Page 37 of His Boys to Protect

An image instantly sprang to mind. A bedroom like this, all cozy, colorful, and warm, inside an apartment—maybe even a house—that was light and airy and surrounded by trees. It wouldn't even have to be a big house. Just something quaint and comfortable, so long as it was tucked away somewhere safe. There would be a bed with a frame instead of a mattress on the floor. A couch to sit on and walls of bookshelves. A kitchen with some actual counter space. A stove instead of a hot plate. A closet with no women's clothing in it whatsoever.

In the living room, there would be a Christmas tree in the corner, all done up with lights and glittering ornaments. Vinyl cling snowflakes all over the windows. Cinnamon-scented candles burning everywhere. Wreaths on the doors, inside and out. Lights strung from the eaves and inside every room.

And Charlie and Ward beside him.

Skylar nearly choked at the thought, having to swallow down the sudden urge to cry. It was such a beautiful dream.

A beautiful—impossible—dream.

Chapter 16

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CHARLIE

CHARLIE EYED the makeshift table as he set down the last plate. They were having Christmas Eve dinner in the tasting room since their party was too big to fit at the dining table in the private apartment over the garage.

The tasting room had several two-seater tables, where the house guests sat down to breakfast. Charlie had pushed several of the tables into one long line, then spaced the chairs along each side. He rolled his head, studying the arrangement. There was something off about it.

Charlie counted out their party again, nodding at each chair as he went.Beau, Mav, Dakota, Ryder, Mom, Dad, Quinn and his fiancée, my Sky, me. That was ten. He knew it was ten. Yet he'd put together enough tables and chairs for twelve.

Sabrina should be with them.

Charlie's heart clenched at the thought. Even though it had been years since she'd died, it suddenly felt like her death wasn't real. That, somehow, she would magically show up and join them. Charlie wanted to set a place for her. To see her sitting there beside him, smiling and laughing like she always had.

But Sabrina was gone. Had been so for a long time. Still, he'd automatically set that eleventh plate on the table like it was the most natural and expected thing in the world.

The twelfth one, though? That one confounded him to no end.

Because Charlie had started that place setting and—for some inexplicable reason—thought of Ward.

Charlie frowned. Ward wasn't part of the context of dinner. Charlie shouldn't have even thought of the man, yet he'd found himself suddenly feeling like Ward was supposed to be there with them, too.

It didn't make any sense!

He picked up the two extra plates, then paused there. It didn't feel right. Charlie set them back down, but even that left him feeling unsettled. The plates would go unused. There was no reason for them to be there.

Yet he couldn't seem to make himself pick them back up and return them to the butler's pantry.

Charlie rocked on his feet, unsure what to do.

“Hey, squirmy worm,” Dakota said, coming into the room. “What's wrong?”

Charlie eyed his brother, then studied the table again. He rocked faster as he gave Sabrina's name sign and pointed at one of the excess chairs.

Dakota winced. “I know,” he murmured. He came closer and put an arm around Charlie's shoulders. “I miss her, too.” He paused. “We could put her picture there, like we used to do. How's that sound?”

Charlie slowed his rocking as he considered the idea. They'd done that a lot right after Sabrina died, having her framed picture rest on the table in front of her usual chair. Charlie had finally let go of the habit after a couple years. It had gotten to thepoint that having the picture off the wall upset his need to have things always stay where they belonged.

As for here? Sabrina wasn't part of the context of this place. She'd never been here. Dakota hadn't even met Beau until after Sabrina had died.

Charlie tried to weigh all the big feelings inside him. Sabrina had never had dinner with them at this table, yet he suddenly couldn't stand the idea of not seeing her there with them.

“Hhnn,” Charlie whined, pointing at the chair.

“Okay,” Dakota murmured. “I'll be right back.”

Charlie watched his brother dart out of the room, then rocked himself as he waited. A couple minutes later, Dakota was back with a framed photograph in his hands. Charlie eyed the picture as his brother came closer. It was one of his favorites. Sabrina looked so happy in that one. So carefree and alive.

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