One Good Reason (Boston Love #3)(85)

“Of course.” Parker’s mouth hits my temple. “None of this would’ve happened without you, darling. I know it, Nate knows it, the damn FBI knows it, and I’m sure Lancaster knows it. Hell, he’ll be spending the next twenty-five years in his prison cell knowing it.”

I grin at the thought. “It’s a Christmas miracle.”

After a quick change of clothes from foul weather gear to jeans, flats, and a comfortable sweater, Parker bustles me into the Porsche and drives me across town to Back Bay. When we pull up outside Phoebe’s brownstone, he leans over and kisses me soundly on the mouth.

“I’ll be back in an hour or so to take you to the fight.” His hand grips my chin so he can look deep into my eyes. “Don’t do anything to put yourself in danger.”

“All the bad guys are in jail, remember?”

His eyes are serious. “And yet, I still want nothing more than to put you back on my boat and lock you away in my lighthouse for the rest of eternity, where I know you’ll be safe.”

“That’s kidnapping,” I say lightly, leaning forward to nip his bottom lip with my teeth before I turn and push open the door.

“Not if the captive is willing!” he calls after me.

I bend back down to blow him a kiss. “When it comes to you, Peter Pan, I’m always ready and willing.”

“That sounded like an innuendo, Tinkerbell.”

“That’s because it was.”

His eyes flash with heat. “You’d better go, before I change my mind about letting you out of my sight.”

I’m still smiling as I slam the door and turn to face the brownstone. Before I can do something logical, like run for my life, the front door swings open and Phoebe appears in the entryway, Boo a white blur at her feet.

“There you are!” she yells, running barefoot down the snowy stairs and grabbing my hand. “Come on! Everyone else is already here and I’m dying to tell you my news!”

I don’t fight her as she pulls me into the house, though I do cast one last longing look over my shoulder at Parker, who’s idling at the curb to ensure we make it inside safely.

Unnecessary, but rather nice of him, I must admit.

Phoebe practically sprints into the house, dragging me behind her like a rag doll. I do my best to keep pace with her, but by the time we burst into the kitchen where Shelby, Gemma, Lila, and Chrissy are gathered around the granite island drinking wine, I’m breathless.

“Hey, Zoe!” They all smile at me.

“Hi,” I croak, bending at the waist and hauling in air.

“Jesus, Phoebe, you’ve nearly killed the girl,” Lila chides. “We already scared her away once, let’s try not to do it again.”

“I can’t help it. I’m excited. I have news!” Phoebe settles on a barstool and I follow suit, happily accepting the glass of wine Chrissy slides my way.

I bend down and scratch Boo behind the ears so he’ll stop sniffing my shoes like a maniac.

“I have news too!” Gemma announces.

Phoebe’s grin widens. “No way will it beat mine.”

Gemma’s head tilts. “Oh, I think it might.”

“As fascinating as this conversation is, can someone just spill the f*cking beans already?” Shelby says, taking a big sip of wine. “I’m getting wrinkles just sitting here listening to you two debate whose news is better.”

I hide a laugh behind my wine glass.

The two sisters stare at each other, eyes locked in challenge, both totally convinced they’re about to out-do the other.

“On three?” Phoebe suggests.

Gemma nods. “One… two…”

“Nate proposed on Christmas!” Phoebe screams at the same time Gemma yells, “Chase and I are pregnant!”

And then, quite suddenly, everyone is jumping up and down, alternately screaming and crying, touching Gemma’s entirely flat stomach as if there’s already a full-blown baby doing jumping jacks in there and fawning over the mammoth rock Phoebe’s just pulled from her pocket and placed on a very important finger.

I barely know these women, but their excitement is infectious. So I don’t let myself hold back — I scream right along with them, just one more lunatic in the flock of crazies, and it doesn’t feel forced or weird. I don’t feel like an outsider. I’m just… one of the girls.

And it’s pretty f*cking great.

When the collective freak-out cools from a boil to a simmer, we all sit in silence around the island, grinning until our cheeks ache.

“Suddenly, the spa gift card Mark gave me seems a bit underwhelming.” Chrissy shakes her head. “Though, Winston made me an ornament out of macaroni noodles and a paper plate at daycare. That was pretty sweet.”

“If it makes you feel any better, all I woke up to was a hangover from the tequila shots I did on Christmas Eve,” Lila says, grinning. “Not exactly the most magical day of the year.”

“I received multiple orgasms,” I blurt, drawing all their gazes to me. “Which pretty much makes it my best Christmas ever.”

Lila, Shelby, and Chrissy silently high-five me while Phoebe and Gemma make gagging sounds.

“Brother,” Phoebe reminds me. “Practically raised me. Gross.”

I shrug. “Your brother is hot.”