother so horny until he met you,” Landon told Sadie. “And I knew him when he was fourteen.”
Sadie covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Aiden looked murderous.
“This one time, our neighbor—” Landon started, then his eyes widened as Aiden tore through the living room after him. Sadie followed. When she reached the doorway, Aiden and Landon were scrapping with one another, each trying to get the other into a headlock.
This was her family now, too, Sadie realized as she glanced around the room. Angel and her husband, Richie, were at the bar, sharing one glass of wine and smiling over the rim at each other.
Evan sat, glass in hand, a cautious half smile on his face. He looked content, which was nice to see, though she wouldn’t go so far as to say he was happy. The happiest she’d seen him was when he’d tucked Lyon into bed after the kid slipped into a sugar coma from eating the contents of his stocking.
Mike leaned on the mantle, his own glass of scotch nearby, watching his brood with a mix of sadness and pride. He missed Kathy, Sadie knew. They all did. Even Sadie, who didn’t need to meet the woman to know the world was less special without her in it.
Crickitt was settled on Shane’s lap, his wide palm covering her middle. Crickitt lifted her mug in a silent cheers to Sadie. Sadie smiled, knowing just how her best friend felt. They’d both lucked into this family. Into forever. It was almost too much.
Aiden came to Sadie a second later, smoothing his hair and issuing an empty warning at Landon, who uttered the very un-CEO-like retort of, “Whenever you’re ready, bro.”
“Miss me?” Aiden asked, pulling her attention from his family. He dropped a kiss on her lips as Landon and Shane booed, and Evan insisted they “get a room.”
Angel and Crickitt argued they thought it was sweet.
Sadie crooked her finger and Aiden leaned down so she could whisper in his ear. She grasped his face and whispered, “We would make beautiful babies.”
He lifted his head so he could look at her, the emotion in his eyes leagues deep, and filled with desire.
Finally, Sadie had let herself want all the things she’d longed for deep in her heart. And, finally, she believed she could have it. With Aiden, she could have anything. She could have everything.
There never should have been any doubt.