Garrett has always been there for my dad, and me. I don’t think either of us would have survived my mother’s death if it hadn’t been for Garrett.
I sigh into Charlotte’s neck and feel her pulling back to look at me. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, I lean in and kiss her lips. “I’m fine. Just thinking about my dad and Garrett.”
“Hmm, I’ve been thinking about him as well.” Charlotte dances me over to a corner, and I smirk, taking advantage of the mistletoe above us.
Breaking from the kiss, she gasps for breath, tugging me away. “I’m going to be dragging you upstairs to my old bedroom if we continue finding ourselves under the mistletoe.”
“That would work,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes, pulls me closer, and whispers, “I think we need to get your dad and Madison under the mistletoe.”
“What?” I shake my head. “No way…I mean it Charlotte,” I snap, and pull her into my arms. “I’m sorry. I know you hate seeing him alone, but he likes it that way. I do want him to be happy, but I don’t want to encourage anything with him and your cousin, okay? I can’t handle that.”
She sighs heavily. “I get it, and I’m the one who is sorry. I got carried away.” She reaches up and places a kiss on my cheek. “I won’t do or say anything else about Madison to him, okay?”
Smiling, I take her hand, and just as my lips touch her palm, I lose her to her brother, Michael. He grins while he takes her into the middle of the room.
“You’re probably not going to get her back for the rest of the evening,” Joshua, her younger brother drawls beside me. “Don’t worry though, we’re not cruel enough to keep you apart when the clock strikes midnight.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And, she can be a royal pain in the ass, so you might get her back before midnight.” He grins.
“Oh, you’ll get her back in five minutes, I’m guessing,” Alexander laughs, and turns to his date. “This is Gretchen.” He introduces us, but appears distracted as he glares over at his cousin, Rachel, who is currently introducing her date to her parents, Ramon and Noah. Perhaps there is truth in Charlotte’s theory about her cousins.
Joshua frowns at his cousin, but offers the shy Gretchen a smile. “Welcome to my family’s home,” he says. “I think as the son of the host, it’s my job to make sure you have a drink in your hand.” He slips his hand to her elbow and leads her away.
“I thought that was my job,” Alexander grumbles, but doesn’t seem too bothered, especially with the large sigh he lets out.
“Congratulations.” Alexander holds his hand to me, which I take.
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad she finally went after what she wanted more than her next breath,” his words trail off as he watches Rachel and her date.
The date puts his arm around his cousin’s waist and his hand lands on her hip.
My eyes snap to Alexander when I hear a low growl, so I quickly step in front of the man when he takes a step forward. He pulls up short.
“It’s none of my business, but I don’t think either of you want attention from your family right now.”
He sighs and shoves his hands through his already messy hair, and moans. “I think everyone probably knows by now, anyway.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
He looks at me and as Dylan, another cousin, comes up to talk to us, Alexander makes his excuses and goes after his date.
“Something I said.” Dylan grins. “I think I’m the easiest cousin to be around, right now.”
Our cousin, Jaxon, shoves Dylan out of the way. “I’m the only one who doesn’t have a love life, so I’d say that was me.”
“You have a girl Dylan?” his mother, Carla asks, linking her arm through his.
I smirk around the bottle of beer I’ve collected from the table behind me while I watch Dylan shoot Jaxon evil glances.
Jaxon snorts, laughing. “He doesn’t really have a girl,” he informs me. “I saw his mom behind him.” He grins and shakes his head. “No doubt he’ll get me back.” He shovels a large piece of cake into his mouth, and mumbles around the food, “You’ll get used to us, and then you’ll probably regret being a part of the family.”
“Ignore him,” Charlotte smacks him on the back of his head. “Don’t talk with your mouthful. Geez, are you still five.”
I laugh as he wanders off and Charlotte admits, “I’m sure he’d have said something inappropriate if his mouth hadn’t been stuffed.”
“Probably.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to my side. “Nothing, and no one, will ever scare me away from you.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “I thought you should know.”
“God, I shouldn’t hear that shit about my sister.” Joshua makes a gagging noise.
“Ignore my brothers…and cousins, they all regress to childhood when we’re at family parties.” She winks and turns to her brother. “Can we borrow your cuffs?”
Joshua’s smile disappears as the words die in his mouth. He narrows his eyes, opens his mouth to say something then closes it quickly before he turns and disappears in the crowd. Charlotte smirks. “I knew that would shut him up. We all tease him about his cuffs and what he’s used them for. He hasn’t told us so far…he will.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure. He’s FBI, right? He’ll be able to hold out longer than anyone in this room, I’d guess.”
“Hmm…that’s debatable.”
