Page 117 of Reluctant Rogue

Janette touched the phone screen again, her eyes misted again. “I’m not going to say goodbye, darlings. Let’s never say goodbye.”

“I get it,” Naomi said softly. “We’ll talk to you later.”

“Yes, later,” Beth chimed in.

Mark swiped the phone, disconnecting, and for a minute they all sat in silence.

Naomi became aware of Liam’s hand on her back, rubbing in light circles. She nudged him, laying her head on his shoulder.

“I’m fine, Liam. In fact…” she smiled, feeling emotions swell, rushing through her like a wave. She closed her eyes a long moment, relishing them.

“I have parents…wehave parents,” she said, reaching for Beth’s hand. “We have a brother. Grandparents, and a huge family who wants us. And I have you, Liam… my Chosen. We’ll make a home, have a family. Grow old together.”

She swallowed, looking around at Beth, at Mark, then at Liam. Her smile was blinding. “I have everything, don’t I?”

Liam bent his head to kiss her gently, the warm pressure of her lips having her heart racing.

“You have everything,” he confirmed. “And together,wehave everything.”

Chapter32

Naomiall but danced with impatience, her heels clacking on the wood boards of the inn’s front porch.

“It’s been fifteen minutes since they texted they were getting off at the exit,” she complained.

“It’s snowy,” Liam said with infinite patience. “It takes longer.”

“I know,” she confessed. “I just want them to get here!”

Beth, beside her, was in as bad shape. “I waaaaant them,” she whined. “I want themnow!”

“Oh, man,” Mark said, shooting Liam a sympathetic glance. “You’ve been dealing with both of them for how long?”

Chuckling, Liam caught Naomi up in his arms, placing a hard, fast kiss on her startled lips before setting her back on her feet.

“Not that long. I’ll survive, I’m sure.”

Behind them, lights streamed from every window of the old Victorian, and the crisp, cold air carried the scent of fireplaces in use. Twinkling Christmas lights showed off the outline of the building, the gables and balconies, while a large Christmas tree held a place of prominence in the large window of the lounge.

“We should have met them at the airport,” Beth fretted.

Their brother rolled his eyes. “We’ve been over this how many times?”

“Yeah, that would have been awkward,” Naomi agreed with Mark. “Meeting for the first time, in the middle of an airport the week before Christmas, with gazillion people rushing here and there.”

“I guess,” Beth sulked.

Naomi’s gasp got everyone’s attention, and they all looked toward the street, where a silver minivan was nosing it’s way through the mounds of plowed snow into the driveway.

“Ut-oh,” Mark muttered.

Naomi glanced at him. “What?”

“Mom and Dad don’t need a big minivan, not even if they brought a ton of gifts.”

“Maybe that was all the car rental place had? It’s less than a week before Christmas, after all.”

“I don’t think so.”