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Wraith and Ranger smiled, and Deacon laughed before saying, “I was wondering if you were going to notice anyone else in the room.”
“Hey, leave her alone.” Gabby hugged her brother while Charley whooped and flew at Wraith. He caught her, and they both laughed like loons. Charley then jumped at Ranger and got the same treatment. Fleur looked at Gabby. “I take it you know Wraith and Ranger?”
“Almost all their lives.” She nodded.
“We’re honorary cousins,” Charley said and punched Wraith in the arm. “They’re dorks, but they’re our dorks.”
Wraith shook his head. “This is why we come home; to be mistreated by wicked little sprites.”
“Hey, I’m not a sprite.”
“No, she’s just wicked,” Ranger said, ducking behind Wraith as she tried to slug him, too.
Wraith caught Charley and held her at arm’s length, keeping the woman from damaging either ofthem. Fleur had the idea that if she wanted to, she could do some serious damage to the guys, but they were all playing.
“It’s been great to get punched and all, but we have a drive to get to our folks’.”
Fleur stopped him. “Wait. Could you tell me what your names are? I mean, you all worked so hard to help us. I’d like to know who I’m thanking.”
Wraith glanced at Ronan, who nodded and looked at Fleur. He winked. “Talon. Talon King. This is my actual cousin, Reece.”
“Also a King,” Reece said. He lifted his chin in the direction of the door. “Ready?”
Talon let go of Charley and laughed when she almost fell down. “I am. Let’s hit it.”
“Before you go, I wanted to say thank you. Ronan told me what happened and how everyone helped to dig me out.”
Wraith smiled and nodded. “No worries. You’d have done it for us. The IDPs worked just as hard as we did, and they did it because they knew and respected you. Enjoy your time off, Skipper.”
“See yah, Cap,” Reece said to Deacon, and the men left.
“Honorary cousins?”
“Our parents are close with their family and havebeen for a long time,” Ronan said, wrapping her up in both arms. “Now, I believe I need my house, people.”
“Geez, like, excuse us for welcoming you home,” Charley mocked him.
“Come on, Bambi, you can welcome me home.” Deacon laughed and ducked the fist heading his way.
“Do. Not. Call. Me. That,” Charley said as she tried and failed to catch Deacon.
Gabby grabbed her wrap and shook her head. “You’d think running the largest security company in the free world would mature her.”
“Never.” Ronan laughed. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you will.” Gabby laughed as she walked out of the small sitting room toward the kitchen where Deacon and Charley laughed.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” Fleur asked as he folded her into his arms.
“Mom and Dad are coming home. We’ll go over for dinner.”
He dropped to kiss her, but she ducked it. “No, no, no. Is this dressy? What should I wear? Oh, are they going to like me? I need to bring something. I can’t go empty-handed.” She spun to walk away from him, but he caught her.
“Later. Plenty of time to stress meeting the ‘rents afterward.”
Fleur turned in his arms. “After? After what?”
She blinked her eyes comically, and he laughed. “After this.” He bent down and tossed her over his shoulder. She shrieked and then laughed as he strode down the hallway to the bedrooms. He opened the master bedroom and stopped. “Where are your things?”