Epilogue

December

CUTTER Bryant stepped through the wrought iron door and into bedlam. Voices and laughter resounded just over the din of holiday music in the massive foyer of what could only be called a mansion. Polished travertine gleamed, blending perfectly with the rich cream plaster walls. The soft color highlighted the intricate crown molding that rimmed the ceiling and every doorway in sight. A festive garland wrapped the soaring columns and elaborate handrails up both sides of the double staircase in fresh pine, scenting the room. Twinkling white lights and big red bows added to the holiday cheer. An enormous chandelier illuminated every corner with a warm glow, centered above a Christmas tree that had to be twenty feet tall.

Holy shit. How much did a place like this cost?

You’re a long way from the double-wide . . .

Callie Mackenzie scurried up to him, wearing a stunning red dress, killer black heels, and a welcoming smile. “Hi, Cutter. Glad you could come to the party. Merry Christmas!”

He smoothed a palm down his well-worn jeans, feeling distinctly underdressed. “Merry Christmas to you, too, Mrs. Mackenzie. The sign on the door said to come in . . .”

“Totally. And please, call me Callie.” She paused to look around him. “Where’s your plus one?”

“She couldn’t make it,” he managed to say with a smile.

The truth still felt like a hot poker in his chest.

“Sorry to hear that, but I guess that just means more eggnog for the rest of us.” She winked. “Come join the party. The caterers set up the food in the dining room but we’re all hanging around the kitchen.”

“Thanks. This is for you.” He handed her a bottle of merlot. God, the woman probably had a cellar full of expensive vino. He knew shit about wine and hoped she’d find this more palatable than a cross between Boone’s Farm and Drano.

She took it, looking genuinely touched. “Thank you. You didn’t have to bring me anything. I just wanted your company.”

So Sean had said when he’d texted the invite. Cutter still couldn’t figure out exactly why they had asked him to join their party, but he followed Callie down their airy, window-lined hallway, past a formal living room with a baby grand, a stunning office with an imposing mahogany desk and towering bookshelves filled with hardbound tomes, then finally a formal dining room laden with food and another chandelier so dazzling it looked as if it belonged in the middle of a Neiman Marcus flagship store.

The voices grew louder. Over the murmur of conversation, Cutter picked out the teasing note of Logan Edgington telling his brother to go fuck himself. Hunter gave a hearty laugh. A moment later, he heard Lily Sutter’s polite, high-pitched thanks for a fresh bottle of water. Mitchell Thorpe told the girl she was welcome. He had a smile in his voice when he called her Sweet Pea.

They rounded the corner, and Cutter paused in the wide arch of the entry. Thank goodness the kitchen was massive. There had to be thirty people in here, drinks in hand. Happiness brimmed. Cutter spotted Jolie, who stood beside Heath, holding his hand. Karis relayed something that made them all smile.

“Drink?” Callie asked, playing the good hostess.

“I’ll take a beer, if you’ve got one.”

She pranced past a wall of tall white cabinets, to a floor-to-ceiling Sub-Zero refrigerator, and pulled open the door. “Stella, Blue Moon, Heineken, Shiner Bock, Coors, Bud, Miller Lite, Corona . . .”

“Whatever’s easiest to grab. I’m not picky.”

When she turned back, she popped off the cap and planted an ice-cold Stella in his hand. “Glass?”

He shook his head. “I’m good. Thanks.”

“No, thank you. You helped Heath keep safe the woman who’s like a sister to me, so if I can do anything to make you happy or comfortable, just let me know.”

Was she really lauding him for getting whacked unconscious in the bathroom at Betti? “I was just doing my job. I wish I’d done it better.”

“Without you, Jolie and Karis might not be here today. You’re brave. The Edgington brothers say you can be damn funny. And my husband thinks the world of you. That makes you as good as family in my book.” Callie hugged him.

Slowly, he embraced the woman. Two minutes ago he’d been feeling deeply out of place. With a few words, she’d made him one of the gang. Usually he preferred to be alone. Now, he liked the crowd, was warming to the sense of belonging.

“You’re very gracious. The Edgington brothers are not only bosses but friends. And I owe your husband a debt of gratitude for giving me a chance.”

