"Is it done?" Keelee looked behind Sky to the counter. Three round cakes sat partially iced on the marble. Nope, the cake didn't look done to her.

"Not quite. Thank goodness Amanda invited Kadey to movie time with Lizzy. I thought you were supposed to be there to help?" Sky walked back over to the counter.

Keelee followed her. "I was, but half of them are asleep, the other half are engrossed in the movie, so I told Amanda I was popping home for a few minutes to set up for the Christmas cookie decorations we're doing with them when they finish the movies. I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed and that you'll be there to help me control the chaos."

"I'm finishing up now. Kaeden can't go to the wedding, he has someone on assignment and needs to be close by in case they call in, so he volunteered to take the cakes, food, and alcohol over to the big house while we are at the ceremony."

"We'll stack the layers there?" Keelee swiped her finger through some of the royal icing remaining in the bowl. She licked the white confection off her finger. "Damn, that's good."

"Thanks. Here you can do me a favor and spin the cake as I pipe." Sky forced the icing down in the bag and started piping. "That's good, just that speed."

Keelee slowly turned the wheel, marveling at Sky's steady hand. "I think we may actually pull off this surprise." Keelee waited while Sky repositioned with a new frosting bag and a different tip.

"I'm doing a crisscross design on this layer and using the silver sugar balls at the intersecting lines." Sky motioned to the largest round cake. "That one is getting edged top and bottom and roses on the surface of the tier and then smaller amounts of flowers on the other two, topped with a traditional bride and groom piece. I hope it turns out."

"Have you done the flowers?" Keelee looked around the kitchen but didn't see anything.

Sky laughed and nodded. "Go look at the top shelf." She nodded toward the cupboard that normally held coffee cups. Keelee ambled over and opened the door. “Oh, they are beautiful." Red and white roses with green leaves sat drying on a sheet of parchment paper. "When did you do these?"

"Last night after Kadey and Lizzy went to sleep. The little sneak almost caught me, but thankfully Kaeden intercepted her before she could come into the kitchen. Remind me not to make a super-secret wedding cake again, will you?" Sky put down the piping bag and grabbed a small container. "Here, you can do this. See, take one ball and place it at the intersection where the frosting crisscrosses." She demonstrated on two before she handed the small plastic jar to Keelee.

Keelee washed her hands quickly before she shook out several silver beads into the palm of her hand and started working. "She's going to love this. I know you don't know her, but Jade is an awesome lady. She says whatever is on her mind and has no filter." Keelee laughed, "Her brothers are afraid of her."

Sky laughed and changed bags with other tips as she worked. "Sounds like an awesome lady. She's Jasmine's twin?"

"Yeah, but they aren't identical and personality wise, they are complete opposites, although both of them are, or were, personal security officers." Keelee finished pushing the last silver pearl into the icing and leaned back.

"That's a pretty tough career isn't it?" Sky stuck her tongue between her lips and frowned as she made a different edging on the top layer of cake.

"Yeah, not wilting flowers, those King ladies." Keelee swiped another finger full of frosting. "Speaking of non-wilted flowers, where is Lyric?"

Sky chuckled but kept her attention focused on the piping she was doing. "She found out this morning Isaac is coming back tomorrow. She's been cooking all day. Aunt Betty has been down at that little cottage with her. They were having a great time when I called earlier."

"Are you all done with the party food?" Keelee stretched and glanced around the pristine kitchen.

"We are. I'm using the kitchen in the dining facility as a holding space." Sky finished her edging and stood, stretching her back. "Done. Tomorrow when we get back to the ranch, I'll bring over the flowers and stack the cake there. I've already placed the support system so it won't fall. The columns in between the layers are surrounded with the flowers so I can raise each tier."

"It's beautiful. Thank you for doing this."

"Thank you for trusting me. I had fun, but I'll admit I'll be glad when this wedding is over."

Keelee laughed and slid down from her stool. "Girl, I think that is the understatement of the holiday season."

