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“Oh no, is it a gift? I don’t have anything for you.”
Gunner walked back over to where his laptop was and pulled an envelope out of his bag.
“What is this?” she asked, pulling out a letter with a credit card attached.
“What does it look like? It’s a credit card. Actually, it’s a debit card, but it can be used either way. I added you to my account.”
Zary hadn’t talked to him about it, but Striker had told him that United Russia had managed to empty her bank accounts when they knew her intention was to defect. She had money, but it wouldn’t last forever, and he didn’t want her to be worried about it.
“Gunner, I—”
He closed her hand around the card, leaned forward, and kissed her again. “Don’t argue, Rocket Girl. What’s mine is yours.”
“But…”
“Go ahead. Say whatever it is.”
“Thank you.”
“Hmm. I know there’s something else you were going to say, but I’ll accept your thanks. You’re welcome.”
Gunner went upstairs after he knew Zary and his sister were gone.
“Hello, handsome,” said his mother when he walked into the kitchen.
He smiled. “You’re in a good mood.” She wasn’t always, not since his father died.
“You’re spending Christmas with me, and I have a grandbaby on the way.”
“About Christmas…”
His mother put her hands on her hips.
“I was just thinking it might be better if we celebrated here rather than on the island.”
“I have to admit when you told me your plan, I thought it was awfully ambitious.”
“That means people would be coming here. We can keep it simple, though.”
“It won’t be any different than when your father used to invite half his unit over. In fact, your group is smaller.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel. “This means we’ll have to get busy. When will your sister and Zary be back?”
“I don’t know, and why do we have to get busy? I just said we can keep it simple.”
“Gunner,” his mother laughed. “We aren’t having a houseful of people over for Christmas and not decorate.”
Gunner looked around the main floor of the house. It looked plenty decorated to him. “What else is there to do?”
“You run up and bring the rest of the Christmas boxes down from the attic. We can finish everything but the tree. I think Zary might enjoy going with us to pick one out, don’t you?”
Gunner shook his head and started for the stairs. It was no use arguing with her about it. If he didn’t help, she’d do it on her own.
“Wait. Before you go, tell me who all is coming.”
“Same group as Thanksgiving, although I haven’t heard whether Striker or Mantis will be able to make it.”
“With Svetlana staying here, that leaves five bedrooms. Let’s have Razor, Ava, and Sally stay here in the main house. Plus Aine and Peggy. Oh, and Saylor, and the girls. We’ll put Savannah and Sierra in the den. I’m assuming Monk will be coming too.”
“They have rooms already at the Annapolis Inn.”
