Melonee Bracs Mistletoe Madness 30 (14 page)

Melonee glanced up to see a mistletoe hanging from another doorway. It seemed the house was riddled with them, and she had a feeling she knew who was running around hanging them. She knew the mates were making sure the house was festive for Christmas tomorrow, but this was a little extreme.

“Gotcha.” Strong arms wrapped around her waist as Adam turned her in his arms and then glanced up at the mistletoe. “I’ve never seen a house decorated with so many of those things before.” He leaned forward, placing a sizzling kiss on her lips. Melonee almost forgot they were standing in the foyer as she tried to climb his hard body. He laughed, releasing her as he grabbed her hand. “Come on. George made some cookies, and if we don’t hurry, they will be all gone.”

Adam stopped pulling her along and gave her a wide smile that showed his brilliant white teeth. “Christmas is my favorite time of the year.”

Adam had told her about his sterile upbringing and how his only fond memories from childhood were from his visits to his grandparents’ house for the holidays. She had learned a lot about the man and found that—even though he bought distressed businesses only to have them torn apart and sold off—she liked what she learned.

Thankfully, after the deceitful way Kenyon had used Adam, her mate decided it was time to find a new line of work.
“Where’s Ruttford?” she asked as Adam led her to the kitchen.
“Eating all the cookies. Not only do we need to save the sugary treats, but I think George is going to crack if we don’t get him out of there.”
“Why?”
“Because Ruttford is trying to eat everything he can get his hands on. Apparently I’m not the only one who loves this time of year.”
Melonee hurried toward the kitchen, knowing how George could get when he was riled up. The only thing worse was when Tank became mad because George was riled up. It still amazed her that someone as large as Tank could become such a big teddy bear around his mate. But then again, it seemed all the sentries in the house became goobers for their mates.
Melonee ducked when a spatula came whizzing across the kitchen and hit the wall by her head.
“Eat one more thing and I’m gonna skin your hide!”
Ruttford danced around the kitchen, avoiding George as he shoved more cookies into his mouth. “I’m a Christmas elf. You should have known better than to bake cookies!”
“Ruttford!” Melonee shouted.
Her mate stopped running, smiled at her with a mouth full of cookies, and then grabbed a few more off of the plate before racing toward the kitchen door.
“Keep him out of here before I roast his ass on an open fire,” George warned as he glared at the kitchen door. “Christmas elf or not, he’s going to get his ass kicked.”
“I promise to keep him out,” Melonee said before she and Adam took off after Ruttford, laughing at the peeved look on George’s face. They caught up to the cookie bandit, Ruttford handing over his stolen cache to Melonee and Adam.
“I think he’s going to string me up if I go back in there,” Ruttford said with amusement.
“Oh my god,” Adam said as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. “These are the best damn cookies I have ever tasted.”
Adam felt his balls clench when Cecil strode toward them with a large smile on his face. Melonee had warned him about the man. She told Adam to never, under any circumstances, go anywhere with Cecil. The man may look innocent, but he was the devil incarnate.
“What are you up to?” Melonee asked as Ruttford grabbed her from behind, hugging her close.
Cecil stopped, pulling his pant leg up to show off the metal bracelet around his ankle. Adam didn’t think the judge meant it for a fashion statement. “I get this damn thing off after Christmas.”
“How?” Ruttford asked.
Cecil dropped his pant leg and smiled. “My lawyer got the charges dismissed. Our case was thrown out when my lawyer found out that the arresting officers didn’t read us our Miranda rights. One hell of a Christmas present, huh? Of course, it was strongly advised that Blair, Oliver, and I stay the hell out of New York City.” Cecil glanced at Ruttford. “Where is your troublemaking brother?”
Ruttford shrugged. “Last I saw Fire, Johnny and Keata had him in the horse stable.”
Cecil grinned. It was the kind of smile that made one feel like the devil was hidden inside the man. “I think I’ll go…help.”
Somehow Adam had a feeling that helping was the last thing Cecil was going to do. Turning after Cecil walked away, Adam gazed at his two mates, still in awe of how his life had changed so drastically. He had come to Brac Village to take this town apart. Instead he was calling it home.
He strode over to the two, kissing each in turn. They weren’t short-lived kisses, but they set fire to his blood as he drank them both in, filling his lungs with their scents, and enjoying their taste.
“What was that for?” Ruttford asked when he finally pulled away, panting as he as gazed at Adam.
Adam pointed to the ceiling above them where mistletoe was hanging. “Just thought I would take advantage of the decorative display.”
Melonee laughed. “Then pucker up because they are all over the place.”
Adam laid one hand on Melonee’s cheek, the other on Ruttford’s. “It would be my pleasure.”

