Blackstone Ranger Scrooge - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,63

over her head. “Where’s that swear jar?”

“Don’t worry, I’m tryin’ to get it all out of my system now before we get to the castle,” J.D. sighed. “Now let’s go before Russel loses his shit.”

Together, the girls left the bedroom and walked into the living room. All the men’s gazes were fixed on the television as they watched a hockey game, but the moment their women entered, all five of them turned to them.

“Anna Victoria.” Damon’s emerald gaze fixed on his mate like there was no one else in the room. Anna Victoria wore a champagne gold gown with an embroidered torso and full skirt. “You look amazing,” he rasped as he tucked a stray blonde lock away from her face.

“Sweetheart,” Gabriel began as he approached Temperance. “I think you’re going to make Queen Sybil herself jealous.” The baker blushed and did a little twirl in her emerald green gown, sending the tulle skirt whirling around her like a cloud.

“Close that mouth or you’ll catch flies, Rogers,” Sarah quipped as Daniel gaped at her, slack-jawed. Her daring strapless red gown showed off the stained glass tattoo down her arm, and one toned, shapely leg peeked out from the slit down the side. “Didn’t your dads tell you it’s rude to stare?”

“Jesus, Darce, you look good enough to eat,” Anders said, licking his lips and eyeing his mate in her light yellow, one-shoulder gown. “Let’s skip the party.”

Darcey giggled. “Are you sure? I might need you to help me find a bathroom or something.”

The tiger shifter’s expression turned funny, and he swallowed a gulp. “On second thought, you’re right.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay with the crowd, John?” Dutchy asked her mate. Her glossy red hair was pinned up in curls around her face, perfectly matching her vintage ice blue satin gown.

Krieger’s normally serious expression was now one of awe as he gazed at her. “It’ll all be worth it, seeing you like this tonight.”

But perhaps the man who was surprised most of all was Cam. His blue-violet eyes pinned J.D. to the spot, his mouth parting, then closing, then parting again before he spoke. “J.D., you’re …”

If it weren’t for her rib cage, her heart would surely have leapt out of her chest. “I clean up nice, huh?” And so did he, not that she expected anything less. Her mate looked like a dream in his black tux, his hair pulled back, and those gold-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

“More than nice, love.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “You’re absolutely stunning.” His arm came around her, and his lips slid down lower to capture her mouth in a soft kiss.

“Don’t mess up her hair!” Darcey cried.

“Or her lashes!” Anna Victoria added.

“S-sorry,” Cam apologized as he took a step back. “Didn’t mean to mess up your handiwork, ladies.”

“Good thing she hasn’t put on her lipstick,” Temperance chuckled. “Or you’d be wearing it too, Cam.”

Sarah winked at the polar bear shifter. “You’re welcome. For later tonight.”

“Welcome?” Cam asked, brows drawn together. “And what do you mean later?”

“Oh, you’ll know,” Sarah said mysteriously. “Actually, you’re all welcome,” she said to the rest of the men.

J.D. stifled a laugh. Earlier that evening, Sarah had given them all their Christmas gifts—matching sexy lingerie from her latest collection, not even out in the stores yet.

“All right, all right,” Gabriel said as he clapped his hands and hustled everyone to the door. “Time to move, limos are waiting. We don’t want to be late.”

“Yes, carpool mom.” Although she said it sarcastically, she flashed the lion shifter a grateful smile. “And, Gabriel?”

“What?”

“Thank you.” She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “For getting all this together. And for everything else.”

Gabriel’s face softened. “Anything for you. But I hope you remember what I said before.” His gaze dropped down to her bare arm, which Anna Victoria had covered up with makeup on her request.

It seemed like the right thing to do, since her tattoos didn’t go with her dress, but from the disapproval on his face, she knew what he was thinking. Her stomach sank, but she pushed that feeling aside. This is for Cam, she told herself. And Natalia. “I know, I know.”

“I mean it,” he said firmly. “You’re good enough, just as you are.”

“I—sure.” She nodded and swallowed the nervous lump in her throat as she tried to control the butterflies in her stomach. Her cat, too, was a bundle of nerves.

“Ready?” Cam said, placing a hand on her lower back.

With