I raise a brow. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing, but I once caught him looking at his superior when I visited him at his office. She didn’t look much older than him, but even though he’s my brother, the look he sent in her direction was hot and steamy. It was weird. He laughed it off, but I know him.”
I roll my eyes and tug her into my arms. “It’s nearly midnight, and I want to be dancing with you when the New Year hits…So,” I kiss her sweet lips, “I suggest you stop seeing things that may or may not be happening around you, and concentrate on your fiancé.”
“Mmm,” her arms wrap tightly around my waist, as the blare from the TV at Times Square counts down, “I love you, Tanner Jackson, and I can’t wait to become your wife in fourteen days.”
Three…Two…
“I love you, Charlotte McKenzie.” My lips capture my fiancée’s as every one screams, Happy New Year.
The noise is drowned out by the blood rushing through my ears at my own eager response to the woman in my arms.
She means the world to me and in fourteen days, I’ll be running down the aisle to make her my wife.
Epilogue
Michael & Lily McKenzie
Unfastening the cuffs of my shirt, and another button from the neck, I lean against the doorjamb as I watch my wife staring out into the dark as the fresh snow falls.
Twenty-eight years she’s been by my side and the woman still causes my breath to catch at the back of my throat. She can still make me want her with just one word, with one look. She’s beautiful on the inside and out, and I sure as hell got lucky that day many years before in the elevator at McKenzies.
Moving toward her, I smile when I realize she’s spotted my reflection in the window, and slide my hands around her midriff. She leans back against my chest with a long sigh. “Did you enjoy tonight?”
“You know I did,” I reply, nuzzling into her neck. “You always arrange us like soldiers so nothing goes wrong,” I tease.
“You’d do anything for me,” she intertwines her fingers with mine, “just like I would you.”
“I would.” Frowning, I lift my face away from her neck and turn her in my arms so that I can see her beautiful face that appears etched with worry. “What’s wrong, honey?” I tilt her chin up so I can search her gaze, but all I see is love.
“There’s nothing wrong.” She wraps her arms around my waist and nuzzles her face against my chest. “I was just standing here thinking about the life you’ve given me and how I wouldn’t change anything. I was
worrying about our youngest with him being in law enforcement. I think I worry about him the most.”
I brush my lips against the top of her head, and admit, “I worry about him too, but honey, he’s been trained by the best and we need to trust him to know what he’s doing.”
“I know that, but I still worry.”
I chuckle. “Me too.” Guiding her down to the plush rug in front of the blazing fire, I wiggle my brows. “I thought I’d have my wicked way with my wife.”
“Hmm, is that right?”
Kneeling, I slowly unbutton her blouse, revealing a white lacy bra. I ease a cup to one side and fondle one small globe before my lips touch the hard bud with tantalizing possessiveness.
Lily moans, gasping for breath as she quickly unbuttons my shirt, shoving it down my arms. “I want to see you. All of you.”
Pausing, I hold her gaze before moving away to remove my clothing that keeps me from her gaze. Her eyes heat as I reveal more and more flesh, and when I’m standing in front of her, highly aroused, Lily plants a kiss to the tip of my cock before removing her own clothes.
She lies on the rug and the sight with the shadow of flames flickering over her body is beautiful. She holds her hand out, which I take as I lie down beside her on my side.
I lean in and capture her lips in a sweet kiss, one that is so familiar, and one that always tells me how much she loves me.
Caressing her jaw with my fingers, I slowly move down her body. Smiling, I hover over her aroused body and let my tongue caress her sensitive swollen nipples while my hand slides over her silken belly. My tongue follows, making a path down her ribs to her stomach, finding her pleasure points.
“Not tonight,” she begs. “I want you inside of me, Michael, while you hold me close.”
Slowly making my way back up to her, I slide my hands over her smooth thighs, and sheath myself inside her warmth.
I can’t help the shudder rippling through me at the feel of her wetness as it wraps around me. I gather her close so not an inch separates us and slowly love her while holding her gaze.
“You,” I whisper, “are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” I kiss the curve of her neck, her earlobe, and finally her sweet lips.
“I love you, Michael.” Her hands hold my ass, keeping me inside her. “Nothing feels this good.”
“Lily,” I moan, “I need to feel you.”
She gasps and the feel of her release rippling along my cock sets my own off, and I grunt, gently thrusting, filling her the way I always have. Time stands still while my wife clings to me, trying to catch her breath.
I keep her wrapped in my arms and roll us to the side, taking the weight. “I love you.” I kiss her shoulder.
“Mmm,” she mumbles, snuggling more deeply against me. “I can’t believe that our oldest daughter is going to be married… We need to help Joshua along.”
“I think Joshua has his hands full with his job right now.”