She smiled. “Mingle. Eat, drink, and be merry. If you, um . . . ever want to talk about what happened with your ‘plus one,’ I’m a willing ear. I might even know a thing or two about complicated relationships.”

Bless her, but Cutter couldn’t think of anything he wanted to talk about less than the clusterfuck of his love life.

Before he could form a gentle excuse, Mitchell Thorpe sidled up and planted a kiss on his submissive’s temple, then reached out to shake his hand. “Cutter, good to see you.”

“You, too. Thanks for the invite, man.”

“Our pleasure. Let me introduce you to anyone you haven’t met.”

That would take a while. He didn’t know most of the room.

Beer in hand, Thorpe led him over to a stunning redhead.

“Hi. I’m Morgan Cole.” Her blue eyes sparkled as she looked across the room on tiptoes. “I belong to the big, bad Cajun, Jack.”

Cutter had met the man once or twice and agreed with his wife’s assessment. “And you live in Lafayette?”

“Yeah. I think you’re only a couple of miles from us.” She gave him a big smile. “Hey, if you like kids, I’m always looking for a qualified babysitter. Our son, Brice, is an adorable terror who will grow up to be just like his father. And our daughter—”

“Lacey is a lovely baby with her mama’s hair,” Thorpe cut in.

“And her daddy’s temper.” Morgan laughed. “But she’s precious.”

“Absolutely.” Thorpe gave her a fond grin.

Cutter had never pictured the dungeon owner as the type who liked kids, but he guessed that having a son could have changed the man’s outlook.

“I’m afraid I know more about handguns than kids, ma’am,” he told Morgan.

“Oh, god. Ma’am is my mother. I’m not old enough for that. Call me Morgan or I’ll have my husband call you something hideous in French. But it will sound beautiful. Don’t worry.”

Cutter couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe coming here really had been a good idea. Beat the shit out of being alone and wishing he hadn’t fucked everything up.

Just then, Jack Cole sidled up and shook his hand. “Hey there. Good to see you.”

“You, too.”

“How did a smart man like you end up working for my dumbass competitors?” Jack teased.

Cutter had to smile. “They were smart enough to hire me first.”

Everyone laughed.

“Touché,” Jack shot back. “If you ever change your mind—”

“We’ve got him under contract, asshole,” Hunter Edgington butted in, holding his wife’s hand. “You’re a day late and a dollar short.”

“I’m sure you’re doing just fine without me,” Cutter drawled to Jack.

“Well, there seems to be enough business to go around.”

“And then some. Not sure if that’s a good thing . . .” Hunter shook his head, then turned to Cutter. “I don’t think you’ve officially met my other half. Kata, this is Cutter Bryant.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Nice to finally meet you,” the gorgeous Latina with curves for days said.

“You, too.”

“Hey, we’re having a New Year’s party at our house, and you’re officially invited.”

“Are you going to suggest I babysit, too?” he poked at Morgan.

“Hell no. Despite being a baby, I can already tell that our son, Phoenix, is going to be a man’s man. Between his father and his uncles, he doesn’t need more male influence. Besides, I’m going to do what Callie did for this party and hire a couple of babysitters. It’s great having the kids upstairs so we can pop up and check on them while enjoying the evening.”

Cutter figured spending New Year’s with this crowd would suck way less than spending it alone with his regrets. Besides, this bunch made him smile for the first time in weeks. “I’d love to.”

“Great. I’ll have Hunter give you the details.” Kata turned to Jack. “And you’re bringing that awesome gumbo, right? Please . . .”

“Happy to.” Jack nodded her way. “Morgan’s brother Brandon, his wife Emberlin, and their beautiful bundle of joy who is probably being born right about”—he glanced at his watch—“now will be visiting from Houston, so they’ll probably be with us. Is that all right?”

“The more the merrier!” Kata assured.

“Cutter!” A hand slapped his back, and he turned to see Hunter’s brother, Logan.

“Hey.” A new smile stretched across Cutter’s face.

“You doing all right?” The man looked concerned.