Frank watched the men laughing. Brothers, relations, or just family by choice, the men in this room were some of the best people he'd ever met. He was proud to call each one son. There were two missing. Dixon and Chief. He didn't figure either was happy about their location right about now. Those two men were meant to be here on the ranch. Obligations and assignments had kept them from coming home.

"So, where's the ball and chain?" Jacob grabbed Drake around the neck as he asked.

Drake pushed him off and then flipped him off. "Jillian is working. She had an idea she wanted to get down. She'll be here for dinner." Drake threw a glance at Frank. "She set the alarm, so she won't be late."

Frank raised his tumbler of holiday spirits at his boy. "So, when are you going to tell me what's going on?"

Frank's words stilled the entire room. Nervous glances, a cleared throat, and a mumbled dammit, confirmed his suspicions. At one point, to a person, everyone looked toward Nic. He studied Jade's boyfriend. "Tell me you did not get her pregnant."

Jacob slapped Zane and murmured, "That is exactly what I said. Of course, I got the stink-eye for saying it."

Nic's face flamed redder than a hot poker. He shook his head. "No sir, we're not pregnant. That is something that Jade is firm about. She loves her nieces and nephews, but..."

"She doesn't want to be a mom," Jared interjected. He sat on the couch. Christian's hand touched Jared's shoulder. Frank loaded that movement into his brain to unpack later.

Frank grunted and started rocking his chair. He leaned back and took a sip of the good stuff. "Didn't answer my question."

The men cast long glances at each other. Jason cleared his throat–again. "Sir, we were sworn to secrecy. If we say anything, it could ruin a surprise that everyone has worked pretty damn hard to make happen."

"But all of you know it." Frank watched as all the heads in the room went north and south.

Drake shook his head and glanced at the men in the room. "I'm not involved in whatever is going around. I've been too damn busy." He glanced at Frank after he spoke.

"Hmmm… never figured a wedding needed to be kept secret." He watched every face blank in surprise.

"How–" Nic sputtered as he pushed himself to the front of the couch.

Frank held up a hand. "Gabriel called and wanted to know if we had enough rooms for him and his family tonight. He's going to stand with you, right?" He looked at Nic. The man nodded his head.

Justin shifted. "Does Mom know?"

Frank shook his head. "I asked him to make sure Anna didn't tell Amanda."

Nic let out a lungful of air. "Thank you, sir."

"You’re welcome." He pushed his chair again, starting the glide. "So, I reckon tonight after dinner we need to have a bachelor party."

Jacob let out a whoop of laughter. "Damn straight. Doc, can we use the clinic?"

Jared groaned and folded into the couch. "Not the clinic. That was the worst fucking hangover of my entire life."

"Yeah, but only because you drank yourself into a coma of self-denial." Jason winked at Christian who blushed the color of a fire hydrant.

"The clinic is open. Stag night it is." Doc glanced at Frank. "You and Gabriel are coming, right?"

Frank shook his head. "Can't speak for him, but I'll pass. I have a bottle of liquor that is as old as dirt. Plan on having a drink with Gabriel and Anna. I'll send his boys over though." Frank had met Gabriel's twin boys several times, only they were no longer boys.

"They old enough to drink?" Justin furrowed his forehead. "They aren't, are they?"

Jacob shrugged. "Beats the fuck out of me. I've never met them."

Jason laughed. "Old enough to graduate from the Air Force Academy. They are heading to basic flight training in January."

"Excellent! Another set of twins that fly!" Jacob laughed and toasted Drake.

"See, genetic disposition." Drake retorted. "Proof positive twins are superior to everyone else."

Jason threw a peanut at Drake. "Hey, I fly, and I am not a twin."

"Yeah, well, genetic anomalies happen." Doc taunted and then ducked when Jason let loose with another peanut.

"Do not piss off the boss," Jason warned the room and waggled his eyebrows, which set everyone in the room into a fit of laughter.

Justin snorted and called out, "Believe me, I would never piss off Dani. I don't think you'd risk pissing Faith off either."

The room exploded in laughter again, and Frank absorbed it like a balm to his soul. He was so fucking rich, and money had absolutely nothing to do with the wealth that surrounded him.