“Did you have a good day?” he asked.
“I did,” she told him honestly. “I got all my Christmas shopping done, and I had my official coming-out.”
He looked confused until she explained it to him. “If the people of Sumneyville didn’t know which team I was on before, they do now. What did you do today?”
His eyes lit up. “Come here. I want to show you something.”
He tugged her over to his makeshift desk and pointed at the screen. “Remember when you were talking about creating an interactive story? Well, I did some research, and as it turns out, there’s already AI out there capable of doing that. Most of it applies to gaming, but with some custom programming, there’s no reason we can’t use it for a book, too. I mean, that’d be more work for you as the author because you’d have to create multiple outcomes based on conditional behavior, but—”
Bree cut him off by wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly.
“What was that for?” he asked, the pleased look of surprise changing to concern when moisture began to well up in her eyes.
“You listened. When I told you about my idea, you actually listened.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Of course I listened. It’s important to you. And I’ve been thinking. If you really think you’d rather stay in the main building than here with me, then that’s what you should do. As long as you stay.”
“You know what? I think I’m going to give you one of your Christmas presents early.”
Epilogue
“Make it stop.”
A deep male chuckle rumbled behind her as Nick reached over her and hit the snooze button. She snuggled into him, unwilling to leave the warmth and comfort of their bed.
“Time to get up.”
“No,” she grumbled.
One of the benefits of freelancing was setting her own hours. And since she was six months ahead on her release schedule, she could afford to sleep in once in a while. Especially since they’d been up half the night, christening their new bedroom. And living room. And kitchen. And office.
“Brutus!” Nick called. “A little help here?”
The sound of heavy paws pounding across the hardwood floor made her lift the covers up over her head. She made it just in time before Brutus began snuffling around, trying to seek her out. When he started clawing at the sheet, she surrendered and revealed herself.
“Why would you do that?” she asked, laughing as she tried unsuccessfully to avoid Brutus’s wet morning kisses. She loved the big mutt almost as much as she loved the man beside her.
“Because Toni and Hunter’s flight will be landing in a few hours, and we said we’d pick them up at the airport.”
The pleasant morning haze dissipated quickly when she sat up and glanced at the clock, confirming the time. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”
“I did wake you earlier,” he reminded her.
Right. He had. By sliding into her from behind and treating her to some glorious wake-up sex. It was her favorite way to start the day.
She tossed the covers to the side and moved her legs to get out of bed. “I need a shower.”
“Good idea,” he agreed, his eyes fixed on her ass.
“Oh no, you don’t,” she told him, scooting quickly toward the bathroom. “We’re never going to get there in time if you shower with me.”
His grin was feral. “Yes, we will.”
* * *
True to his word, they arrived at the airport in time, pulling into the cell phone waiting lot with minutes to spare.
“I can’t believe you doubted me.”
“You’re right. I’ll never doubt you again.”
He had been quick and thorough, and those multiple showerheads had been worth every penny. Her SEAL might enjoy rusticating in the great outdoors, but he also had a penchant for state-of-the-art gadgetry, too. Their newly built cabin was filled with them.
Bree peered through the windshield at a large jet coming in for a landing, suppressing a shiver. “I do not miss flying.”
“Me neither.”
They’d discovered a lot of things they had in common over the last six months as well as plenty of differences that complemented each other and worked to their advantage. For example, while they were both creative, he was more analytical and methodical and she leaned more toward the emotional and impulsive. Together, they made a great team.
Toni and Hunter’s flight arrived without incident. Nick had barely pulled up to the curb before Bree was out, greeting her cousin with a big hug.
“Looks like they missed each other, huh?” Nick said with a smile, offering his hand to Hunter. “I’m Nick.”
“Hunter. And, yeah, I’d say so.”
After loading the bags in the back, Nick deftly maneuvered the vehicle away from the airport. More than once, Toni remarked on the beautiful scenery as they got closer to home. Bree had to agree. She’d thought the same when she first came to the area almost a year earlier. Now, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Once back at Sanctuary, they brought the couple back to their cabin to freshen up and give them a quick tour, and then they took them to the main dining hall to meet the rest of the team and share a special lunch prepared by Kate and Sam.
Hunter jumped at the chance when Nick suggested an ATV ride along the trails while Bree and Toni returned to the cabin for some quiet girl time.
“I’ve really missed you,” Bree said as they stretched out on lounge chairs on the back deck, overlooking the lake. It was one of her favorite spots to be, and not just because it was Nick’s new and improved tactical observation platform.
“I’ve missed you, too. But it seems like you’ve made some friends here.”
“I have,” Bree confirmed.
Sam, Sandy, and Kate had been great, making her feel welcome from the get-go and providing plenty of support and encouragement. They’d recently introduced her to Tori McCain, too,