Tonight, Cutter wanted to forget everything weighing him down. Resisting the urge to rub at his neck, he nodded Logan’s way. Why the fuck had he gotten drunk last week and spilled his shit? “Fine.”

“You’re a terrible liar,” Logan said just loud enough for Cutter to hear. “See that pretty redhead over there?” He motioned to a petite beauty with eyes only for her husband. “I pined for that one for an eternity before I got smart enough to marry her. Maybe you should do the same.”

It would be a cold day in hell.

Logan’s wife joined them. “Hi. You must be Cutter. Tara Edgington.”

“Happy to meet you.” He bit back the urge to call her ma’am. He doubted she would like it any better than Morgan, but it was hard to cast off his Texas upbringing.

“Did you check on the twins?” Logan asked his wife.

“Mandy is asleep. Macy, predictably, is causing trouble.” She shook her head ruefully. “She’s trying to keep up with Luc and Alyssa’s little one.”

“Those two are going to be running buddies, aren’t they?” Logan shook his head as if that possibility was something to fear.

A drop-dead gorgeous blonde in wicked heels and a dress designed for seduction strolled up with a grin. “I’ll just apologize now. Chloe was born a troublemaker, and it’s bound to rub off.”

“I blame you,” teased a man with inky hair and laughing dark eyes who wrapped his arm around the blonde.

Cutter frowned. The guy looked familiar, but he couldn’t place the man.

Thorpe jumped in. “Do you know Luc and Alyssa Traverson?”

“I don’t believe I do.” Cutter held out his hand at Luc. “But I recognize you. You’re a famous chef, right?”

“TV strikes again.” He laughed. “Do you cook?”

A smile cracked Cutter’s face. “Not a lick.”

Luc laughed. “You work for Hunter and Logan, right?”

“I do.” Cutter sipped his beer.

“Poor bastard,” Alyssa jumped in with an affectionate grin. “And don’t feel bad about your lack of culinary expertise. Compared to Luc, I can barely boil water. But it’s all right; he likes to feed everyone. In fact, he made some of the desserts for tonight.”

“Everything I’ve seen you cook on TV is amazing, so I’ll look forward to that.”

“I know Callie is.” Thorpe grinned and turned him back toward the rest of the revelry. “That woman loves her sweets.”

“I’m looking forward to something else sweet, sugar,” Cutter heard Luc mutter softly to his wife.

A glance over his shoulder revealed Alyssa stepping up to kiss her husband with a passion he envied.

“You’ve met Kimber?” Thorpe asked as he plucked up a plump shrimp and dipped it in the cocktail sauce.

Cutter followed suit and nodded at his bosses’ younger sister. “A few times, yes. How are you?”

“Great. Good to see you again.” The lanky knockout with auburn hair smiled. As imposing as her brothers could be, Kimber was all easy-breezy welcome.

The same couldn’t be said about her husband.

“Deke.” The man held out his hand but his stare warned Cutter not to visually linger on his wife.

“Don’t be such a caveman.” Kimber rolled her eyes. “He’s not going to jump on me in the next two seconds.”

“He might, kitten.” Deke shrugged. “I want to.”

“You always want to.” She shook her head with a smirk.

Deke winked. “Damn straight.

She tried not to show that his possessiveness amused her. “The kids okay upstairs?”

“Cal, Seth, and Chase are all in the same room. I’m thinking we’ll be lucky if the house is still standing by the end of the night.” Deke winced.

“You think it’s bad now? Wait until puberty.” Kimber pointed out. “How’s Sierra?”

The smile that scrawled across Deke’s face was almost a little love-drunk. “Our girl is pretty as usual. She was getting sleepy and probably wanting kisses from mommy.”

“On it,” Kimber vowed. “Nice to see you, Cutter.” She waved as she turned to leave the kitchen.

Sean Mackenzie passed her as he sauntered into the room and made a beeline for Thorpe. “The sitters are putting all the infants to bed. Callie and I just tucked Ash into his crib, if you want to give him a goodnight kiss.”

“Wouldn’t miss the opportunity to tuck our little man into bed. Would you finish introducing Cutter to everyone?” Thorpe filled Sean in on the folks he’d already met. “Back soon.”

