Page 3 of Holiday Hijinks

Slate’s lips quirked. “Let me guess—my fiancée texted my sister-in-law.” He exchanged a look with Ashleigh, who shrugged. The women were always texting now that Anna was at home with her boys. For a brief time, she’d been working at Shadow Security, but three kids had changed that. Jett was growing both his operation and family, and Slate had to admit that his brother seemed happy as hell.

“That sounds about right,” Jett agreed, muffled gunshots sounding in the background.

“Are you at a gun range?” Slate asked.

“I was,” Jett said, and Slate heard a door close as Jett moved down the hallway. “I couldn’t talk in there with all the damn noise. Anna just stopped by headquarters while the nanny has the boys. She doesn’t even work here anymore, but I can’t keep her away.”

“Figures,” Slate muttered. He exchanged a look with Ashleigh, who’d already pulled out her own phone. She was used to him constantly taking calls for work and clearly didn’t think anything of this particular one. “So are we all set? Ashleigh and I just got our rental.”

“She’s right there, isn’t she?” Jett asked with a knowing laugh. “Affirmative. Everything’s been taken care of on my end. I had my assistant Lena deliver your dress uniform to the cabin earlier. Don’t worry, she tucked it in the back of the closet where Ashleigh won’t notice. Are you still at the airport?”

“We’re in our rental car in the parking lot. I just started the engine when you called.”

He could practically see Jett smirking on the other end of the line. “Roger that. Whisk her off to my cabin. In a couple of days’ time, we’ll see you at the venue. Anna has the wedding dress here at our place, but she assured me we can fly out to Seattlewith it. According to my wife, it’s to die for, not that I know a thing about that nonsense. Anna promised it would fit and be exactly what Ashleigh would want. Of course, you know Anna. She also picked out a pair of stilettos and sexy lingerie.”

Desire flooded his veins, and Slate’s gaze slid to his unsuspecting fiancée. Ashleigh had no idea about the wedding. The plans. The honeymoon. When the time was right, Ashleigh’s best friend and sister would get her ready, making her think they were just trying on wedding gowns and visiting venues in Seattle. He was about to pull off the biggest surprise of his life and couldn’t fucking wait.

Chapter 2

Ashleigh was filled with excitement as Slate turned off the snowy mountain road and onto the winding driveway an hour later. How different it felt than a year ago when she’d headed there by herself, expecting a quiet weekend alone writing. “Wait, that’s Jett’s cabin? It’s already decorated for Christmas!” she said in amazement as she saw the twinkling white lights. Jett had used the cozy cabin for hunting and ski vacations, purchased years ago during his bachelor days. While it looked somewhat rustic from the outside, she knew it was filled with modern conveniences and state-of-the-art technology. He’d expanded it, too, to accommodate his growing family—not to mention added multiple layers of additional security. She resisted the urge to shudder. When she’d fled in the middle of the night last year with Slate, she’d had no idea how her entire life would change.

The sun was setting, not unlike when she’d first met Slate a year ago. Except instead of entering the remote cabin as strangers, both shocked to find the other there for the weekend, they were now lovers. A couple. Engaged to be married.

“Yes, this is it,” Slate confirmed as he pulled to a stop. “It looks bigger with the addition he put on. It’s nice that we’re close enough to drive to the city but can enjoy the peace and quiet here. While my brother offered to let us stay with him when they were in town a few weeks ago, staying with Jett, Anna, and their three kids isn’t exactly the romantic vacation I was hoping for,” he said dryly.

Ashleigh laughed as she glanced over at Slate, catching his strong profile in the waning light. Although he’d shaved that morning, dark stubble already coated his chiseled jaw. His greeneyes briefly swept to hers, amused. Slate reached over and grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips again. She loved how he could never seem to stop touching her. He placed her hand on his lap, his big hand covering her own. Slate was always affectionate with her, and far more attentive than she’d ever expect a gruff man like him to be.

“It’s cold enough here that we might as well be in New York,” Ashleigh said as he shut off the engine, shivering slightly.

His head swiveled to hers. “Do you miss it?” he asked, his voice deep and eyes serious.

“My tiny little studio in Brooklyn? No. Even if I’d never met you, Anna’s not in the city anymore. Jen moved away, too. My old life wouldn’t have been the same. Besides, I’ve got way more space at your home.”

“Our home,” he corrected.

Her heart swelled as she nodded. She’d been teasing him, but Slate had always made her feel like she belonged in his space. Her feminine touches had slowly been taking it over, which wasn’t surprising given his sparse decorations before. They’d converted a spare room to her office, and his dressers now held drawers full of her clothing and lingerie. For a simple man, Slate always loved to see her in satin and lace, and she rather enjoyed his eyes on her in the bedroom. They’d redecorated the rest of the house to some degree, but given that she’d moved from a small studio to his bigger place, the house still had more of his furniture than her own. They’d made purchases together as they found things she liked, and the transition had been seamless.

“Our home,” she agreed. “We should take a trip to New York one day. We could visit Jett and Anna and then go into the city for a couple of days. I can show you my old stomping grounds.”

“It sounds like a plan,” he said. “I just want to make sure you’re happy.”

“Are you kidding? I’m crazy happy to be here with the man I love. And even happier with our life together in California.”

Slate growled and leaned toward her, his mouth hot and insistent on her own, his big hand palming the back of her head. She was still bundled up in her parka and jeans but felt her body responding to him the way it always did. Slate made her feel alive. He could be demanding in bed, making her come again and again as he took her in various positions, and her body always reacted to him in ways that surprised her. She felt safe with him. Cherished. Loved. And happier than she’d thought possible.

“I just want to make sure,” Slate said in a low voice, pinning her with a look as he pulled back. “Jett did offer me a job, after all. If I had to, I’d give it all up. Move cross country to live where you wanted, work with my brother.”

“But you love commanding the SEAL teams in Coronado,” she said in surprise.

“Yep, but I love you more.”

“Slate,” she said, feeling her heart flutter.

“I’m serious, Ash. If you’d been unhappy in San Diego with me, I’d have given it up to move back east. I’ve got enough years in to retire when I’m ready. When we’re ready,” he added. Slate had told her more than once that during his first marriage, he hadn’t considered his wife’s feelings as much as he should have. Things had fizzled out quickly, but Ashleigh knew that he made sure to put her first in their own relationship.

“I’m definitely not unhappy in California,” she assured him. “We’ve got the sun, sand, and ocean. I get to spend all daywriting my books while you’re off saving the world. Plus, you put together all those bookshelves for me. Where would I keep all of them if I was still in a studio?”

His lips quirked as he shot her a lazy grin, and she felt heat wash over her. Slate was sexy. He’d deny it, no doubt, but she’d been attracted to him since they first met. Even now, she admired the way he filled out his flannel shirt. Slate was big and broad everywhere, with muscles most men would envy. He’d literally stripped her bare the first night they’d met, when she’d fallen on the icy sidewalk and gotten soaked in standing water, and she’d never felt as safe as when pressed up against his big body. His touch and hot looks always left her flushed and aroused, and he seemed to relish pleasuring her and making her come apart in his arms.

---