Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,42

in that bag,” Lucas said.

“Oh, okay. Thank you,” Libby said, accepting both bags from him. She felt awkward, she loved Lucas, he was one of her best friends, if not her best friend. “Lucas…”

“It’s okay, Libby. I’m happy for you. I’m glad your heart’s not hurting anymore,” he said.

“You don’t seem happy,” Libby said. “And for the record, nothing’s been decided yet,” she said.

“Sure it has. You feel different. You’re more relaxed, not as tense. It’s been decided,” he said. “And regardless, you’re his. You’ve always known that and you made no secret about it. Anything I’m dealing with is my own doing. We’re fine. No worries,” Lucas said.

“You sure?” she asked.

“Absolutely. But you tell him if he fucks up this time, I’ll kick his ass,” Lucas said.

Libby chuckled softly. “Okay. I’ll tell him.” She stepped toward Lucas and hugged him. Lucas hugged her back. “Thank you, Lucas,” she said. “I love you, my friend.”

“Love you, too. I’ll see you when you’re done being the Christmas elf over there,” he said, stepping back and chucking her gently under the chin. “And you need to hurry. While they can cook their asses off over at the diner, they don’t make the donuts as fluffy as you do,” he said. “And I miss my morning donuts.”

“I won’t be long. I’ll be back next week, except for the weekends when I’ll be working at the Christmas Village.”

“I’ll see you then,” Lucas said, striding toward Riley’s house.

“You’ll see her before then,” Lazarus said, watching the whole exchange.

“Huh?” Lucas asked.

“Maia said we’re all going to Travis’s tomorrow to cut down Christmas trees and see what all else he’s got there to do,” Lazarus reminded him.

“Oh,” Lucas said, turning to face Libby. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow evening, then.”

“Okay,” Libby said.

Lucas disappeared into the house, and Libby walked back to the truck to put her things inside.

“We’ll see you tomorrow, Libs,” Riley said.

“Alright. We’ll see you then,” she answered, opening the door and getting in the truck.

“You just remember. You’re happy, we’re happy. You’re not, you need to let us know because we will not tolerate you in a situation that doesn’t make you happy. We’re always here for you,” Riley said.

“I know, Riley. Thank you for being my family,” Libby said as she turned the key and listened to the old truck rumble to life.

“Always, Libs. Family for life,” he said.

Libby smiled brightly and nodded.

Riley watched Libby turn around then drive back toward the highway, pausing to let the gates open before she drove through on her way back to Travis’s house. Then he turned and started back to the house.

“So, what now?” Lazarus asked.

“Now, I give Sebastian back to his Mama, and we’re going to decorate the diner next,” Riley said. “I want all this damn decorating over with so I can relax and enjoy the holidays.”

“You do know that your mate being who she is, even if we think we’re finished, she’ll find something else to buy for us to decorate with,” Lazarus said.

Riley smiled. “I know. It’s all good. It makes her happy, so it makes me happy.”

Riley walked into the house and followed the sound of voices from the kitchen. When he got inside he found Maia sitting at the table across from Lucas. Cristie was sitting on Lucas’s lap while she had her afternoon snack.

“Baby, can you take Sebastian so we can get on the diner real quick?” Riley asked.

“Of course, I can,” Maia said, reaching out to take Sebastian when Riley unstrapped the papoose and handed him to her.

Sebastian, seeing that his Mama was taking him, started kicking and gurgling in his own little language as he held out his teething biscuit for her.

“What is that all about?” Riley asked.

“Watch,” Maia said, getting up with Sebastian on her hip and going to the refrigerator. She took out the butter dish and ran Bastian’s biscuit along the butter, then handed it back to him. As soon as she’d replaced the butter in the fridge and turned to face Riley, Bastian held it out to show his Doddy, then promptly stuck it in his mouth.

“You have already made him think he needs butter on everything,” Riley said, shaking his head.

“He does,” Maia responded.

“Unless it’s bacon. Then bacon is good on its own,” Cristie commented.

Riley looked over at Lucas and realized that the man was completely lost in his own world. He sat across from Maia with his fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee while he stared into the dark