They busily hurried around the big space, pulling out trunks and chairs and things to play with. Casey watched them, fascinated at how quickly they got into whatever make-believe game they were setting up. The older boys were ordering the younger ones around. There was a clear pecking order already established among them.
“What are you doing?” she asked them.
“We’re going to play Peter Pan,” Fox said.
“I want to play,” she said, because she really did. And how better to supervise them than to join them?
“You can’t,” Coyote said. “We’re the lost boys.”
“It’s make-believe, stupid. I can be anything you can be.”
“You could be Wendy,” Spider said. “We never had a Wendy before.”
“Well, we did, but she wasn’t a real person,” Squirrel added.
Casey shook her head. “I don’t want to be Wendy. I’ll be Peter Pan.”
“You can’t be Peter Pan,” Wren said. “Lion’s always Peter Pan.”
“Not this time,” Lion said, making Casey jump.
She hadn’t realized he and Hawk had come up to the attic. And drat it all, she’d forgotten to close the attic door. Now here he was, practically laughing at her for joining the cubs. She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Be Wendy,” he said. “You can boss them like she does.”
“I’ll be Wendy if you’ll be Peter Pan.” That challenge was out of her mouth before she’d completed the thought. His eyes really were laughing at her.
“Can’t do it. Hawk and I are taking the older boys to Hope’s automotive class.” He looked over the younger cubs, then picked Spider to take that spot. He chose Squirrel to be Captain Hook, then let the rest of the crew choose their own roles.
Hawk went toward the stairs. Lion started to follow them, but paused by Casey to whisper, “Play along. It’s good for them. Keep them busy for about an hour or two so we have time to do our training.”
The smile that followed that request was for Casey alone. She couldn’t look away from his blue eyes. “Okay. I will.”
Anything—anything Lion wanted, she would have done. No questions asked. The heat in her neck and face was nothing like that around her heart.
When the door downstairs closed, Coyote began to chant, “Casey loves Lion. Casey loves Lion.”
“I do not,” Casey said.
Coyote didn’t stop. Squirrel and Spider exchanged smiles. “It’s okay. Wendy’s always loved Peter Pan,” Mouse said. “Least, that’s how we play it.”
3
Max walked into the garage at the team’s headquarters. Though it was heated, it was still a chilly place to work. Hope had recently begun teaching Lion, Hawk, and the older cubs the basics of vehicle maintenance in conjunction with their driving lessons.
Max crossed his arms and watched the boys as he waited for the class to finish up.
Owen and the team were still working on establishing identification for some of the cubs. While some remembered their information from before they joined the pride, many had been with Lion since they were only six; they remembered little of their time before becoming a cub. Others did remember, but searches for surviving family members had so far produced no results. Two of the boys were confirmed orphans; Owen had begun the process of becoming the legal guardian for them.
Things were very much still in flux for the team, but at the moment, watching Hope standing on a stool, bent over the engine of one of the team’s SUVs, life felt exactly as it should be. The boys Hope was teaching were avid listeners and fast learners. Lion’s pride had a lot of catch-up to do when it came to living in regular society, and they were hungry to know everything they could.
Max leaned against a worktable in the garage. Hope’s necklace with his diamond skull ring was sitting in a swirl of white gold. She always removed it before working on the vehicles. He’d bought her a carved wooden box for it…and the ring he was going to give her this weekend.
He watched her work with the boys. So complete was her focus that she didn’t even notice him. That was fine. Very shortly, she’d be his for the weekend. He hoped she had no idea what he had planned for them. He’d made it seem it was a simple thing of a little time away, just the two of them, but it was much more than that.
He’d worked on this for weeks, paying attention to every detail, coordinating with Ivy, Val, Jim, Russ, and so many others to get it all perfect. He couldn’t actually take any real time away from the team at the moment, but what he had planned would feel pretty damn close.
