She tilted her head and gazed up at him. “I thought you were going to answer that.”
“Ugh. Fine.” He retrieved it and glanced at the caller ID while Raven laughed at his pouting session. “What do you want, Xander?”
“Well, what did she say? Stop keeping us in suspense.”
“You’re assuming I asked.” He grinned at Raven and winked.
“What? Get on it, bro. The team is dying here.” Xander’s whine sounded like a toddler.
“I’ll tell y’all in a bit.” Liam hung up without waiting for a response.
“What was that all about?” Raven snuggled back in.
“They want to know if you’re moving into the extra house, permanently.”
Raven sat up. “Are you telling me you’re their messenger boy?”
“As if.” He huffed. “I’m their boss, thank you very much. But each and every member of Charlie Team wants you to stay. But not as much as I do.”
“Good answer.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “Let’s go tell them before they send out a search party.”
“Do we have to?” Raven backhanded his stomach. “Oof. Thanks a lot.”
“Come on.”
Giving up his one-on-one time with the woman he loved, they took the UTV to the gathering place in the middle of the compound. Chairs encircled a large fire pit, and picnic tables peppered the surrounding space.
They strode over to join the team.
“It’s about time you came down here.” Boone teasingly scowled.
“I heard you boys have something you want to ask me.” Raven played coy.
The little minx. Raven working through her fears and relaxing allowed him to see a whole other side to her.
Dax’s wide eyes bounced between him and Raven. “Hasn’t he…?”
It took everything in him not to laugh and spoil Raven’s fun.
“Um, yeah.” Baffled by the assumption that Liam hadn’t talked with her, Xander picked up where Boone and Dax had left off. “We’d like to invite you to live here and work at our office building. I mean, if you want to, that is.”
“Smooth, brother. Real smooth.” Liam rolled his eyes.
Raven tapped her finger on her lower lip. “I don’t know. You all are a handful.” She shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
“Hold on. Wait a doggone second.” Rafe folded his arms over his chest. “Liam already asked, didn’t he?”
Raven’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Yes. But it was fun watching all of you try to figure out how to broach the subject.”
Liam wrapped his arm around Raven’s shoulder. “For your information, I did ask, and she agreed to stay.” He leaned down and kissed her, sealing the deal in front of his teammates.
Whoops and catcalls filled the air.
Letting go of her was the last thing he wanted to do, but the team wanted to welcome her into the BlackKnight family.
Liam watched as the guys and Raven teased each other.
Right here. Right now. This was what he’d wanted all along. A partner in life that would fit in with his team—his friends—his brothers in arms. Raven was that woman.
