The New Year’s Eve party at Lily and Michael’s house is in full swing, and my arms are currently around my fiancée as we dance to a slow song that Lily insisted on.

Charlotte introduced me to the remaining family I hadn’t already met earlier on, and so far, I’m doing well remembering who is who. There are a lot of McKenzies, which doesn’t make it easy.

I spot my dad standing to one side of the room talking to Garrett. They’ve been friends for at least thirty years, and I think they look at each other as brothers more than anything else.

Garrett has always been there for my dad, and me. I don’t think either of us would have survived my mother’s death if it hadn’t been for Garrett.

I sigh into Charlotte’s neck and feel her pulling back to look at me. “Are you okay?”

Nodding, I lean in and kiss her lips. “I’m fine. Just thinking about my dad and Garrett.”

“Hmm, I’ve been thinking about him as well.” Charlotte dances me over to a corner, and I smirk, taking advantage of the mistletoe above us.

Breaking from the kiss, she gasps for breath, tugging me away. “I’m going to be dragging you upstairs to my old bedroom if we continue finding ourselves under the mistletoe.”

“That would work,” I tease.

She rolls her eyes, pulls me closer, and whispers, “I think we need to get your dad and Madison under the mistletoe.”

“What?” I shake my head. “No way…I mean it Charlotte,” I snap, and pull her into my arms. “I’m sorry. I know you hate seeing him alone, but he likes it that way. I do want him to be happy, but I don’t want to encourage anything with him and your cousin, okay? I can’t handle that.”

She sighs heavily. “I get it, and I’m the one who is sorry. I got carried away.” She reaches up and places a kiss on my cheek. “I won’t do or say anything else about Madison to him, okay?”

Smiling, I take her hand, and just as my lips touch her palm, I lose her to her brother, Michael. He grins while he takes her into the middle of the room.

“You’re probably not going to get her back for the rest of the evening,” Joshua, her younger brother drawls beside me. “Don’t worry though, we’re not cruel enough to keep you apart when the clock strikes midnight.”

“That’s a relief.”

“And, she can be a royal pain in the ass, so you might get her back before midnight.” He grins.

“Oh, you’ll get her back in five minutes, I’m guessing,” Alexander laughs, and turns to his date. “This is Gretchen.” He introduces us, but appears distracted as he glares over at his cousin, Rachel, who is currently introducing her date to her parents, Ramon and Noah. Perhaps there is truth in Charlotte’s theory about her cousins.

Joshua frowns at his cousin, but offers the shy Gretchen a smile. “Welcome to my family’s home,” he says. “I think as the son of the host, it’s my job to make sure you have a drink in your hand.” He slips his hand to her elbow and leads her away.

“I thought that was my job,” Alexander grumbles, but doesn’t seem too bothered, especially with the large sigh he lets out.

“Congratulations.” Alexander holds his hand to me, which I take.

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad she finally went after what she wanted more than her next breath,” his words trail off as he watches Rachel and her date.

The date puts his arm around his cousin’s waist and his hand lands on her hip.

My eyes snap to Alexander when I hear a low growl, so I quickly step in front of the man when he takes a step forward. He pulls up short.

“It’s none of my business, but I don’t think either of you want attention from your family right now.”

He sighs and shoves his hands through his already messy hair, and moans. “I think everyone probably knows by now, anyway.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

He looks at me and as Dylan, another cousin, comes up to talk to us, Alexander makes his excuses and goes after his date.

“Something I said.” Dylan grins. “I think I’m the easiest cousin to be around, right now.”

Our cousin, Jaxon, shoves Dylan out of the way. “I’m the only one who doesn’t have a love life, so I’d say that was me.”

“You have a girl Dylan?” his mother, Carla asks, linking her arm through his.

I smirk around the bottle of beer I’ve collected from the table behind me while I watch Dylan shoot Jaxon evil glances.

Jaxon snorts, laughing. “He doesn’t really have a girl,” he informs me. “I saw his mom behind him.” He grins and shakes his head. “No doubt he’ll get me back.” He shovels a large piece of cake into his mouth, and mumbles around the food, “You’ll get used to us, and then you’ll probably regret being a part of the family.”

“Ignore him,” Charlotte smacks him on the back of his head. “Don’t talk with your mouthful. Geez, are you still five.”

I laugh as he wanders off and Charlotte admits, “I’m sure he’d have said something inappropriate if his mouth hadn’t been stuffed.”

“Probably.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to my side. “Nothing, and no one, will ever scare me away from you.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “I thought you should know.”

“God, I shouldn’t hear that shit about my sister.” Joshua makes a gagging noise.

“Ignore my brothers…and cousins, they all regress to childhood when we’re at family parties.” She winks and turns to her brother. “Can we borrow your cuffs?”

Joshua’s smile disappears as the words die in his mouth. He narrows his eyes, opens his mouth to say something then closes it quickly before he turns and disappears in the crowd. Charlotte smirks. “I knew that would shut him up. We all tease him about his cuffs and what he’s used them for. He hasn’t told us so far…he will.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure. He’s FBI, right? He’ll be able to hold out longer than anyone in this room, I’d guess.”

“Hmm…that’s debatable.”

I raise a brow. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing, but I once caught him looking at his superior when I visited him at his office. She didn’t look much older than him, but even though he’s my brother, the look he sent in her direction was hot and steamy. It was weird. He laughed it off, but I know him.”

I roll my eyes and tug her into my arms. “It’s nearly midnight, and I want to be dancing with you when the New Year hits…So,” I kiss her sweet lips, “I suggest you stop seeing things that may or may not be happening around you, and concentrate on your fiancé.”

“Mmm,” her arms wrap tightly around my waist, as the blare from the TV at Times Square counts down, “I love you, Tanner Jackson, and I can’t wait to become your wife in fourteen days.”

Three…Two…

“I love you, Charlotte McKenzie.” My lips capture my fiancée’s as every one screams, Happy New Year.

The noise is drowned out by the blood rushing through my ears at my own eager response to the woman in my arms.

She means the world to me and in fourteen days, I’ll be running down the aisle to make her my wife.