“You can help by relaxing,” Kane interrupts, pressing a kiss to my neck. “Revolutionary concept for you, I know.”
“We adore you,” Chris says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “But you need to learn to sit still occasionally.”
“Sitting still is for people who don’t have anxiety and perfectionist tendencies,” I inform him. “I’m an event coordinator. We don’t do still.”
“Today you do.”
I’m about to argue more when I realize I actually like standing here in their arms, surrounded by them, listening to Christmas music and smelling the amazing food they’re cooking for our friends and family.
Fine. I can relax. For a few minutes. Maybe.
“Actually,” I say, my voice coming out softer than intended. “Since you’re all here and I have your attention… I want to tell you something.”
They all go still immediately, giving me their undivided attention. “I’m definitely, completely, stupidly, head-over-heels in love with all three of you.” The words tumble out in a rush. “Like, so much that I might actually cry right now thinking about it, which is embarrassing because I’m not a crier. I don’t know exactly when it happened, maybe gradually, maybe all at once like some kind of emotional ambush, but I’m so ridiculously in love with you that I get legitimately angry that we didn’t meet earlier so I could have had this amazing life sooner.”
Silence for about three seconds.
Then Chris tilts my face up and kisses me so thoroughly that my knees actually wobble and I have to grab his shirt to stay upright. When he breaks away, says, “I love you too. So much it actually scares me sometimes. Like, I didn’t know I was capable of feeling this much for another person until you showed up and turned my entire world upside down.”
“I’m completely gone for you,” Kane adds. “Never thought I’d find that all-consuming, can’t-live-without-you love. But then you crashed into our lives.”
Noel cups my face with both hands. “You’re my everything. My love. My soul. My oxygen. The person I didn’t even know I was searching for until you were standing right in front of me. I love you more than I have words for, and I’m really good with words.”
Now I’m crying, tears streaming down my face while I’m grinning like a complete idiot.
“Actually,” Kane interrupts, exchanging loaded glances with the other two that immediately make me suspicious. “Since we’re declaring our love and getting all emotional and sappy, we want to give you your Christmas gift.”
I brighten immediately, my tears forgotten. “Oh! Yes! I’m excited and extremely curious. Also slightly scared based on the way you’re all looking at each other like you’re planning something.”
“Close your eyes,” Kane instructs.
I narrow my eyes at them. “What did you do?”
“Just do it, baby girl. Trust us.”
I shut my eyes, mostly because the curiosity is killing me. Hands guide me—one Alpha on each side, one behind me steering gently. I hear doors opening, footsteps on different surfaces, and then there’s this shift in temperature and air quality.
“Are we in the garage?”
“No peeking,” Chris warns.
“I’m not! My eyes are closed! I’m just using basic deductive reasoning and common sense!”
“Too smart for your own good,” Kane mutters, but I hear the smile in his voice.
“It’s one of my most charming qualities.”
We stop moving, and I feel all three men positioning themselves around me.
“Okay,” Noel states, and his hands are on my shoulders, steadying me. “Open your eyes.”
I follow their instructions, and my mouth falls open.
Sitting in the garage, gleaming under the overhead lights like something from a car commercial, is a gorgeous red Jeep Wrangler. Not just any red, but a deep, rich, candy-apple red. Black wheels and trim that make the red pop even more. Tinted windows. And a huge red bow perched on the hood like something from a Christmas movie.
“Oh my God,” I breathe, my voice coming out embarrassingly squeaky. “What is that? Did you steal it? Are we about to be arrested?”
All three of them are grinning like they’ve just won the lottery.
