Page 137 of Lethal Threat

“I’m going to make it so.” I kiss the ring and bring her hand to my heart. “I’m a changed man, Sierra. You make me feel things I never knew existed.”

Her eyes fall back to the ring. “It’s incredible, just like you.”

I lean down and press a kiss to her temple. “No, you’re incredible. And I’m so honored that you’re going to be my wife.”

Sierra punches my chest with a playful hit. She sniffles. “You’re making me cry, Cole. I hate to cry.”

If I have my way, she’ll never cry again in sadness or fear.

“It’s okay.” I wrap my palm around her smooth cheek as I wipe away her tears with my thumb. “This is good crying, babe. Only good tears from now on.”

Her eyes soften. A tender smile appears. “You’ve got adeal.” She reaches for the fork as her eyes sparkle with happiness. “We need to eat this beautiful breakfast so we can get to dessert. I want my real fiancé to make love to me.”

I laugh, my heart full of happiness. “Then, I’m your man, babe.”

Chapter Forty-Five

COLE

Sierra kneels down and wraps her arms around me where I’m sitting on the floor in front of my parents’ Christmas tree. “I didn’t know you were such a good LEGO builder.”

I laugh and hold up my creation for inspection. Red, green, and blue pieces jut out in all directions. It was supposed to be an airplane.

Supposedis the important part here.

“Well, according to Finn, I’m not doing it right.”

Little Finn cracks up laughing, even rolls around on his side like a bug, kicking his feet in the air.

She kisses my cheek. “You get my vote, but I wouldn’t want to fly that. The wing is wrong.”

Sighing, I put the toy down next to the pile of random blocks. “How are ya doing?”

“Great. Wonderfully, actually. Stuffed. That dinner was over the top. But your mom’s special Christmas dessert is almost ready.” She drops her voice. “Now, don’t tellanyone, Nolene has been feeding us girls cookies while we were cleaning up.”

I pull Sierra into my lap with a quick grab and give her a fake scowl. “And you didn’t bring me any?”

Her laugh is throaty and pleased when I squeeze her. “Nope.”

“Jeez. Get a room,” jokes Liam as he stretches out on the floor in front of a tiny toy race track.

I stand with Sierra in my arms. “Good idea.”

My fiancée gasps and swats my arm. “Oh lord. Put me down, we are not doing that in your parents’ house?—”

I’m laughing hard at the expression on Sierra’s face when Mom breezes into the room. “Cole Strong, what are you doing to that poor girl?”

Sierra grins victoriously as I set her down on her feet. “He’s crazy.”

Nolene shakes her head as she gives a little eye roll. “Boys, always up to no good... What time are your coworkers coming, Cole?”

“Any minute now.”

Mom turns on her heel and heads back to the kitchen, over her shoulder, she says, “Perfect, call the others in from outside, please. By the time they get their snow clothes off, I’ll be ready.”

I catch Sierra’s hand in mine, the one with the engagement ring. I pull it to my lips and kiss her knuckles.

She watches me with fascination as I lean into her ear. I whisper against her cheek. “You missed your chance. I was going to steal you away to the library and give you another present.”