Page 106 of Burn the World Down

I opened the front door and was hit by warmth and good smells. I smelled cinnamon from whatever candle she’d been burning. And there were some delicious smells coming from the kitchen.

I dumped my keys. Yep, I was looking forward to a quiet night, just the two of us.

I rounded the corner and stopped short.

Alessio was with Georgie at the stove, both of them stirring a pot. Bastian was sitting on a kitchen stool, a glass of wine in hand and an open bottle beside him. Landon was setting plates on the table and Cole was on the couch with a beer.

An undecorated Christmas tree sat by the window.

“What the hell are you guys doing here?”

Bastian smiled and lifted his glass at me. Georgie turned and grinned, happiness shining off her.

“Hey, the guys showed up and they brought a Christmas tree.” She waved a hand. “A real live Christmas tree and a bunch of decorations for it. They decided to stay for dinner, and after, we can decorate.”

My jaw worked. I just bet they’d decided to stay for dinner.

“Alessio is showing me a secret recipe for the best pasta sauce on the planet.”

With her so happy she was glowing, I couldn’t stay mad.

I walked over and gave her a kiss. When she went back to the stove, Bastian held out a beer to me. “You can have her to yourself later.”

“Or you guys could find your own women.”

“Too many beautiful fish in the sea.”

“The table’s all set.” Landon announced. He accepted a glass of wine from Bastian.

Georgie clapped her hands together. “Excellent. Dinner is almost ready.”

Sitting at the table, my belly full of some very good pasta, my arm around a snort laughing Georgie, I felt pretty damn good.

Landon was telling a funny story from the clinic.

“The guy ran out of the exam room, naked as a jaybird. Picture a six foot five inch Black man packed with muscle. Kids and women were screaming. It took me forever to catch him and sedate him.”

I fiddled with Georgie’s hair. Despite the change in plans, we’d had a good evening.

The food had been excellent, and the tree was now decorated. The guys probably wouldn’t admit it, but they’d had as much fun decorating it as Georgie. The lights on it blinked merrily in red, green, and white.

I had good friends. They’d welcomed Georgie with open arms and gave her a sense of family.

“Georgie, how’s your job hunt going?” Bastian asked.

Her nose wrinkled. It was cute and I wanted to kiss her.

“I haven’t found anything right for me yet. It’s hard since I don’t have any experience. I might need to just start as a waitress or bartender for a while.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

“With my degree in event planning, I’m sure Las Vegas will offer up the right opportunity. Eventually.”

“There’s no rush,” I reminded her. “You can take your time.”

“I can’t sit around making candles all day,” she huffed.

Bastian leaned back in his chair. “I have an early Christmas gift for you.”