She did open for a few hours on Christmas Eve, but by two o’clock in the afternoon, they were at the clubhouse.
Larissa was there, cooking dinner for everyone. Smokey was also helping out. Raven and Carlos were babysitting the kids. Abriana was baking a pumpkin pie, which was … going to be interesting. So far, no nasty smells, but Ava knew the club was a little apprehensive about it.
Christmas tunes were playing. The guys were drinking.
And she felt truly content. This club, these men and women, were her family.
Jonah was going to join them after his Christmas service.
While Larissa put the finishing touches to the potatoes, as well as the vegetables, Ava made her way into the main clubhouse, where all the guys had put severaltables together. She started to set the table and couldn’t believe Smokey had gone to the effort to buy enough cutlery for everyone.
No chipped plates or bent forks.
She pushed some hair off her face and giggled as the man himself came to her and wrappedhis arms around her waist. “Merry Christmas, baby.”
“Merry Christmas to you.”
“Do you love it?” he asked.
She spun in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I more than love it. You have outdone yourself.” She kissed his lips. “This is everything.”
He pulled her inclose. “Good, you can expect this every Christmas if that’s what you want.”
Ava laughed. “Let’s get through this one. I have a feeling some of the guys might want their clubhouse back to being their manly place.”
“They’ll do as they’re told. I’m the boss.”
“That you are.”
She finished setting the table, and Jonah arrived as they put all the foodon the table. Everyone was having fun, and Ava couldn’t deny how amazing it felt.
When it came time for dessert, Abriana was so excited, and Ugly Beast followed his wife to the kitchen.
“This is it, people, this is when the food poisoning hits,” Brick said.
Ava didn’t even attempt to defend Abriana. She had seen firsthand just how bad of a cook the woman was. She certainly tried so freakinghard.
Ugly Beast came out of the kitchen, carrying the pie, and the look on his face wasn’t good. The pie was placed in front of Smokey.
“What the fuck is that?” Smokey asked.
“It’s pumpkin pie.”
Ava was too curious not to look, so she peeked. “Er, Abriana, why did you use the seeds?”
“The recipe said you needed pumpkin filling.”
“Yeah?” Ava asked, not quite sure.
“So I purchased a pumpkin and removed the filling.” Abriana smiled. “Don’t worry, I didn’t discard the pumpkin. I know you love to use it insoup, Harlow.”
“Er, you used the seeds?” Harlow asked.
“Yep, pumpkin filling.”
“I think it meant the filling from a can of pumpkin puree, Abriana,” Ava said.
“Huh?”