After the dungeon owner hustled out of the kitchen, Sean led Cutter over to a pair of urbane Hispanic guys who looked so much alike, they had to be brothers. Between them stood a luscious blonde beauty. They both held one of her hands and hovered protectively.

“How can you possibly think the Saints are going to be in the Super Bowl this year?” The elder brother chided a big blond hulk of a man with a brawny arm wrapped around a pretty brunette.

“Because they’re better than the fucking Rams.” The beefy guy scoffed back.

“And I think the Cowboys will beat them all,” Sean cut in.

“In your dreams.” The younger suave-suited brother rolled his eyes.

The women just looked at one another, obviously determined to get off the sports talk and onto something more interesting.

“You told me parenting wasn’t easy. I thought it would be so much simpler with three of us.” The blonde shook her head ruefully.

“Ha! I’ll see your infant girl and raise you three rambunctious boys under the age of four.” The brunette anchored a hand on her hip and grinned back. “Seth was already a handful. Chase upped the chaos times twenty. But when Blake was born a few months back? I gave up on anything that looked like peace and quiet forever. If I get twenty minutes a week in my spa tub, I call that a win.”

The attractive blonde winced. “Never mind coffee next week. How about a drink?”

Their men all erupted with laughter.

“This is Cutter Bryant,” Sean said to the group, then turned to him. “Meet the Santiagos. Javier and Xander own a defense contracting company. This is their lovely wife, London.”

“Great to put a face with a name.” Cutter eagerly shook their hands. “You lent Hunter and Logan your plane so they could reach Jolie in time to save her. I can’t thank you enough. If it hadn’t been for you guys . . .”

Sean smiled. “They’ve lent more than one of us lovesick saps their jet so we can bring back our woman in one piece. If not for them, I don’t know if I’d have found Callie again. And I’d be a lost man.”

His wife joined him then and pressed a kiss to his lips before bumping shoulders with the elder Santiago brother. “We’re all grateful, guys. But at the time Sean and Thorpe hunted me down, I was cursing your names.”

“Just repaying you for all the times you stuck your tongue out at everyone, brat,” Xander teased.

She repeated the gesture with a sassy smile.

They laughed, then Sean added, “The sitters are settling Dulce into her playpen if you want to join them.”

“Thanks,” London murmured. “Cutter, if you’re willing to talk about anything but football, I hope we can chat again after I tuck my daughter in.”

“We’ll come, too, belleza.” Xander followed with a hand at the small of her back.

“Merry Christmas.” Javier nodded his way.

“Same to you.” Cutter watched them leave, both men touching their curvaceous wife again. He marveled at them, just as he did Callie, Sean, and Thorpe. Making love work with two people was hard enough. He couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to get three people on the same page.

Sean directed Cutter to the other couple nearby. “Tyler and Delaney Murphy. If you’re looking for trouble, he’s the guy you want.”

“Did Luc tell you to say that?” The blond hulk narrowed his eyes.

“No.” Sean’s face danced with mirth. “Lys did.”

That made Delaney laugh. “Guess she hasn’t forgiven you for all your ‘cockzilla’ antics.”

Cutter, who had just taken another sip of his designer beer, nearly spit it out. “Cockzilla?”

Tyler actually looked a little uncomfortable. “I might have, um . . . gotten around a little before Del and I married.” He wrapped his arm around his wife and brought her close. “Lucky for me, all it takes is the love of an amazing woman to change everything.”

Cutter had once thought the same thing. But it hadn’t worked that way for him.

Delaney looked almost smug. “I’d say you’re damn lucky.”

Tyler kissed her soundly. “You got that right.”

When he dove into his wife’s kiss for seconds, Sean elbowed them. “Hey, no conceiving baby number four on my kitchen floor.”

They broke apart, and Delaney blushed. “On that note, I’ll go kiss Blake.”

“I’ll try to calm Seth and Chase down,” Tyler offered. “Stop them from huffing and puffing and blowing the house down.”

“What are you going to sing them tonight, daddy?” She shot her husband a fond smile.

“I’m taking requests . . .”

