“Don’t worry,” Zoa handed her some cash. “I’ll split the money with you. It’s only fair for my new sister-in-law.” Then Zoa hugged her, pulling her in tightly. “Welcome to the family, sis. I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Congratulations,” Brian and Declan each gave Allison a hug. Then they hugged Christopher.
When everyone was done smiling and laughing and feeling good about the moment, Allison realized that Raya had been a little quiet. Allison looked at the woman. Raya wasn’t smiling or laughing. Instead, there were tears pooling in her eyes.
Well, shit.
Starting off a marriage to a dragon was going to be hard enough without making his mom cry. She had to do something, but what? What could Allison possibly do?
“Raya, I-”
But before Allison could finish her sentence, Raya stepped forward and reached for her. Then she pulled her into a tight hug. Raya squeezed Allison to herself.
“Welcome to the family,” she said. “I am so happy that my sweet Christopher has found his mate. You both deserve all of the happiness in the world.”
Raya reached for Christopher, bringing him into the hug, and they all stood there for a few minutes. Then Raya pulled back and looked at her. She grinned.
“You’re a sweetheart,” Raya said. “I always thought Christopher might fall for the tech girl at work. Even though we’ve never met, Allison, I feel like I know you. He talks about you all of the time.”
“Really?” Allison looked slyly at Christopher. “Only good things, I hope.”
“Only good things,” Raya repeated.
Everyone started talking at once, making plans and promises for the future. Everyone had an opinion about the upcoming wedding and where it should be and how it should be, and Allison reached for Christopher and squeezed his hand.
She really was the luckiest damn girl in the world. She’d managed to find love when she least expected it, and she?
?d gotten the most wonderful possible person for a mate. She and Christopher were about to embark on an incredible journey, and she couldn’t wait to get started.
Epilogue
Allison looked over at the man she loved.
Her mate.
Oh, he was incredible.
For a very long time, Christopher and Allison had worked together, and she’d never known that he felt the same way about her. Then again, maybe getting to know each other in a non-romantic way was the thing that made their relationship so fantastic. Forever, she’d made googly eyes at him, and finally, they’d managed to find their way to each other.
Now, they had a bright, wonderful future ahead of them. She was going to move in with him as soon as possible, but tonight, he was going to meet her parents. Somehow, despite working together for what felt like an eternity, he’d never met Luna or Steven, and Christopher had easily been persuaded to come over for one of Mom’s famous dinners.
When they arrived at the house, Mom and Steven were sitting on the porch in the swing. They were cuddled up together. They stood up and came over, obviously excited that Allison was bringing someone home for the very first time. She’d never brought anyone home to meet her parents.
There had never been anyone worth bringing home.
“Why, hello,” Mom said. She reached for Christopher and grabbed him, pulling him into a tight hug. Allison chuckled at Christopher’s initial discomfort. He quickly calmed down, though, and hugged her back. Then he stepped back and turned to Steven.
“Nice to meet you,” Steven said.
“And you.”
Just then, Allison’s three little dragon brothers came barreling out of the house followed by Yvette, who couldn’t seem to stop laughing.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head.
“It’s okay,” Allison said.
“I tried to keep them inside, but, well, look at them,” Yvette gestured to the kids. They had surrounded Christopher and were glaring up at him.