Gunner closed the small distance between us and softly brushed his lips against mine before pulling back.
“I’ll warn you next time.”
I grinned at him. “Appreciate it, Rambo.”
There was a choking sound, and I looked at Jude, who was standing in front of the couch, staring at us. “You’re the man,” he said to Gunner, looking like he’d just met the president. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever been able to talk her down when she gets herself into a snit.”
“I don’t get into snits,” I complained, flipping my brother off.
“You always get into snits,” Gabriel chimed in as he walked into the living room, his words muffled since he was holding a towel to his nose and looking slightly up.
“Whatever,” I huffed.
Gunner gave me a squeeze. I ignored my brothers and instead focused on the man sitting next to me.
“I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he said, kissing my head.
Since that was a more than acceptable apology, I settled back into his side.
“You might need to slow down with the wooing, big man,” Jude said, choking back his laughter. “Fey is about to pass out. She’s not used to her cold black heart beating.”
At least his ribbing brought my voice back.
“Shut up,” I said, then tilted my head back. Gunner didn’t hesitate before leaning down, capturing my lips with his. I loved that he didn’t care that my brothers were only a few feet away.
“Can you take this somewhere else?” Gabriel asked around a mouthful of chips, spraying crumbs all over his lap. “Some of us are trying to watch the game without throwing up.”
“Rain check on dessert an option?” Gunner asked into the room.
“In this case, definitely,” Liam said, his eyes on his phone. “We’ll make up a good excuse for Mom. But please, leave.”
I rolled my eyes at my brothers and got up. I’d found the one person who was all too happy to not only put up with my family but also seemed to like me for who I was. I could be myself with Gunner.
I was pretty sure I wasn’t just in like anymore. I was in love.
Epilogue
Six months later
Gunner
“You did it,” Freya squealed and launched herself at Quinn, who held her in a fierce hug while jumping up and down. Soon they were a mess of limbs, and I stepped out of the way or risked getting trampled.
The past six months had been like living in a dream. One I never wanted to wake up from. Because Freya was everything. My best friend. My other half. My perfect match. Now she was officially also my roommate. And soon I hoped she’d be more.
“Drink?”
My attention snapped from my girl to the last person I thought I’d see at a restaurant opening. “Giving up your life of crime and training to be a waiter?”
Liam ignored my jab, and I took the offered beer with a grin. The man who I thought to be an uptight bastard ever since meeting him had turned into an ally. It came in handy to have connections to the heir to one of Chicago’s most influential enterprises. Emphasis on enterprise, since calling it anything else would find you at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
Liam sipped his beer, his attention on Quinn and Freya, who were now talking, their hands waving and their bodies swaying with each laugh. “You ask her yet?”
“I haven’t found the right moment.”
He scoffed. “You’ve had the ring for forty-six days. Don’t tell me there hasn’t been a single moment that was perfect.”
Of course the bastard wouldn’t forget the day he gave me a black eye in response to me telling him I was marrying his sister. Letting them know before I asked her was out of respect, not obligation or to seek permission. “There hasn’t.”