He smiled to himself. He’d never gone to such trouble for anyone ever before—but Hope wasn’t just any woman. She was the only thing in his world that really mattered. He wanted this weekend to be one they’d tell their grandkids about.
When Hope’s lesson was over, the kids put their stools away. The room got noisy as they went over to the utility sink to wash up. They removed their coveralls and hung them up. Finally, Hope spotted him. She smiled at him. Her blond hair was up in a spiky ponytail to keep it out of her face. His body tightened. He needed to remind her to pack for cold weather, then wondered if they’d ever leave their bed.
She pulled off her nitrile gloves and walked between his spread legs. Leaning up to kiss him, she watched him with those brown eyes of hers all warm and inviting. He bent toward her, but didn’t reach for her. He was far too hungry for her to be satisfied with so little contact—and he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of her students.
“I’m all packed,” she said.
“With warm clothes?”
“Yup.” She smiled at him, then moved away to step out of her coveralls and wash up. She slipped her necklace over her head. “I’m going to shower. I’ll hurry.”
Max shook his head. “We’re not rushing this weekend. At all. Take your time with your shower. We have to have lunch first anyway.”
She held his forearm as she stretched up to kiss his cheek. “What do you have up your sleeve for us this weekend?”
“I can’t tell you. It’s a surprise.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re one stubborn man?”
He nodded. “In this, I am.” He followed her into the house. Kit was in the den and hollered for him to join them as they went past. Max told Hope to go on with her shower and meet in the living room when she was done. “Don’t rush—but hurry up.” He laughed.
When she moved on, he switched directions. “Got something on your mind, Kit?” Max asked.
“As a matter of fact, I do. Close the door.”
The whole team was in the room. Felt like a damned ambush.
Kit smiled. “Good luck this weekend.”
Max swept the room with a look. Eight men, two women—all of them grinning at him. How the hell they’d kept his secret, he’d never know. “Thanks.”
“Does Hope know your plans?” Ace asked.
“Not as far as I know. Unless one of you slipped.” Max glared at Val, who held up his hands.
“Don’t look at me with those crazy eyes.” The big blond laughed. “I haven’t said a word.”
“So when are you tying the knot?” Greer asked.
“I’m leaving that up to her.” Max tried to play it cool, but he couldn’t keep the happy smile from his face. “Maybe we’ll visit a justice of the peace next week.”
“Or maybe she’ll want a big shindig,” Owen said. “Whatever it is, we’ll make it happen. Just let us know what you need.”
“Thanks, boss. I will.”
When Max left the den, he went into the kitchen. Jim and Russ were having their lunch at the table. Both men gave him the same silly smiles as the team had.
“Everything’s ready for you,” Jim said, setting his sandwich down.
“I’ll admit to being blown away by what Jim did,” Russ said. “He worked a miracle on that place. I never knew he had such an eye for design.”
“Never had an opportunity to show you,” Jim told Russ. “It’ll come in handy whe
n we open our B&B.”
“I hope that’s not happening anytime soon. We need you guys here,” Max said.
“We’re here as long as you need us,” Russ said.
Max nodded. “Thanks. For everything.”
He left the kitchen and wandered into the dining room. Breakfast and lunch were served buffet-style so everyone could eat on their own timetable. The group from the den had made their way down to the dining room. Seeing Max, they all grinned. None of their ladies asked questions—they knew what was up. Max glared at all of them, then went into the living room to wait for Hope.
She didn’t leave him waiting long. He met her at the bottom of the stairs and took her overnight bag. “Maybe we should just head out.”
Hope smiled and set a hand on his chest. She was the most exquisite female he’d ever set eyes on. “Look who’s in a hurry now.”
He kissed her, smiling when their lips touched. “Can you blame me? Finally, we have time for just you and me. No ops. No work. Just us.”
Hope pushed free. “Very true. All the more reason I need food for sustenance.” She handed her purse to him then took off for the dining room.
