Colt elbowed Danny. “You should take notes.”
Danny, poor kid, looked as scared as he did intrigued by the idea.
Ash finished kissing Noelle and spun her toward Bishop, who caught her with one arm.
He was gentler with his kiss but no less thorough.
I couldn’t help smiling at the happiness on her face.
The light feeling in my chest demanded that I give in.
“Anyone have anything else they want to say?” I gave them one last chance to air their grievances. “Once we take this off the floor, it isn’t brought up again. This is your last chance. Ifanyonetries to come at Noelle, you have me to answer to.”
“Us.” Ash bumped my shoulder with a closed fist. “Stop trying to do everything your damned self, Brother.”
No one but me heard that last part, though I suspected based on the shared looks that they understood his intent.
Bishop slowly broke off his kiss with Noelle and tucked her against his side.
The atmosphere in the room shifted from hostility to acceptance.
Marcus’s weathered face broke into a reluctant smile. “Hell, Rafe. When you put it like that…”
He shook his head. “Come on, fellas. I’ll start pouring drinks. Welcome to the family, Noelle.”
The last bits of tension shattered.
Conversations resumed, laughter bubbling up from different corners of the room.
Noelle kept wiping tears off her cheeks.
I’d seen her cry a few times, but not like this.
Not happy tears that brightened her cheeks and put a rosy glow on her skin. “Thanks for defending me.”
“Always.” The single word scraped my throat raw.
I’d told her I loved her, but this promise had more depth. I’d never let a woman into my life like this.
The things she’d made me feel terrified me.
But she was worth every bit of it.
“You’re one of us now.” Colt hugged Noelle with all the exuberance of youth. “That means something around here.”
My little brother hit it dead on the head.
Trust wasn’t something I gave lightly. None of us did.
Hell, until her, it wasn’t something I’d given to any woman.
She’d earned it with her stubborn loyalty and refusal to give up even when we’d pushed her away.
When I’d pushed her away and forced Bishop and Ash to abide by my rules.
Choosing us despite the risks put her in considerable danger.
It proved she cared when I’d been dead set against her.
