Page 65 of Mated to Team Shadow
"Hi, doll. Come on up."
"What did you guys do?"
"Let me show you."
I walked up the steps to the veranda with Gunner behind me.
Ryker smiled and put his arm around my waist and shepherded me into the house. There Kane and Damon stood in the kitchen. Champagne flutes lined up on the granite counter that separated the kitchen from the large living area. Champagne chilled in an ice bucket.
"Welcome to your new home," said Damon.
"Now," said Kane, "before you say no, we got it at a great price because of the hurricane. It needed a new roof, but we took care of that right away."
"And repaired the water damage," said Gunner.
"We replaced nearly every wall," said Ryker.
"There are five bedrooms upstairs," said Gunner, "and a small apartment downstairs we can rent as a vacation rental."
"Or not," said Ryker. "We can use it as an office."
"Or not," said Gunner. "And three bathrooms upstairs and it should be large enough."
"Well, yes," I said. "It is. But five bedrooms?"
"In case," said Ryker nuzzling my neck, "we want to expand our little family."
I swallowed hard. "Expand?"
"Sure. We're not going anywhere," said Damon. "And the idea of little SEALs running around has a certain appeal."
"And this way, three of us can do jobs and rotate who stays with you," said Kane.
"That is when you want to stay home," said Kane.
Home.
Why didn't it hit me before this? Was it our nomadic lifestyle? The going from one job to another without a break? I looked at Damon, Gunner, and Kane, all with a hope twinkling in their eyes. But it hit me.
These men were my family—forever.
"Dammit," I said. "You should have talked to me about this."
"I told you," said Gunner to Ryker.
"Then we'll just have to persuade her," said Ryker. He nibbled on my neck. I can see where this is heading, right to the bedroom. While I'm not opposed, I want to make one thing clear.
"No," I said.
"What, we can't persuade you?" said Kane.
"No. You don't need to persuade me. Wherever you guys are is my home. So let's open that champagne."
