house full of love. What more could I need?”
“We thought you might like to have everyone here this year,” Cam said.
“You thought exactly right. I can’t imagine anything better than this.”
“They even brought all the cars home from the store,” Will said. “They thought of everything.”
“We didn’t want you to have to think about anything other than enjoying the holiday,” Cam said. “It was the least we could do for the family that’s done so much for us.”
Linc squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.”
—John Lennon
Wade carried Mia into the former linen closet that he’d turned into a bedroom for himself so he could escape the madness of life in the barn when he’d still lived at home. He kicked the door closed behind them, put her down on the narrow twin bed and returned to the door to lock it, leaving nothing to chance after being without his love for six endless days.
He stretched out next to her and brought her in for another sweet kiss. “We’re never doing this again.”
“Doing what?”
“Spending six days apart.”
“It was brutal. I wandered around aimlessly from the time I got home until Cameron called to tell me the plan to get Christmas ready here.”
“That was a really nice thing you all did for my dad.”
“It was all her idea, and selfishly, I was glad to have something to do other than go crazy from missing you.”
“I’m secretly glad that you felt as crazy as I did.”
“It was bad. What does that say about us?”
“That we know a good thing when we’ve got it.” He wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. “I can’t believe it’s already been almost a year since you showed up half frozen on my doorstep and asked me to marry you.”
“Best thing I ever did.”
“Best thing I ever did was say yes to you.”
Their kisses became more desperate as they pulled at clothes until they were naked and he hovered above her, dying for her.
She reached for him, wrapped her arms and legs around him and sighed with pleasure as he joined their bodies.
“Yes,” he whispered against her neck. “That’s what I needed.”
“Me, too. I can’t remember how I ever lived without you.”
They rarely talked anymore about the years they’d spent aching for each other, but the reminder of what they’d been through never failed to stir deep feelings of gratitude for what they had now.
“It was pure torture, knowing you were out there but so far out of reach.”
She hugged him close to her, surrounding him in the kind of love he’d never dreamed possible until he’d found her.
They moved together like a well-choreographed dance team, their bodies straining for the release they craved until it rolled over them in waves of pleasure so intense, it took his breath away.
“Welcome home,” she said with a giggle that made him smile.
“Best welcome-home I’ve ever gotten.”
“She should be in bed,” Nolan said of Callie, who was running around with Caden, the two of them acting like they’d been shot full of jet fuel.
“We need to let them burn some energy from being cooped up all day,” Hannah said, “or they’ll never sleep.”
They sat on the floor in front of the fire, keeping an eye on their daughter and her cousin, who weren’t showing any signs of winding down.
Homer Junior was curled up on Hannah’s lap, as relieved to have her home as Nolan was.
Nolan put his arm around Hannah and brought her in closer to him. “My baby mama needs some rest. You look tired.”
“I know! I hate that.”
Nolan kissed both her cheeks. “You’re beautiful, but I don’t want you getting run down.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, thankful to be back with him in time for Christmas. For a while there, she’d worried they wouldn’t be able to get home in the storm. “How’s my baby Dexter?”
“He’s been a sad sack without you, just like me, Fred and Homie. I tried to tell them we should enjoy our rare boys-only time, but they weren’t having it.”
“Is Dude taking care of him while we’re here?”
“Yep. Skeeter said not to worry about a thing. They’d take the snowmobiles over to feed him and let him out. I told Skeeter if I find giant piles of moose poop in my house, he’s fired.”
Hannah giggled at that. “He’d never poop in my house.”
“He’d better not, or he’s gone.”
“Stop it. You know you love him as much as I do.”
“I do not. My problem is