Max set her bag and purse down near the door, then followed her. He gave everyone who saw them a glower, hoping they knew to keep their mouths shut, which they did, but their eyes were still laughing.
Hope reached the buffet bar. She shot him a quick frown as if they were the only sane people in the room. “What’s up with everyone?” she whispered.
“Ignore them,” Max growled. “They have dirty minds.”
Hope giggled. “Dirty? Or accurate?” she asked, leaning close. She moved on, but for a long moment following that comment, he just stood there like a fool, breathing in the faint scent of her body wash, remembering the feel of her silky blond hair slipping over his bare skin…
Kit came along next to him in the buffet line. He elbowed Max, yanking him from his thoughts. “The sooner you eat, the sooner you can get outta here.”
Max made himself a roast beef on rye sandwich, then followed Hope to the table. Ivy sat on Hope’s other side.
“Are you excited for your special weekend?” Ivy asked.
“I am. I can’t wait to head out!” Hope answered.
“Where are you going?” Ivy asked.
Hope looked at Max. He only raised his brows, giving her no clues. He thought Ivy was cutting it close, seeing as she did know where they were going.
Hope shook her head. “I have no idea. He’s keeping the whole thing a huge secret.”
Max realized that Hope looked happier than she’d been in a long while. So much had happened in the past few weeks; Owen had come home with Addy and his sons, Lion and his pride had been rescued, King was dead. And then there were the weird-ass human mutations on the loose. Everyone here was working on a new normal. Hope was thriving, having her brother near, teaching auto mechanics to the boys in the pride. The older four were going for their driver licenses next week.
Incredibly, things were about to get even better…if she accepted his proposal.
After lunch, they met in the foyer. Max had already put their things in Blade’s Jeep. Hope was dressed for cold weather, as he’d suggested. Hiking boots, insulated leggings, a couple of layers of sweaters. He helped her with her puffer jacket. “Ready?” he asked as he pulled her hair free of the collar.
She looked at him over her shoulder and nodded. “More than ready.”
He held her hand and walked her out to the Jeep, which he already had running. It was a cold day, so he’d warmed it up for her. They drove the long way around the house, moving around the tunnel access to the bunker and out past the stables and kennels.
“Where are we going?” Hope asked.
Max shifted gears as he reached the dirt road between BLM land and Blade’s property. He reached for her hand. “Someplace special. Cold, but special.”
She smiled and faced forward. “I didn’t know there was a special place out here. Well, besides Kelan’s cave.” She gasped. “Is that where we’re going?”
“No.” He looked at her. “Unless you want to get cozy with a hibernating bear?”
She bit her lip. “I already have one. Don’t need two.”
He laughed. She was so easy to please. Any thoughtful act, no matter how small, gave her joy. How had he lucked into a woman like her?
The dirt road became even rougher the farther they went from Blade’s home. It would have been all but invisible had it not been heavily used by the team as they helped Max work on the hunting cabin over the last several weeks.
He thought about asking Hope how she felt about Christmas, but was worried she’d say the holiday wasn’t her favorite. He hadn’t been to the hunting cabin since Jim and Ivy had completed decorating, but Greer told him it looked like the North Pole had vomited elves.
“Are you sure about this?” Hope asked as they began to climb in altitude and the rutted dirt road became snow-covered.
“I’m sure.” That was a fucking lie. He was scared to death she was going to hate it. All of it. What the hell did he know about Christmas? It had been a long time since he’d actually celebrated the holiday—not since he was a kid. And those celebrations weren’t memories he cared to think about.
Another mile, and they pulled up outside the cabin. It had just been a plain old shack when Max had first seen it months ago. He’d built the deck outside the front door that went the length of the house. He and Greer had scavenged for the long branches that formed the deck’s railing. Now it was furnished with Adirondack chairs and a bentwood bench. Quilted Christmas-themed blankets were draped over the seatbacks. Two potted evergreens with twisting red ribbons stood on one side of the front door, with a wooden snowman cut from repurposed boards between them. Strings of colorful solar lights decorated the handrails. And a stack of fresh-cut wood was piled near the door.
