Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,129

brother caught all this on video?”

“Yeah. He always wanted to be like me—catching the bad guys, putting them in jail where they belong. He turned out to be the best undercover agent he could have been. At least he didn’t die in vain.”

“I’m sorry I never got to meet your brother,” Brooke said. “He was a true hero.”

“He was,” Mr. Lee said.

Brooke said, “I can’t believe I hid the reindeer from Josh for a Christmas present when it had the thumb drive concealed inside it.”

“You protected Jingles, and now this little reindeer is going to protect you, once the evidence on the drive puts Daisy and the others away for a very long time,” Josh said.

Ethan, Adam, and Mr. Lee were going to the police bureau to sort out the files on the thumb drive and get with the local FBI and DEA, too, since the Gullivers had been involved in drugs, murder, and other criminal activities across state lines.

“If you want to go with them, you can, Josh,” Brooke encouraged. “These are your cases too.”

“Hell no. I’m retiring, and my place is here with you,” Josh said while the other guys waited to hear the verdict.

Brooke had found her own hero in Josh, who would set aside this other important business to be with her.

When the guys left, Maverick gave Brooke and Josh a hug. “Merry Christmas. I’ve got to get home to the reindeer since the ranch hands have Christmas off and Adam and the others are coming over later to watch movies and have dinner there. Thanks for all my gifts. It makes up for me not getting the girl.” He winked at Brooke, and she smiled.

They wished him a Merry Christmas and saw him off, and then Brooke and Josh returned to the warm house, Christmas lights sparkling on the tree, the fire crackling in the fireplace. It was time to enjoy their Christmas as mated wolves. Though she wanted to repair the poor little Steiff reindeer.

Josh had only one notion in mind. He kissed her, scooped her up, and hauled her back to the bedroom. Christmas would never be the same for her. And she was glad about that!

Epilogue

After Christmas, both Lucas and his friend Ty helped to work off their community service debt to Josh and Maverick by mucking out reindeer stalls, but Josh also had them demonstrate how they hacked into the security video. What they loved best was they got to show off the reindeer to visiting tour groups. His friend Ty was glad Lucas had finally been adopted into a family and had his own girlfriend so Ty could continue to see Sandy as his own.

Josh and Brooke managed to free up two of the second-floor rooms at the shop. They decorated the first with seasonal merchandise, and the second contained consignments from the wolves in the pack. Maverick’s beautiful signs were on display all over the shop. Almost daily, a wolf would come in to have Brooke appraise some item’s value or bring arts and crafts to consign. She loved it because she felt really connected to the wolf pack members.

All the men and the one woman charged with the crimes against Brooke were in custody, awaiting trial. Ethan was still working on the Colombian cocaine case. And Mr. Lee had to return to Florida where he was based, but he had already wished them a happy new year, and Brooke and Josh wanted to keep in touch with him.

Come spring, she, Josh, and Maverick intended to go through the old homestead and its storage places to look for treasures they no longer wanted.

The guys would soon put in her dream kitchen, and she couldn’t have been more pleased. And she’d found her great-aunt’s diaries. Ivy had been to China and traded some other merchandise for the vases, way back when they must not have been valued at much. As for the Santa Claus suit and Natalie’s clothes from the movie? A friend who’d worked on the set had given them to her because the movie had been Ivy’s favorite Christmas story from way back then.

Now Brooke and Josh were getting ready to celebrate the new year with the pack, and she was wearing the red gown after it had been professionally cleaned. It was beautifully vintage, and she felt sexy and unique wearing it.

Josh smiled and raised his brows. “I told you that you’d look great in that dress. I just couldn’t envision how much so.” He took her