As they left the room, Sean directed Cutter to a familiar foursome. He shook Joaquin Muñoz’s hand. The former NSA agent was on the quiet side, but more than fair and damn fine to work for. His ballerina bride, Bailey, flashed her blue eyes and a welcoming expression.

“Good to see you.” Cutter nodded their way.

“You, too, man. Nice to get in a few words out of the office.” Joaquin clapped him on the shoulder.

“Cutter,” the eldest Edgington greeted.

He turned to Caleb with a respectful nod. “Colonel. How are you and your lovely wife?”

“Carlotta and I just came back from a South Pacific cruise. I’m liking this retirement gig.”

“We had a lovely time,” Joaquin’s mother added. “I have never seen water so blue. It was the honeymoon we could not have when Caleb was working.”

“That sounds fantastic.” Cutter would love to see the world with someone he adored someday but . . . Yeah, not going to happen, and he was sounding like a weeping pansy, lamenting his loneliness, blah, blah, blah.

She’s gone. Move on, dumbass.

“You enjoying working for our sons?” Caleb gave him a lopsided grin, clearly knowing he asked a loaded question.

Cutter glanced at Joaquin, then turned back to the colonel. “I am.”

Caleb barked out a laugh. “Good P.C. answer. How about the truth?”

“If I had to guess . . .” Joaquin drawled. “None of us are you, and he’d really been looking forward to learning from your experience. Is that about right?”

Cutter had to laugh. “Yep. No offense.”

“None taken,” Joaquin assured.

Sean led Cutter away. With relief, he glanced at the cluster of familiar faces sitting at the breakfast nook table. “I think I’ve got it from here. That’s a lot of people to meet in one night. My introverted soul might have to crawl in a corner for a decade before I recover.”

Sean laughed. “The shy thing won’t last long in this crowd. And that’s not even everyone we invited. Gia and Jason Denning are at a holiday party with her family across town tonight. Decker McConnell called for a rain check since his wife, Rachel, has the flu. Jesse McCall took his bride, Bristol, with him on his farewell tour. I think they’re in Mexico City tonight. Tough gig, huh?”

Now he was impressed. “Wow, McCall is a mega star.”

“He’s also Kimber’s former fiancé. Deke wouldn’t mind if someone tied a boulder around the guy’s neck and dropped him in the ocean, but everyone else says the singer has changed and his new wife is a doll.” Sean shrugged. “If there’s one thing we all believe in, it’s second chances.”

Meaning no one was going to hold against him the fact that he’d gotten his skull bashed in while peeing. But Cutter was all too aware that in their business, mistakes cost lives. If he had a do-over on that day, he’d gladly take it. But talking about that debacle was pointless, so he nodded.

“All right, then. I’ll leave you to it.” Sean gave him a nod.

“Thanks for the introductions. I’ll meander to the corner. I know all the folks over there.” He pointed to Jolie, Heath, and the folks clustered around the table.

“Need a fresh beer?”

Plenty left in this bottle, and he’d driven himself tonight. Cutter shook his head. “One is my limit.”

“Let us know if you need anything else. And welcome, man.”

“Thanks.” Cutter couldn’t help but feel as if Sean had welcomed him not just to the party, but to their close-knit cluster of friends. And weirdly, despite all the committed relationships and the love hanging heavy in the air, he didn’t feel out of place.

With another sip of brew, he headed for Jolie and Heath. They both leapt up from their seats to give him a warm welcome. They’d replaced their hastily purchased wedding bands with something more substantial. Diamonds winked from Jolie’s left hand. Ribbed titanium banded Heath’s finger. They looked incredibly happy.

“I was hoping we’d see you tonight.” She hugged him.

Stone Sutter pulled up a chair for him. Heath all but shoved him into it.

Karis gave him a soft smile. He wished now there could have been some spark between them. She would never have ripped him in two. But they’d talked about their lack of chemistry after Jolie and Heath’s rescue. Neither felt a vibe other than friendship.

“Hey,” she called softly.

“How’s my favorite brown-eyed girl today?” he asked softly. “And where’s Arthur?”