Hope gasped. Max’s eyes shot in her direction; was that a gasp of joy or horror? Dammit all, he shouldn’t have tried to surprise her. To his relief, a squeal of delight broke from her.
“Max! This is wonderful! Our very own hideaway!” She leaned over and hugged him, then frowned. “Tell me your technology doesn’t work out here.”
“It doesn’t. Because I left my comms at the house. I have my cell, but service is spotty up here. If we’re needed before our weekend’s up, someone will have to drive out here to get us.”
She got out of the Jeep and slowly went up to the cabin. The snow was deep, but the wide path of stone pavers had been cleared for them. The front patio must have been set up just this morning, since it was free of snow.
Hope stood at the edge of the deck as if transfixed. She shook her head. Her eyes were tearing up.
Fuck it all. He should have taken her to Miami for the weekend.
“This is amazing. I didn’t know this cabin was here,” she said, her voice hushed.
“It’s an old hunting cabin. The guys and I have been working on fixing it up.”
Her eyes widened. She blinked. “How long have you been working on this?”
“Weeks.” He shrugged. “Months. I built the front deck. Greer and I built the railing. Kit and Rocco worked on the roof. Everyone worked on chinking the logs. We had a fireplace guy come out to fix the one here.”
“You’ve been planning this a while.”
“Yeah.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “This is wonderful. Magical.”
“They tell me the inside is even better than the outside.” If you liked elves, that was.
“You haven’t seen it?”
Max shook his head. “No. Once Ivy and Jim took it over for the final touches, I wasn’t allowed to come up here.”
“No wonder you’ve been so antsy!” Hope laughed.
He crossed the wide deck and reached for the door latch. “Ready?”
“Oh, I am.”
Heat was the first thing Max felt when they stepped inside. A fire was still burning in the fireplac
e. Two overstuffed double-sized armchairs with matching ottomans faced the fire. Their deep forest-green upholstery matched the colors of the season. Under them was a big woven rug in greens and earth tones.
An old-world wood-burning stove held a position in the center of one wall. In the middle of the room was an antique round table with four ladderback chairs.
A built-in bed nook was situated on the far wall. It had privacy curtains with what looked like a crisp Pennsylvania Dutch pattern of discs, flowers, and people in rich red, green, yellow, and blue colors. The curtains were pulled back, revealing a mattress covered with white linens, a down comforter, and layers of quilts. Big European square feather pillows were stacked at one end, and several decorative pillows sat in front of them. The mix of patterns and textures was dazzling and homey.
Two huge drawers were underneath the built-in bed cubby. A door off to the side led into a small bathroom. Max thought of all the work that had gone into making an off-grid restroom. The toilet was an incinerating one. The guys wouldn’t have bothered with it for themselves, but the whole reason for refurbishing the cabin was to have a place their women wanted to visit, so proper facilities were a must.
A long rag carpet covered the floor in front of the bed. Max turned and looked around the whole space. He’d never have been able to come up with any of the comforts Jim and Ivy had. He glanced over at Hope, who’d been moving around the little room. She met his eyes, looking awe-stricken.
“I feel like we’re in a Christmas card. This is amazing.”
“You like it, then?”
“Like it? I love it! That bed looks wonderful. Will it fit you?”
“We had that mattress specially made. It’s basically an extra-long queen. We had to special order all the linens, too.”
Hope pulled a ladder out from its crevice at one end of the bed. It had iron hooks at the top. “What’s this?”
Max hooked it up to a railing on the flat platform above the built-in sleeping cubby. “It’s for the upper bunk. Several of the guys have a kid or two now. Gives them a place to crash.”
Max and Hope_A Red Team Wedding Novella_The Red Team, Book 13 Page 3