AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That seems to bring them back to reality.
“Come on, pansy-ass, let’s go see if Leonard’s hungry.” Jude hooks his arm around Garrett’s neck, and they head off toward the courtyard.
I shake my head. “Boys.”
Barrow shrugs. “That’s how they are. Fighting one minute, best friends the next.”
“Well, it doesn’t help that they’re all trained to do damage.”
“That’s what makes parenting fun.” Barrow pulls me into his arms and sinks onto the big couch in the living room. “Settle in, beautiful.”
“I should go wrap presents,” I whisper. “Now, while the kids are busy.”
“You aren’t going anywhere.” He arranges me at the end of the couch by the fire.
His manhandling ways still make me hot.
“You’re giving me that look.” He smiles and sits at my feet, then draws them into his lap.
“What look?” I moan as he starts rubbing my arches.
“This was supposed to be a PG foot rub, but if you keep making those sounds …” He trails off and licks his lips.
“I can’t help it.” I lean back and just enjoy. I enjoy Barrow, the tree, our kids, and the friends that are all around us, making this lodge a home.
“Vivian really is a badass.” Barrow says thoughtfully as the fire crackles behind me.
“She’s going to break hearts.” I nod. “And bones.”
“I just hope none of them are Garrett’s.” He sighs.
I doze off with him rubbing my feet, the scent of Aurora’s famous cake in the oven, and the sounds of children all through the house. This lodge is magical, always has been.
EPILOGUE 4
DAPHNE
Christmas 20 Years Later
“Istill can’t believe we got stranded in the snow and rescued by mountain men. I mean, what were we living in, a Hallmark movie?” Aurora tucks a lock of hair behind her ear as she stirs her icing.
“Well, we thought they were mountain men. Turns out they were actually … Well, you know.” Bells draws her thumb across her throat dramatically.
“Trained killers.” Clover nods.
“With delicious bodies and filthy minds,” Aurora sighs.
“And a mafia god who I’mstillobsessed with.” I rest my chin on my hands.
“How’s the website going?” Aurora taste her icing, then adds more powdered sugar.
“Great.” I shrug. “I have a team of six reporters who dig into everything from crime to child beauty pageants to hair smuggling.”
“Hair smuggling?” Bells frowns.
“Yeah, people pay big money for real hair weaves. There’s this whole black market where women are more or less forced to sell their hair. It’s a big issue in a lot of developing countries, actually.”
“Wow. Mind blown.” Aurora makes an explosion sound.
