Chapter 15
And then they were together again in the parlor, his teeth slid from her neck, and she turned to him, breathless and panting. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Oh Jamison," she said. He could feel tears sliding down his chest.
"Why are you crying?" he asked.
"I'm so happy. I saw us together. Dancing through the universe. And I felt so much of you. I can feel everything about you. I feel like I know you to the very core.”
"That's what it means to be mates," he said, holding her tight.
Upstairs, he drew a bath in her big new Jacuzzi bathtub in her master bedroom and they sat together in the lemon verbena scented bubbles.
"I want you to move in with me," she said. “I want us to start our life together.” They threaded their fingers together in the warm sudsy water.
"Nothing would make me happier."
On Christmas day, Jamison and Ruby drove to Sasha and Tony's house first thing in the morning. When they arrived, the kids were still in their pajamas. Jamison and Ruby stacked their presents under the tree.
"Would you like some hot chocolate and pecan pie?" Sasha asked with a big smile.
"I'd love some," Jamison said.
Sasha returned to the living room with two slices of pecan pie and hot chocolate as she sat down on the chair with her big belly ready to pop.
"How much longer?" Jamison asked.
"Any day now."
The children opened their Christmas presents. Ruby had bought them all winter clothes, jackets, scarves and hats. She’d bought them video games, skateboards and bikes.
“You’ll spoil them,” her mother said. Her dad’s face didn’t change expression.
"If I can't spoil my own nieces and nephews then what's the point?"
"Ruby told me that you were responsible for doing the electrical work on her house," Jamison said to Tony.
"She overpaid me too," he said.
"She does that," Jamison said, “but you did a fine job. Ruby told me that you've been having a hard time finding steady work. I need a new electrician on my crew, and I would love to have you."
"Really?" Tony said.
"The work is consistent, and I pay better than anyone else in town. I even offer health and dental.”
"I can't believe this," Tony said, looking at Sasha.
"Are you sure you're not just being generous like Ruby is with her gifts?" Sasha asked.
"Absolutely not. Tony is an excellent electrician and I would be lucky to have him on my crew.”
"In that case, I would be honored to come to work for you," Tony said, reaching out to shake Jamison's hand.
Ruby let out a sigh of contentment. She had wanted so much to help her sister, and it was Jamison who was finally able to give them what they really needed. He'd given her what she needed as well.
After presents were opened and they'd had enough treats to burst, Ruby was helping her mom take out the trash. She felt a wave of discomfort but told herself she’d hold it in for the holiday.
“Ruby,” her mom started. Ruby prepared herself for an insult. “I want you to know how sorry I am about Chad.”
Oh boy. “It was unfortunate, but I couldn’t be happier with Jamison.”
“I can see that. And I’m really happy for you, Ruby. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be safe and loved.”
Ruby did a double take. She wasn’t sure how to take her mother’s sudden sincerity. But she wasn’t going to question it. Maybe it was a Christmas miracle. Whatever it was, she was willing to accept it as the icing on the cake of a wonderful new life.
Later, they headed back to Jamison's old house. He was hosting a Christmas party there, one last time. Ruby had helped him wrap the gifts for his crew. It wasn't until after they'd mated that he told her that he was a member of a clandestine military operation responsible for taking down the hyena terrorists and eliminating them from the world once and for all. She had been shocked at first, but then it all seemed to make perfect sense. For her anyway, Jamison would always be a hero.
They put all of the gifts under the tree and cooked a big Christmas dinner for the crew. They arrived at seven, bearing gifts, food, and wine. Stephanie and Max were the first to arrive with their little baby boy Elliott. Then it was Rider and Darcy, who had brought an entire rack of lamb that looked so delicious it made Ruby's mouth water. Then Titus and Arabella arrived, singing songs and bearing gifts. Hawk and Elena came next wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and smiling as she rubbed her tiny baby belly. They were soon joined by Sampson and Megan with little Jimmy. The last to arrive was Zander. According to Jamison, he was the only one in the crew who still hadn't met his mate.
They gathered around the Christmas tree and Arabella led them in a round of Christmas carols while Titus opened a bottle of wine. He poured a glass for everyone who was drinking. They ate Darcy's lamb for dinner and feasted on all the sides that everyone had lovingly prepared, even an apple pie that Elena insisted Hawk had actually baked.
“I've been teaching him how to bake,” she said in a deep Polish accent. “He’s going to be amazing.” They kissed each other under the mistletoe that Jamison hung over their heads.
"Now it's time for gifts," Jamison said.
In the living room, the crew and their mates passed gifts around. Darcy and Rider had given everyone a subscription to a steak delivery service from a local rancher in Fate Rock.
"They supply most of the meat for Squad Goals. I thought you would like to have some at home," Darcy said.
Arabella and Titus had given everyone VIP tickets to her first concert at the beginning of her tour in Fate Rock and copies of her CD, along with a year’s membership to Titus’s gym. Jamison gave everyone gifts from the joke store, and they laughed at the silliness. Ruby gave the couples a signed copy of her latest romance novel. Hawk and Elena gave everyone ugly Christmas sweaters that fit everyone’s personality perfectly.
Max and Stephanie gave the crew homemade St. Louis-style barbecue sauce from Stephanie's grandfather’s recipe and a gift certificate to the baby supply store. Samson and Megan gave everyone new iPhones, and Zander gave everyone a gift certificate to the bookstore.
"So, you're really selling the house?" Hawk asked.
"I'm moving in with my lady," Jamison said.
"You'll be the first to leave the neighborhood," Rider said.
"You can all visit us any time. There is room for everyone at the farmhouse.” Ruby smiled proudly.
"I'd love to spend some time out in the country," Elena said. “Our neighborhood is amazing, but it's nice to be closer to nature.”
"Me too," said Megan. “I don't love the forest as much as my sister did, but it always reminds me of her."
After the presents were unwrapped and the wine drank, everyone said goodbye and Merry Christmas.
In the morning, they packed up a few boxes and drove out to the farmhouse. As Ruby carried a box of Jamison's flannel shirts across the threshold into the house, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside. She gasped and giggled as he kicked the door closed behind them. He carried her up the stairs with a growl and a smile, and Ruby knew that she had finally found her own happily ever after.
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Builder Bear (Justice Squad Book 6) Page 9