Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home #2)- Nikita Parmenter Page 0,91

Atlas along a path through the woods that thankfully the snowmobiles can drive across easily. It’s not long before we pull up to a small grove of Christmas trees and we pull off to the side stopping the engines. With the blanket of white snow and all of the Christmas trees it really does look magical.

I start to get off but Luc refuse to let go of me.

“Are you planning to let go of me any time soon?” I ask amused.

“Nope, you’re too warm” he mumbles and I chuckle.

“Come on dude, this is the first time I’ve ever gotten to pick my own Christmas tree” I say excitedly and Atlas shoots me a pleased look.

“Well when you put it that way, I suppose I can get up” he pretends to groan and I grin as we finally get up and go to stand next to Atlas.

“Atty why do you have an axe if Trick’s got the chainsaw?” I ask.

“I want to cut the tree down traditionally but the guys insisted we bought the chainsaw in case it takes too long” he rasps.

That’s kind of adorable.

“Plus I really like axes” he adds eyeing me for a reaction.

Oh that’s how we’re going to play it huh? You’re on Atty baby.

“In Greek mythology Hephaestus struck Zeus over the head with an axe” I reply with a grin making his eyes narrow slightly as I don’t give him the reaction he was expecting again. I walk over to Jensen, I’m missing my trickster.

“I think he’s going to turn that into a game, seeing if he can shock you with what comes out of his mouth. At least until he realises he can’t make you run” Jensen comments quietly as I rest my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me.

It started off as funny but now it’s made my heart hurt a bit. I am more determined to prove to him that nothing he could say or do would make me run, not now. I don’t know how, it’s honestly been a day, if that, but he’s in now, he’s included with the others and I’m starting to care for him as much as I do them. I also have a feeling that if anyone will truly understand the things I did in order to protect other people it will be Atlas. I am almost one hundred percent sure that his past is even darker than my own and I hate it.

“What about this one?” Cash calls out and we all turn to inspect it.

“Nope” I reply and we carry on walking further into the trees.

“Why not, what’s wrong with it?” he calls back.

“Nothing but it’s not quite right. I’ll know our tree when I see it” I tell him aware I’m sounding slightly crazy which is backed up when the guys all share a look. “I saw that. If you’re going to share, she’s crazy, looks then at least do it subtly, come on guys” I smirk, chuckling.

We carry on walking for a bit longer the guys messing about the entire time, but Jensen staying next to me with his arm wrapped around my shoulder.

“This one!” I say proudly.

“It looks exactly the same as the other ones to me Sweetheart” Trick starts and I shoot him a look, trying to hide my amusement. “But if you want this one, we’ll get this one” he finishes and the guys all chuckle.

“Ok, I’ll explain. The one Cash picked out was far too tall, it may have fit inside the cabin but we wouldn’t have been able to get it through the door without loosing branches. The next one had a bird living in it, I’m not taking anyone’s home away from them and the last one I was just fucking with you” I explain and they all burst out laughing.

Jensen’s gloved finger gently turns my face towards him and kisses me slowly before he turns to the guy’s a mischievous grin lighting up his face.

“Where’s the chainsaw?” he grins.

“Oh fuck no dude. We already told you, you aren’t going anywhere near the chainsaw!” Rafe exclaims and I burst out laughing as Jensen pouts.

“Seriously?” He groans, “come on?”

“I tell you what, if you can walk over to that tree” Riot says pointing to a tree a few metres away, “and not fall over or nearly fall over, then you can use the chainsaw. Deal?”

“Deal!” Jensen grins and I shoot Riot a slightly worried look. In all seriousness I’m not sure it’s safe for