Adam blew into his hands, trying to keep them warm as he stood outside the coffee shop. He was supposed to meet Vincent here, but the man was already twenty minutes late. He had never met the guy in person, so he wasn’t really sure who he was looking for. Adam had learned of Vincent’s services through a business associate. They had never met face-to-face, and Adam was a little nervous.

Although it could be the fact that Maverick was waiting in the coffee shop and there were others from the house hiding in various places, unseen to the naked eye. It all felt so covert. He felt like he was some damn spy on a mission.

Adam glanced around but didn’t see anyone. He knew the command was directed at him because the hairs on his neck were standing. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He felt kind of silly talking to someone who wasn’t there.

“I’m talking about the shifters who have their eyes trained on me.”
Adam was a little surprised Vincent knew about the shifters. But then again, he wouldn’t be a highly sought-after go-to intelligence man if he didn’t know what he was doing. “They are here to protect me.”
“Or find out who I am and what I know.”
Adam was no longer worried about his cold hands. Not when the deep voice sounded low and lethal. Maybe he should have had one of the shifters standing next to him. “Will you come out here? I feel foolish standing here talking to the cold air.”
Adam was taken aback when a man no taller than five four stepped out from the side of the building. He looked more like he belonged on the back of a horse as a jockey than a threat to him. But Adam wasn’t foolish enough to judge the man by his appearance. He had learned that looks could be deceptive.
But damn the man was short.
“Where is the man who was so adamant about meeting me?” Vincent asked.
“Right here.”
Adam turned to see Maverick standing at his side. He hadn’t even heard him come out of the coffee shop. That was some spooky shit.
“Maverick?”
“Vincent Caldwell?”
“You two know each other?” Adam asked as he stared between the two. He took a step back when Maverick laughed and grabbed Vincent, giving him a crushing hug. That was not the image he thought to ever see with the deadly alpha.
“How the hell have you been?” Maverick asked as he moved away from Vincent.
“Been doing good. You?”
Maverick shrugged. “Can’t complain. So, you are into the covert shit I see. I should have known from the way you used to know everything that was going on.”
“Wait,” Adam said as he raised a hand, confused as all hell. “How do you two know each other?”
“This,” Vincent said as he waved a hand at Maverick, “used to be my partner in crime when we were small pups. You didn’t see one without the other.”
Adam wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or worried. His intel guy was best buds with Maverick. Was that a good thing?
“At least now I know I don’t have to kill you for knowing about shifters,” Maverick said as he held the door open to the coffee shop. Vincent walked in, Maverick behind him. Adam just stood there feeling like he missed the punch line. They had totally forgotten about him, leaving him to stand outside in the cold.
Opening the door, Adam wandered in to see the two men sitting over in a corner on the red couch. He took a seat by them, listening.
“I gathered as much information as I could on Kenyon. It seems the man has been a busy little devil. He doesn’t have concrete proof about Brac Village, only suspicion. I managed to break into his files and wipe out what he had, replacing it with bullshit.”
“But he’s still a threat we need to keep an eye on,” Maverick said as he picked up a mug and took a sip. “He already knows vampires exist. I don’t want him finding out about everyone else.”
“I think his assistant will keep him in the dark,” Vincent replied. “I dug into Les’s past and found out the man is a shifter. It seems he is working to take down Kenyon Corporation.”
That would explain the vague files on Brac Village the man had given Adam.
“No shit,” Maverick said with a laugh.
Adam felt so out of place sitting there. He hadn’t a clue what to say to them. Maybe he should get back to his mates. When he left, Melonee and Ruttford were sipping hot apple cider and cuddled together in the den. If he hurried, he could get in some cuddle time as well. “If you gentlemen don’t mind, I’m going to head home.”
Home.
Adam liked the sound of that. The Den was one strange-ass place to live, but Adam knew it was a far cry from what he once had. The place was filled with life and love, something he had been sorely missing. The Den also held the two people who meant the world to him, and he couldn’t wait to get back to them both.
Maverick waved him off, not even looking Adam’s way. Adam would take that. It was better than the alpha trying to skin him alive if Vincent had turned out to be a threat.
Whistling as he walked out of the shop, Adam saw Murdock standing by the truck waiting on him. “You ready to head out?”
Adam nodded. “I’m ready to go home.”
* * * *

