Page 32 of Light of Christmas

“That’s awesome, Angel.”

I give him a pointed look. “Really? Just like that? You aren’t going to grumble or get all growly caveman?”

Grayson chuckles and kisses my ring finger. “Why would I? I would put photos of you all over the house if you let me. And aren’t couples supposed to do engagement photos or something?”

Leaning over the console, I kiss his cheek. “Aww, you big teddy bear! But just to let you know if you try and hang photos of me all over the house, I will kick your ass.”

Grayson’s head tilts back as his laugh fills the truck. “Alright, pretty girl. How about I keep my obsession with you to my desk at home and the shop? Is that okay?”

“Fine. Just to warn you though, I can’t promise I will contain myself if she gets cute photos of the animals.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

I lean my head against his arm and watch the snow-covered trees pass by.

“Thank you for taking me on this trip. It was amazing and I will never forget it.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Right back at ya, pretty girl.”

To say the animals were excited when we walked in the door was an understatement. Willow was so happy she jumped into Grayson’s arms and made him fall on his butt. When I picked up Oliver he tried to crawl inside my sweater.

Shelly was waiting for us when we got home and surprised us by putting up a big real Christmas tree. I have always had fake ones, so to have a real one that made the house feel like I was walking in the woods, was unreal.

Conrad showed up soon after we got there and before I knew it, almost everyone was showing up, except Landon.

Harper even showed up. I was expecting to come home, unpack, and snuggle with animals. But having almost everyone I love in one room is so much better.

H and Noah bracket each side of me, Willow sits at my feet and Oliver lays behind me on the top of the couch. I watch as Gray and Shelly are in a deep and animated conversation.

Conrad and Wes are talking about something with the same pensive expressions on their faces.

“So, Lo. You ready to start planning the wedding?” H asks, knocking her shoulder against mine.

“Yeah.” Harper sits straighter and I can see the excitement on her face.

Noah drapes his arms around me, “Can I be the pastor?” Harper and I both burst out laughing so hard, it catches the attention of everyone in the room.

“The pastor?” I ask, still laughing.

“The pastor. Or whatever the hell the dude is that pronounces you man and wife.” Noah says completely unbothered that everyone in the room is laughing at him or looking at him like he’s nuts.

“It’s called the officiant, dumbass.” Wes says in a low gravely voice but I can hear the laugh at the edge of his voice. He tries to cover his smile by taking a sip of his beer, but I catch it.

Noah points to Wes. “Yeah! That! I want to be that!”

Thank god everyone that will be attending the wedding will be used to Noah’s antics but it will also be funny as hell.

I look to Gray to see if he agrees before I give Noah an answer. I see that he is glaring daggers at his brother.

“Noah.” Grayson growls. “Pretty sure you need arms to do that job. So I suggest you remove that arm from around my fiancée before I do it for you.”

Noah looks to me, then back at Gray. I see the little shit devising a plan to piss off his brother and know I can’t do anything to stop it.

Just as suspected, Noah wraps me in a big hug and plants a loud kiss on the top of my head before letting me go and flipping off Grayson.

I see the anger rising in Gray.

“Noah Alice Hayes! Why do you have to be such a pain in the ass!? Apologize to your brother and future sister and refresh everyone’s drinks.”

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