Except one.
He left that one half full, turned to the stainless steel refrigerator, and pulled out a bottle of my favorite creamer.
He topped off the cup until it was the perfect color, gave it a swirl with a spoon, and handed it to me with a kiss on the lips. “Morning.”
He knew how I liked my coffee.
I stared at the cup, then at Bishop. “I love you.”
A smile appeared, slow at first.
He kissed me again, like we had all the time in the world. “I love you too. Merry Christmas, Little Viper.”
“Who wants motorcycle pancakes?” Ash sped into the kitchen, his hair wild and jaw unshaven. “Oh, coffee. Thanks, Bishop.” He snatched up the cup and took a hearty gulp.
Bishop started to say something but shook his head when Ash yelped and waved a hand in front of his mouth.
“Speaking of Christmas.” Rafe’s chest vibrated along my spine.
Ash stopped fanning his mouth and sobered. “We have something to ask you.”
My nerves attempted to fire up, but I tamped down the urge.
Bishop set down his coffee cup. “We want you to stay.”
All the breath left my lungs. A ‘what?’ squeaked out.
Rafe tightened his hold. “We want you to stay. For good. As our official Old Lady.”
“Like, till death do us part, permanently.” Ash hopped onto the counter and popped a gingerbread cookie into his mouth.
He held one out to me, head first, then winked when I took a small bite.
I worked through the words one by one.
Stay.
Permanently.
“Hell yes.” It wasn’t that I had to make up my mind whether I wanted to stay.
I’d just been shocked by the suddenness of their asking. “I’d planned on quitting my job and finding something else.”
A fresh start in a place where people loved and appreciated me sounded too perfect to pass up.
Rafe brushed his chin back and forth over the top of my head. “Good.”
Ash ate another cookie, brushed his hands together, and picked up his cup again. “Can we show her now?”
“Show me what?”
Bishop glared at Ash. “It’s a surprise.”
“I like surprises.” I drank my coffee and had another cookie.
“You’ll need to get dressed. Ash has what you need.” Rafe kissed my cheek and released me.
He met Ash’s gaze over my head. “Don’t tell her anything. No matter how much she begs.”
