Page 116 of Protector Daddy

Tonight was getting more interesting by the minute.

I slid out of my truck and slammed the door. The way the two of them jumped apart made me smile. I went around my truck to muscle out the cooler. “Christian, think you can give me a hand with this?”

“What?” He gently eased Honey out of the passenger seat and seemed to be hovering over her.

I lifted the cooler.

“Right. Sure.” He stroked a hand down Honey’s hair and hustled over to me.

The guy was a damn giant. “Did all the Mastersons get extra helpings of muscles and height at birth?”

Christian’s lips quirked up at the corner. “Not all of us. Some are beanpoles and models.”

I laughed and handed him the cooler with only a minor grunt.

He, of course, took it as easily as if it was a paperweight. Sixty pounds of ice and cans was no problem for Gigantor.

“Need me to take anything else?”

“I’m good.”

He crossed the driveway with probably four strides. Honey was waiting for him by the door. She was twisting a gift bag in her hands with something plush and yellow sticking out from the top.

Damn, was I supposed to bring a gift? I supposed food would have to do.

Honey gave me a sweet smile as she held the door open.

As usual, my brother’s house was a welcoming haven. Mostly thanks to Gina. Before her, Jared’s place had been merely serviceable, with a little dog hair sprinkled for flavor.

Now it was lights and sounds. Christmas covered every square inch of the living room. From the ten foot tree decked out in half child-safe ornaments and half family heirlooms, to the colorful lights wreathing the tree and windows—it all said home. And a happy one at that.

Samantha was toddling around using legs and chairs to keep her steady on her pins. Since she’d started walking, she never stopped.

The sharp scent of enchiladas and fragrant empanadas made my stomach growl. Bonnie Ramos never came anywhere without food. Mine probably wasn’t necessary, but the animals from Jared’s cop shop were hearty eaters.

Case in point—Brady, Mav, and Van were fighting over the last of the seven layer dip. Dammit, that was one of my faves.

Bonnie came bustling in with another tray. “Watch out, you heathens. I’ve got more.”

“Yay. I’m feeding two-ish.” Van patted her still flat stomach. “If my blood runs green for guacamole, then I count it as a good day.”

I shook my head. “Hey, everyone.”

“More food!” Van rushed me with her overflowing plate. “What do you have?”

I stared down at her with a crooked smile. “Ice cream cake and a deli tray.”

Her lower lip stuck out. “Bah. I can’t have cold cuts. But I’m listening about the cake.”

My eyebrows shot up. “So the rumors are true?”

“You heard too? We are keeping some of the details on the downlow for a while except for family. Which part did you hear?” She shook her bouncy little pigtails that were knotted into fuzzy looking cupcakes just above each ear. “That I’ll be rockin’ a baby on board sign soon or that I’m very married?” She flashed a less than traditional sparkler on her left hand.

“I didn’t hear the married part.” I laughed. “Congrats. You beat Jared down the aisle.”

She gave me a brilliant smile. “Jay Oh Pee is good enough for me. Party TBD.”

I shook my head. “I gotta get the cake into the freezer.”

---