Page 27 of Let it Snow Queen

CHRISTMAS DAY

Declan giggled, and the smell of roasted meats and sweet pies wafted through the house. Christmas. “Mommy, Mommy, look!” Declan grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the stairs.

“Oh my.” I giggled as my son climbed the stairs and launched his little metal cars down a makeshift cardboard ramp.

“So fast!” Dec squealed.

Fox shrugged. “He’s the coolest kid ever, Ruby.”

“Dinner’s ready!” Mommy shouted, and we all moved into the dining room.

My dads had made peace with the situation enough to at least be polite, though my dad was struggling at times. My mama was straight-up fawning and it was embarrassing but kind of cute. And Dec . . . Declan freaking loved the guys. They’d played all day together.

After we filled our plates and the hum of conversation started, my dad asked, “So, is the plan to work up in Hope Falls? You boys livin’ there now?”

“Yes, sir, that’s the plan,” Gallow answered. “Of course, it depends on a couple of things too,” he said, flicking me a glance. My heart warmed.

“I’m moving to Hope Falls,” I said between bites of mashed potatoes.

A flurry of shock came from each parent. I was used to it by now. I’d give them all a moment to freak out before speaking again. I had at least three more bites of food before I had to answer to them. Taking a sip of wine, I continued. “Well, Declan and I are.”

“Ruby . . . ,” my papa said hesitantly.

“It’s not just for the guys. It’s for us. I love being here, but Declan and I need to get out there and live our own lives. Plus, I have a job up there now.”

My dad raised an eyebrow. “What kind of job?”

The guys looked at me, just as shocked as my moms.

I bit into a roll and stared Koji down. “I own half of the town now.”

Koji sat back in his seat and crossed his arms, shooting me a wry and amused grin. “Do you?”

“Yep, you see, that Gray’s lily I discovered is a protected and very rare plant. I talked to the Conservation Society of North Carolina, and they bestowed upon me half the land. From the waterfalls to the town . . . is mine.” My family looked on stunned, while Fox and Gallow couldn’t contain their laughter.

I smirked at Koji and took another sip of wine. “So, I’m going to need you to clear your things out ofmycabin, Kojireality starMukai.”

He leaned forward, and the table fell silent. But he only reached a palm across the holly centerpiece. Wary but confident,I took it. “I look forward to working with you, Ruby.” We shook hands.

Working together. Living together. Marrying each other. Parenting Declan.

It would all happen in Hope Falls.

“You cheated him out of his project?” my dad asked.

I nodded. “Yep. Well, half of it.”

After a moment, my dad cut a nod. “Well, alright then.”

My parents all exchanged looks between themselves and the guys. Somehow, they didn’t freak out like I thought they would. Maybe because they knew I wouldn’t be alone. They could sense as well as I could that these men were . . . We were . . . It was something real. However short our time together was, the three of them already meant so much to me.

The chatter continued as my mama carried Declan off to bed.

It was the perfect Christmas.

Chapter 20

CHRISTMAS DAY