“He looked lonely, though. Didn’t you notice? The others had someone with them, but he was alone. It bothers me more than I guess it should. It was as though he looked troubled.”
Sighing, I suggest, “Our kids are still in their twenties, they don’t need to rush into anything. Look at Sirena…she rushed when she was younger.”
“Hmm, and Alexander and Rachel.”
I frown and wonder what she’s talking about. “What about them?”
“You haven’t noticed anything?”
“If I knew what I was suppose to be noticing then maybe I could answer you.”
She chuckles. “If you’d noticed then you’d know exactly what I was talking about.”
“Lily,” I groan. “Spill it.”
“I think they’re in love with each other.”
I capture the hand that’s wandering between our bodies, and bring it up to kiss her palm. “I don’t know whether or not you’re correct, but I’m not thinking about anyone else but you tonight.” I kiss her mouth to silence her next words. “Whatever is going on with them will still be there tomorrow. Tonight you are mine in front of the fire.”
“I’m always yours, Michael.”
“And I’m always yours, Lily.”
THE END
Dear Reader
Thank you for reading McKenzie Cousins, Box Set One, and thank you for your reviews! It’s really appreciated.
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Acknowledgments
Individual Cover Designer: Robin Harper, Wicked by Design
Editor: Sirena van Schaik and Abigail Higson
BETA Readers: Jo Magson, Laura Ward, Sonya Covert, and Lynne Garlick
Other books by Author
Bad Boy Rockers
Book 1: My Brother’s Girl (Sizzle) (Jack ‘Jack’ & Thalia)
Book 2: Past Sins (Spicy) (Reece & Callie)
Book 3: My Best Friend’s Sister (Sultry) (Donovan & Mara)
Book 4: Never Let Go (Savor) (Ryder & Dahlia)
Book 5: Saving Jace (Sinful) (Jace & Savannah)
Book 6: Silent Night (Novella)
Kincaid Sisters
Book 1: Meant to be Mine
Book 2: You Were Always Mine (coming soon)
Book 3: Will You be Mine (coming soon)
McKenzie Brothers
Book 1: Seduce (Michael & Lily)
Book 1.5: The Wedding (Novella)
Book 2: Rapture (Sebastian & Carla)
Book 3: Delight (Ruben & Rosie)
Book 4: Entice (Lucien & Sabrina)
Book 5: Cherished (Ramon & Noah)
Book 5.5: A McKenzie Christmas (Novella)
De La Fuente Family (McKenzie Spinoff)
Book 1: Love in Montana (Sylvia & Eric)
Book 2: Love in Purgatory (Dante & Emelia)
Book 3: Love in Bloom (Mateo & Erin)
Book 4: Love in Country (Aiden & Sarah)
Book 5: Love in Flame (Diego & Rae)
Book 6: Love in Game (Kasey & Felicity)
Book 7: Love in Education (Andie & Seth)
McKenzie Cousins
(McKenzie Spinoff)
Book 1: Baby Makes Three (Sirena & Garrett)
Book 2: A Business Decision (Michael & Brooke)
Book 3: Secret Kisses (Charlotte & Tanner)
Book 4: Kissing Cousins (Rachel & Alexander)
Book 5: If Only (Madison & Derek)
Book 6: Princess & the Puck (Paige & Seth)
Book 7: A Bakers Delight (Sofia & Shane)
Book 8: A Cowboy for Christmas (Olivia & Geary)
Book 9: A Secret Affair (Joshua & Mallory)
Book 10: One Christmas (Dylan & Jenna)
Book 11: The Pregnant Professor (Jaxon & Poppy)
Book 12: It Started with a Kiss (Ryan & Gretchen)
Box Set One: Books One to Three
Box Set Two: Books Four to Six
Box Set Three: Books Seven to Nine
Box Set Four: Books Ten to Twelve
Jackson Hole
Book 1: From This Moment
Book 1.5: When we Meet (Novella, in the back of From This Moment)
Book 2: New Beginning (coming soon)
Romantic Suspense
Lawful
Stryker
Standalone Novella’s
One Dance
Educate Me
Pure
Holiday Season
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
A Soldier’s Christmas
Jingle Bells
Written as Rona Jameson
Butterfly Girl
Come Back to Me
Summer at Rose Cottage
Tears in the Rain
Twenty Eight Days
About the Author
English born Rona Jameson is an author of romance who currently resides in Ireland with her husband, four children, one dog and three cats. She’s been writing since 2013 as Lexi Buchanan, which is where you can fi
nd her more explicit writing.
Follow on social media:
Website: http://ronajameson.com
Email: [email protected]
McKenzie Cousins Box Set 1 Page 43