“Awe, Prez, we all know you don’t need it.” Country snickered. “Just giving you a little hell for having a gift that keeps on giving.”
“How the hell do you know whether he needs it or not?” Rafe asked. “You been checkin’ out the competition?”
“Fuck no.” Country leaned over to Rafe and said, “Remember when I was shot? I saw him come out of the shower and you know... I saw it.”
“You saw what?” Viper asked.
That was my cue to take Sophie’s hand and lead her out of the room. When we reached the hall, she gave me a strange look and asked, “Where are we going?”
“To see your last Christmas surprise.”
“It’s here?”
“Yep.” When we reached my room, I stopped at the door and said, “You remember that first day when we met, and you told me about Angel Face?”
“Yes.”
Without saying anything more, I opened the door, and Sophie shrieked like a kid when she saw a Siamese kitten sleeping in the open pink box I’d put her in. She rushed over and picked it up, cradling it in her arms. “Oh Dalton, she’s absolutely precious.”
“I thought you might like her.” I brought my hand up to the red collar around its neck as I said, “There’s another little something for ya.”
When she saw the key attached to the collar, she asked, “What’s this?”
“The key to my place.” I stepped closer. “I’m hoping that soon it’ll be your place, too.”
“I’d like that.” A warm smile crossed her face as she eased up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine. “I love you, Dalton Hughes.”
“Love you, too, babe.” I kissed her on the forehead. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.”
The End