Page 67 of Queen of Diamonds

By the time they had dinner on the table—roasted pork loin with a raspberry sauce, scalloped potatoes, asparagus, and crusty French bread—the girls, with the exception of Kinsey and only because she was pregnant, were a little tipsy. And a lot funny.

“Did I ever tell you about the time Alex kidnapped me?” Madison asked Kinsey.

“No. This I have to hear.”

“Yeah, he stole me right out of my bedroom.” She glared at Lauren. “With the help of my roommate.”

Lauren smirked. “Didn’t hear you protesting any.”

“That’s beside the point. I’m your best friend. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

Alex put his mouth next to Madison’s ear. “I seem to remember you getting naughty with your abductor,” he stage-whispered, making Madison blush.

“That’s also beside the point.” Then she snickered.

“Come to think of it, Court kidnapped me.” Lauren glanced at Kinsey. “I was trying to run away, but the sneaky man caught me and brought me back.”

Taylor frowned at Nate. “I’m feeling left out. How come you never kidnapped me?”

“Want me to?”

Her eyes lit up. “Hell, yeah.”

“When you least expect it, Tiger.” He smiled at her when she put her hand on his leg and squeezed.

Nate ate his dinner—which was surprisingly delicious—listening to his family talk and laugh. A contentment like he’d never before felt settled over him.I hope you’re looking down on us right now, Mama, so you can see how happy your daughter and sons are.

Dessert was a pinwheel of assorted fancy cheesecakes that a chef friend of Rand’s had made for them. Before they dug in, Nate stood and held up his glass of wine.

“A toast. To Taylor, Lauren, and Madison, who tamed three wild boys and taught us how to love.” He turned his gaze on his sister. “Kinsey, I know Court and Alex will agree with me on this. If we could choose a sister, she would be you. We’re just sorry that it took us so long to find you.”

“Amen to that,” Court said as Alex nodded.

Nate looked at Rand. “I know we gave you a hard time, but we’d do it—”

“All over again,” Rand said without bitterness in his voice.

“Damn straight. We’ve never had a sister to protect before, and maybe we went a little overboard—”

Kinsey snorted. “A little?”

“Point taken.” Nate smiled at her. “But we had to make sure he was good enough for you.”

She smiled back at him. “I’ll never admit this again, but it was nice having big brothers who thought it was their job to take care of me.”

“But just don’t do it again?” Alex teased.

“Exactly.” Then tears filled her eyes. “I wish Mom were here. She’d be so happy to see us all together.”

Nate blinked away his own tears, not missing that his brothers were doing the same. “I think she knows,” he softly said. He lifted his glass again. “Merry Christmas.”