Kip had run from men like Sev long enough to see he wasn’t just dangerous. He was the kind of dangerous that made other dangerous men step aside and reconsider their life choices. Apparently, Kenzie didn’t see him the same way. Forcing the tray of cocoa into Kip’s arms, she stood beside her, fists on her hips. Kip was worried until she noticed Boone heading that way.
“Ho-ly shit,” Joy whispered. “Is that Seven Midnight, Kenz? If it is, I see what you meant when you said the man eats danger for breakfast and has seconds.”
Boone clapped Sev on the back hard enough to stagger a lesser man. As they walked toward them, Boone said, “Thought Vancouver was too civilized for Wyoming winters.”
Sev didn’t take his eyes off Kenzie as he stepped in front of her. “Some things are worth freezing my balls off for.”
Kenzie lifted her chin, fire in her eyes. “Eyes are up here, Midnight.”
Sev’s smile was slow, lethal, and aimed straight at her heart. “Yes, ma’am.”
Kip’s stomach flipped. She recognized that look—she saw it every time Trace looked at her, as if she were a filet mignon and he was a starving.
With a growl, Kenzie turned on her heel and stalked into the lodge.
More people arrived over the next hour, and soon the party became pure Daniels chaos. There were wakeboard races across the snow, and sleigh rides for the Littles and children, complete with horses snorting clouds of steam.
Later, the men held cowboy chariot races with men riding sleds behind horses, shouting trash talk that would make a sailor blush. When Trace noticed her shivering, he peeled off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Then he kissed her hard enough to make her toes curl inside her boots.
With a grin, he winked at her. “Stay right here, baby girl. I have a title to defend.”
She clutched the shearling around her, breathing him in. Her heart tried to climb out of her ribs. It was hard to believe he was hers now. Legally. Forever. The thought made her dizzy in the best way.
Flashing her a wicked grin that did devastating things to her panties, he swung up onto Bastion and tipped two fingers to the brim of his hat. He knew exactly how good he looked, just as he knew she’d be watching his every move and loving it.
When the starting shot cracked, eight horses lunged forward. The snow exploded under thundering hooves. Trace took the lead and never looked back. When he slid to a stop in front of her, victorious and breathless, he yanked her off the ground and kissed the cold right off her lips.
“Still the king, baby,” he said, the chill in the air adding a rasp to his deep voice.
She laughed into his coat, her fingers curled over his heart. She gave his shirt a gentle shake. “Show-off.” But inside, she was glowing because he had done that for her. He wanted her to know she was the center of his universe.
Later, when the sun dipped behind the mountains and everyone had left, the Littles sugar-crashed on every couch. The Daddies gathered around them in the living room like an unwitting glitter-bomb tribunal, cracking open their oversized ornaments one at a time.
Tanner reacted first. Pink glitter exploded into a cloud that coated his beard and eyelashes. He stood frozen, sparkling like a very pissed-off disco ball. Junie giggled and, energy suddenly restored, bolted for the back door.
Grinning, Tanner ran after her. “You are in big trouble, Junebug! Funishment is in store when I get my hands on you!”
Boone looked at his brothers and smirked. “Yeah, best friends my ass. Welp, best get on with this.”
Chance’s ornament was green. Boone’s was gold. With sighs of resignation, they accepted their fate. Cracking their ornaments, with the same results, they each swept up their Littles and headed to their rooms. That left only Trace and Sev.
Sev watched as Kenzie handed him a midnight-blue sphere with innocent eyes and a smirk that said she knew exactly what she was starting. “Don’t get any ideas. I just didn’t want you to feel left out.”
Without hesitation, he cracked the orb open, and blue glitter showered over his black coat like an exploding galaxy.
Kenzie bit her lip and shrugged. “Oops.”
Sev’s smile was slow, lethal. “Little girl, you just bought yourself a very interesting evening.”
Kenzie’s breath hitched, cheeks flushing bright red, but she refused to look away.
Kip leaned into Trace, whispering, “Daddy, I think you should open yours in our room.”
Trace smiled. “Saving me the trouble of chasing you, huh?”
She nodded. “I probably wouldn’t run anyway.”
Fire lit his eyes, and with his red ornament in one hand, he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her up to their room.