The house was bubbling with holiday cheer as everyone opened their Christmas gifts. Melonee sat there with Adam and Ruttford, feeling as if she had received the best gift of all. She had her mates and her family. Nothing could top that.

Well, maybe one thing.
Standing, Melonee made her way over to her dads, watching Maverick and Cecil as the two unwrapped their gifts and shared a look between them that said how much they truly loved each other. Melonee finally had not one, but two men whom she could share a look like that with.
“Here comes trouble,” Cecil said with a smile. Melonee stuck her tongue out as she leaned over and kissed them both on the cheek.
“Merry Christmas, Dads.” She felt Ruttford and Adam come up behind her. Even though Melonee said she could do this on her own, she should have known her mates were going to stand by her side.
“Merry Christmas, Melonee,” Maverick said as he pulled her down by his side. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how proud I was of the way you handled the situation with Fire. But if you do something like that again, I’m going to have your mates lock you up and throw away the key.”
Melonee’s heart burst with pride at the compliment—although it was followed up by a threat. She had finally proven that she was an adult to Maverick. She knew that was a major feat to accomplish.
“So, no more trying to keep us separated?”
Maverick cocked his head to the side, as if thinking about it. Melonee smacked his chest. “Dad!”
“Fine, but you better not expect me to play nice.” He smiled, showing off his lethal canines. “You are my little girl, after all. I have to do the whole
if you hurt my daughter, I’ll kill you
thing.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,
grandpa
.”
Maverick became very still as his eyes searched Melonee’s face for a very long moment. When she thought he would stay frozen like that forever, the widest grin she had ever seen broke out on the alpha’s face. “Really?”
Melonee nodded as Ruttford and Adam sat down beside her.
“Guess you can’t kill us now,” Ruttford replied with a smirk.
“And I will be more than happy to raise the little guy if you keep thinking you finally have me over a barrel,” Maverick replied in a calm, even tone.
“Be nice,” Cecil said as he leaned over and gave Melonee a tight hug. “It’s Christmas.”
Maverick eyed both men before sighing. “Congratulations,” he said to Adam and Ruttford. “Now you are really on my shit list.”
“Why?” Ruttford asked in astonishment.
“You knocked my little girl up. It’s hard to be a badass when I’m going to be a grandfather.”
“Melonee’s pregnant?” Johnny asked excitedly and then turned toward the room. “Melonee is going to have a baby!”
The room erupted in a cheer as Ruttford and Adam pulled Melonee away, running from the room and down the hall lined with mistletoe. She had her mates and her family, and now she was going to have a small family of her own.
Life was good in the Den. She had all the heart-stopping happiness she could handle, and there was no doubt that the two men who had stolen her heart and given theirs in return would bring her many years of joy.

Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.