“Slade,” I growl. “Get her out of here.”
Jonah grabs her arm, but she knocks him off with a few girlie slaps to his hand. “Don’t you dare, Jonah Slade.” She presses against my chest, demanding my eyes. “There are cameras on you right now.” She jerks her head to Rusty. “His cameras. This is exactly what he wants. Don’t give it to him.”
“Yeah, Cameron.” Rusty nods to Eve. “Listen to the little girl. Walk away in front of a stadium packed with UFL fans. Show them what a * you are.”
“Slade. Now.”
“Fuck.” Jonah moves to grab her again.
“Yeah, Jonah. Get the little bitch—”
“Whoa!” Eve holds her hands up, and I’m seconds away from throwing her to Jonah so I can fuck this guy up. She scratches her chin. “On second thought”—she pushes up to her tiptoes and presses a long closed-mouthed kiss against my lips—“I think it’s about time you get your fight.” She looks between Rusty and me then brings her eyes back to mine. “Kick his ass.”
Finally, I get my fight with Rusty Faulkner. No judges. No commentators. In less than three minutes, it’s over by knockout.
Victory.
Without a single hit to my head.
Epilogue
Christmas Eve . . .
Eve
“You should see her, Eve. I found the tiniest Christmas dress with little tights and shoes. I’ll send you a picture.” Even through the phone, Raven’s excitement is infectious.
“Yes, do that. I need some updated pictures of her for my brag album.” Phone wedged between my ear and shoulder, I tape the corner of the last box I needed to wrap.
Cameron’s coffee table is covered with all the gifts that we’re bringing to Rosie’s care facility tonight. There are even a few on the floor.
“Didn’t you just take some pictures yesterday?”
“Yeah, but she grows so fast, and I need to see her in her very first Christmas dress.” I pull a shimmering golden ribbon around the gift and tie it in a neat bow.
“You sure you guys won’t come tonight? Jonah said he’s never been invited to Rex’s house, like ever. It’s a big deal that he’s throwing a party.”
“Rex’s in love. I’m not surprised he’s doing things he thought he’d never do.”
“Listen to you, little Miss Live-in Girlfriend.” Her soft giggle is followed by a content sigh. “You sure you can’t just swing by?”
“I want to spend as much time with Rosie as we can before the nurses chase us off, ya know?” Plus, I want to show Cameron his Christmas present, and I don’t know how long that will take. “You should see what I did in Rosie’s room: singing Santas, dancing snowmen, and a ton of colored lights hang from every surface I could reach. I swear it looks like the entire population of Whoville exploded in there.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“It is, Rave. It so is.” I never knew how much I could love a child that wasn’t mine, but between Sadie, Rosie, and even Ryder, they’ve all claimed a part of my heart in a way I’ve never experienced before.
“You’ll be here tomorrow, right?”
“With bells on. Tell everyone I said Merry Christmas Eve and sorry we couldn’t make it.”
“Will do.”
I end the call and put the finishing touches on my gifts.
“You went overboard.” Cameron drops down next to me on the couch and props his long denim-clad legs on the coffee table, ankles crossed with socked feet.
“I know, but it’s a special day.” I drop back, and he wraps a possessive arm around my waist.
He pushes my hair back over my shoulder, and the move has me tilting my head, inviting his lips. “Good thing your boss pays well.”
His growled words against the tender flesh of my throat send goose bumps down my arms. “That you do.” My heart races and my body tingles. “You sure you want to start this?”
“Mm-hmm.” He continues to assault my neck and jaw in light kisses and pulls of his teeth.
A low moan vibrates deep in my throat, and I fight the urge to push him back and straddle him right here. “We . . . We have to leave in thirty minutes.” The breathy sound of my voice makes him groan.
“Right.” He drops one last kiss below my earlobe then pushes back, but pulls me down to rest in the crook of his arm. “We’ll pick this up when we get home from Rosie’s.”
“About that, I just . . . I want to say thank you.” It sounds so lame, doesn’t do a sliver of justice to how I really feel. “You’ve given me Rosie and Ryder, and hell, even D’lilah. I love you guys, and you gave me all that. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“Bullshit. You’re the force that brought my family together and the glue that’s keeping us there.”