She shook her head. “It wasn’t going to last. He was a whim. I wanted to like him more than I actually did. He left Betti, took a job in Denver. How about you? I heard you’re engaged now.”

“Yeah.” Other than the clipped word, Cutter kept his face carefully blank. He didn’t want anyone knowing that the last few weeks had utterly gutted him. They had enough on their plates, and talking changed nothing. “Brea and I are planning a January wedding.”

“Where is she?”

“With her family.” He didn’t want to say more. Karis already looked suspicious enough, studying him with big eyes.

“You’re hurting. I’m sorry.”

He wished to hell she’d stop being so perceptive. “I’ll be fine. Hey, Brea is going skiing for the holidays with her parents. Maybe . . . Would you come to Hunter and Kata Edgington’s New Year’s party with me?”

“Neither of us would have to spend the holiday alone. Score,” she tried to joke.

But her expression looked nearly as sad as he felt. She wanted someone, wanted to be in love. At twenty-three, she had plenty of time to find someone for her heart to call home. He just hoped that when Karis found that someone, he didn’t rip the beating organ from her chest with a few awful words.

Cutter stopped his march down Maudlin Lane. “I’d appreciate it.”

She reached for his hand and squeezed. “That’s what friends are for.”

They fell silent, and he homed in on the conversation the rest of the women around the table were whispering.

“Exactly!” Mystery Dillon leaned against her big brick of a husband, Axel. They’d gotten hitched in a posh ceremony six weeks ago. “I get up some mornings and I feel great. Others . . . it’s like I can barely roll out of bed before the nausea hits.”

Lily Sutter wrinkled her nose. “Right? And when that nausea lasts all day?”

Both women groaned.

“It gets better after the first trimester, right?” Mystery put in. “Please tell me it does.”

Stone placed a bracing hand on his wife’s shoulder before Lily nodded. “It did for me the first time. I’m hoping that holds true again. One thing I am realizing?” She yawned, then laughed. “I was a lot less tired all the time when I did this pregnancy thing as a teenager. This baby is sucking out all my vitamins.” She cradled her still-flat belly. “I feel like a twenty-three-year-old grandma. I go to bed at eight thirty now.”

Everyone laughed.

Nice to see the ladies, formerly rivals for Axel’s affection, bonding like fast friends over their coming babies.

“I feel the same. Twenty-five going on seventy-five,” Mystery swore. “Some days are just wretched, and yet I’m so excited to experience everything about this pregnancy, even having my stomach announce my arrival before I actually make it into a room. What’s your due date?”

“August sixth. You?”

Mystery laughed. “August fourth. Looks like we’ll be doing this together.”

Lily reached for her hand. “Thank goodness.”

Stone and Axel exchanged a glance that silently asked when their brides had become best buddies. But neither objected. They just shrugged and clinked beer bottles.

“Well . . .” Jolie put in. “I won’t be living vicariously through you two.”

Cutter whipped his stare around to the incredibly busy owner of Betti.

“You’re pregnant?” Karis asked, clearly holding her breath.

“We found out this morning,” Heath supplied, giving his wife’s shoulder a squeeze.

Karis squealed and jumped out of her chair. Jolie rose, and the sisters met halfway for a heartfelt hug.

It was nice to know that good things still happened to good people. Cutter stuck out his hand to Heath. “Congrats, man.”

“Thanks. We’re beyond thrilled.”

Jolie nodded. “It’s the best week ever. Before the baby news, the TV promos of Shealyn West in my spring collection started airing.”

Cutter’s heart clutched but he kept his expression flat.

“Orders are already exploding. The press lauded the line. I simply had to hire a permanent head of security.” Jolie’s megawatt smile said that all her dreams were coming true. Then she glanced up at her husband as if he was her most treasured blessing.

“You made certain I couldn’t say no to that position—or any other—love,” Heath ribbed.

She blushed.

“That’s great,” Cutter told them. “Congratulations.”

“It helps that Shealyn West looks good in everything.”

She looks even better in absolutely nothing.

Cutter swallowed back the thought and gave Jolie a vague smile. “I’m really happy for you. For all of you.” He finished off the last of his beer and set it on the counter. “But I have to head back to Lafayette tonight, so I’m going to hit the road.”

