Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,92

tonight, he’d hoped it was Alex, but it hadn’t been. He’d stopped hoping. It was pretty apparent that he’d blown it. She was probably with her boyfriend — her new assistant.

“Let me just say that I’m so happy, and so humbled to have all of you here tonight celebrating Christmas with us. My life, our lives, have taken such an unexpected path because of all you who have blessed us with your friendship, your trust, and your love. Our Pride wouldn’t be what it is without every single one of you. Each of you is here because you are family. Here’s to many more happy Christmases together. Endless years of happiness, and more and more babies to keep us growing every year,” Riley said, holding his wine glass up in the air to toast his Pride and family.

“Here-here!” was echoed all around the table.

Riley looked around the table again. They’d placed both the expansion pieces in the table top for this evening’s meal, and they all just barely fit. “I think we’re going to have to employ the use of the proverbial kids’ tables after this,” he said, smiling happily.

Lazarus raised his hand. “I volunteer to oversee the kids’ table. Ain't got nobody to need me to sit with them anyway. Besides, the kids are great.”

“Don’t forget when they start tossing cranberries at you, that you volunteered,” Riley teased.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll toss back,” Lazarus said with a smile.

“Let’s eat! I’m starving!” Riley said.

Chapter 28

They’d just begun to serve their plates when the chime from the security gate sounded to let them know someone was at the gate.

“I’ll go check,” Lucas said. “I am, after all, the butler tonight,” he added, grinning.

“You weren’t the butler when we arrived. Riley let us in,” Travis said.

“That’s because he wanted to mess with you. Otherwise, I’d have let you in. And I’d have been nicer than he was,” Lucas said, teasing both Travis and Riley with one sentence.

Lucas hurried to the front door and pulled it open. He smiled when he saw who it was. He closed the door behind himself and waited patiently until the person parked and got out their vehicle before noticing him standing on the porch and walking toward him. “Hi.”

“Hey, Alex. I’m glad you came,” Lucas said.

“I wasn’t sure I was coming,” Alex answered truthfully.

“Can’t say I blame you. But I’m glad you did. Laz will be glad you’re here, too.”

Alex shook her head. “Haven’t seen him in a few weeks. Pretty sure unless he needs me to sew him up again, I won’t hear from him,” Alex admitted.

“Seriously?” Lucas asked, inviting her in and closing the door behind them. “Surely you didn’t miss him tailing you all over the damn place on most of the dates you’ve been on with your new man.”

Alex’s head whipped around and she looked at Lucas. “We’ve had a dinner a few times. He’s not my new man. Lazarus isn’t interested so there’s no reason I should have to sit home and wait for him to decide he wants to be with me.”

“I agree!” Lucas said. “But, what I’m trying to say is Lazarus has been around. He’s just been good at not being noticed. I know for a fact he’s followed you on several different evenings, and I’m pretty sure he’s loitering around outside your place even when you’re alone.”

“He’s stalking me?” Alex asked, with a smirk.

Lucas grimaced. “I’d rather call it watching over you.”

“Oh, I see,” Alex said, with a half-smile.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing. The threat of you moving on is getting his goat. Let him see what it’s like to have your attention on another male,” Lucas said, taking her coat from her.

“Thanks for the advice,” she said.

“Come on, we’re just sitting down to dinner.”

When Lucas walked back into the kitchen leading Alex, Lazarus jumped to his feet. “Alex!” he said, his expression telling everyone at the table exactly how important she was to him, whether he’d admit it or not.

“Merry Christmas, everyone. Sorry I’m late. I’d decided not to come then changed my mind at the last moment. I just couldn’t spend Christmas Eve without ya’ll,” Alex said, stopping behind Maia to hug her from behind.

“I’m so glad you came!” Maia said, raising her arms to hug Alex as she leaned over her.

Riley stood up and hugged her, then looked over at Lazarus and the empty chair beside him that he was very happily standing beside with it already pulled out and waiting for Alex. “There’s a