“Yes ma’am.” He scoops her up and carries her away.
Love. That shit is everywhere, and I have to admit I kind of like it.
Charles pops his head out of the kitchen. “I’m in,” he calls, then disappears again.
“Ears of a damn bat.” I shake my head. The only one we’re missing is Diego.
“Diego is smitten. This is shaping up to be 4 weddings and—”
“About 126 funerals--if you’re counting the month since all of you showed up. Assassins, mercs, media moguls—we’ve taken them all out.”
“You murdered a drone, too.” She holds up a finger.
I kiss the tip. “Tech doesn’t count.”
She holds her hand out and admires her ring. “Four brides. I can’t even believe it.”
“Believe it, Red.” I kiss the spot beneath her ear that makes her shiver. “This is forever. For all of us. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
She relaxes into my arms, and we watch the snow fall, listen to the fire crackle, and rest in the knowledge that the love we share is also shared by the three other couples whose lives are woven with ours.
This is our family. This is our forever.
EPILOGUES
EPILOGUE 1
CLOVER
That Christmas
“Stop bending over and picking up all the heavy stuff!” Charles pulls a box of feather ornaments from my hands.
“The heavy stuff?” I laugh and rub my belly. It’s not huge yet, but it’s definitely noticeable.
“I put a baby in you to keep you here, not to watch you hurt yourself,” he growls.
Why does that statement make me go all mushy inside? I should be mad that he wanted to trap me, but I’m not. In fact, I’ve never been happier. The lodge is my home now, and I can’t imagine life anywhere else.
Charles reaches up and stabs the gold and white feathers into the tree, his broad back flexing with each movement.
“You need to--” I try to direct with my hands. “Over that way--yes--no--down a little. Okay, now fluff it.”
He thumps the end of the biggest golden feather.
“No, don’t hurt it.Fluffit.” I put my hands on my hips.
He grumbles under his breath about bossy preggos and flicks at the feather.
I try not to smile as I tell him, “Fluff it more. Make it super duper fluffy.”
He jiggles the feather then smacks it and tries to shove it farther down into the tree. “What? Like this?”
I burst out laughing. “No, nothing like that.”
He turns as I laugh so hard my eyes start to water. With a sigh he scoops me into his arms. “What am I going to do with you, bright eyes?”
“I have a few ideas.” I lick my lips.