Karis grabbed his arm. “If you leave, I’m the only other sad sack single in the place. Please . . .”

“You’re going to be fine, little gypsy.” He kissed her forehead.

Before he could make his getaway, the conversations fell to whispers, then died to a sudden hush. Cutter turned to the opening of the kitchen. His fingers curled into fists.

Who the fuck had invited One-Mile?

The guy clambered in wearing combat boots and a sneer. As usual, those dead dark eyes gave away nothing as he scanned the crowd. Their eyes met. Cutter felt the blast of hate from across the kitchen.

“Whoa,” Stone said under his breath.

As if sensing the rising tension, Logan’s wife grabbed Callie by the hand. Together, the two of them led the sniper to the far side of the room.

All the more reason to leave. If Cutter stayed, he’d want to avenge Brea. After all, he was going to marry her, and he didn’t think for an instant that Callie would forgive him for committing murder on her kitchen floor.

“I’ll catch you all later.” He nodded at everyone, then snagged Sean’s attention. “Thanks for everything. I had a great time.”

“Can you stay for three more minutes? Callie hosted this party for a reason.”

Cutter sighed. The woman had been nothing but gracious. Nearly everyone in this room had been. He could shelve his animosity for a bit. “Sure.”

As if sensing the sudden undercurrent in the room could get ugly fast, Callie rose and clinked a fork against her glass of champagne. Sean headed for his wife and flanked her left. Thorpe had already taken up residence at her right. Everyone gave her their attention, even Pierce the pus-bleeding asswipe.

“Thorpe, Sean, and I are so happy everyone could come for this holiday celebration with us. Some of you are actually family, but as you know, I was unfortunate enough to lose mine years ago. Same with Sean and Thorpe. We’ve made our own little family together. Most of you have married and done the same.” She laughed. “The sheer number of babies between all of us is crazy.”

“Twelve.” Thorpe shook his head. “With two more on the way. We need to figure out what’s causing that.”

“And do it again.” Sean winked.

Everyone laughed.

“Make that three more on the way,” Heath cut in, smoothing a hand down Jolie’s belly.

Well wishes resounded around the room before everyone turned back to Callie again.

“Clearly, we’re pretty good at expanding our family,” she teased, then sobered. “That’s what tonight is about. We’re not conventional and never have been. But we have big hearts, loyalty a mile wide, and love to spare. We’ve helped one another, shared joy, tears, good times and bad. Besides significant others, we’ve found our ‘people’ in this group. We’ve learned how to become each other’s brothers, sisters, cousins, neighbors, best friends, confidantes . . . We’ve become a big, wonderful extended family. I couldn’t think of better people to make my way through life with.” She teared up. “And now I’m going to cry. Just know that you’re the family we’ve chosen. We love you as if you shared our blood. We wish you the very merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years.”

“Hear, hear!” Everyone raised their glasses and toasted the Mackenzie-Thorpe trio before hugs began all around.

Cutter found himself wrapped up in a soft, feminine hug or the recipient of a hearty slap on the back. The joy was contagious. He found himself smiling, sharing a moment, even opening a little of his shell.

Until he spied Pierce Walker across the room.

Heath grabbed his arm. “Let it go.”

Never. “Sure. Great to see you, man. Let’s get together soon.”

The Brit nodded but he clearly wasn’t fooled. “You have my number.”

If he wanted to talk? Nope. This was probably one situation that would only be solved with violence.

But Cutter kept that to himself. He shook Heath’s hand, hugged Jolie and Karis, brushed a kiss across Callie’s cheek, then headed for the door.

The sound of loud boots clomped behind him. “Hey, fucker! You’re not marrying Brea.”

Cutter ignored One-Mile’s spew of crap and slammed the door between them. Not for a second did he think this was over. But for the night he was determined to ignore the asshole and focus on the holiday spirit, along with the new, extended family he’d surprisingly been adopted into. He had a feeling all their experience, positive vibes, and love would help him through this trial—and anything else that gave him hell.

With that bit of unexpected reassurance, he climbed in his car and drove into the night . . .