Colters' Gift (Colters' Legacy #5)(65)

She turned her smile up to Liam, allowing her love to openly shine.

“I was wrong. You and Noah are my white knights.”

“I wouldn’t go that damn far,” Liam grumbled. “We’re pretty tarnished knights. We aren’t perfect, Lauren, and I don’t want you going into this thinking we are. We’ve made mistakes. We’re rough around the edges. And we’ll screw up. I guarantee we’ll screw things up. Just promise me—and us—that you’ll be patient and stick it out because I guarantee you, no one will ever love you more than me and Noah.”

Her heart melted, and she wanted to reach over the seat and grab him into a huge hug.

“Well, just in case you and Noah ever have any doubts, there is no one who will ever love you more than me,” she said fiercely. “Don’t even think about browsing anywhere else.”

Liam grinned and then leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “You sound mighty possessive, Miss Wilder. I like it. You can be possessive of me anytime. I guarantee I won’t mind a bit.”

Noah slid into the car and handed Lauren and Liam each a keycard. “All set,” he said. “I’ll drive around to the parking spot outside our room.”

Liam dug in the bag on the seat next to him and pulled out a zip-up hoodie. He thrust it over the seat to Lauren.

“Put this on, baby. Hood up. Cover up as much of you as possible. I’d rather not broadcast the fact that you’re staying here.”

As Noah pulled into one of the back parking spaces, Lauren thrust her arms into the sweatshirt and pulled the hood securely over her head, making sure her hair was hidden from view.

“Go on inside,” Noah instructed. “Liam and I will get the bags.”

Lauren got out of the car and hurried to the door. She inserted her keycard and then pushed inside.

She took in a deep breath, gratified that it didn’t smell smoky or musty. It smelled clean and the furnishings weren’t threadbare.

She blushed when she took in the fact that there was only one bed. It was plenty big for the three of them, but it was obvious they had no intention of her sleeping away from them.

A few moments later, Liam and Noah came through the doorway, their arms full of her luggage and their own bags. They dropped them inside the door and then shut it behind them.

“First order of business is what you’d like to eat for dinner,” Noah said as he pulled Lauren into his side.

He kissed her temple, brushing his lips over her skin.

“Dillon has offered to do delivery service for us from the pub. Anything he has on the menu, he’s said he’ll deliver personally.”

“I’d love a club sandwich,” Lauren said.

“I can handle that,” Noah said with a smile. “Why don’t you go get changed and relax. Put on some comfy pajamas and I’ll order our food. We can eat and talk when the food gets here.”

That sounded perfect to her. She was ready to wilt after the emotional twists and turns of the day.

She hurried in the bathroom, wanting to get back to her guys. There was nothing she wanted more than to curl up against them and just . . . be.

They had a lot to plan. Her entire life was going to change. But they’d sworn to stay with her every step of the way. If she’d had any doubt about their love, she couldn’t possibly doubt it or them now. They were making huge sacrifices and putting their own lives on hold. For her.

When she was dressed in pajamas and hastily ran a brush through her hair, she ventured out of the bathroom to see Liam sprawled in one of the chairs in the living section of the hotel suite. His cell phone was to his ear and he seemed relaxed. Noah was seated by the window, occasionally sticking his fingers behind the blinds to pull them out enough to see the parking lot.

When Liam saw her, he slipped his hand over the end of the phone and mouthed, my parents.

Lauren’s eyes widened and she went to sit in the armchair directly across from Liam so she could listen in on the conversation.

“She’s amazing,” Liam said softly, his gaze riveted to Lauren as he spoke. “You’ll both love her.”

Lauren blushed and squirmed under his tight scrutiny. It was odd to hear herself being talked about in such glowing terms.

“There’s something else you should know, Mom and Dad,” Liam said, his voice growing serious.

Even Noah turned from his perch by the window. When he saw Lauren, he got up and crossed the room. He extended his hand down to Lauren to pull her up, and then he sat and tugged her down into his lap.

“Now comes the fun part,” Noah murmured.

Lauren fought the smile. Yes, she was nervous about how Liam’s parents were going to take the explanation of their relationship, but she wasn’t so uptight that she couldn’t appreciate the humor in such an unexpected and somewhat awkward conversation with his parents.

Liam looked nervous. He wiped his free hand down his jeans repeatedly.

“Our relationship is not exactly . . . traditional,” Liam said, unease apparent in his voice.

Then he blanched, his eyes widening and he immediately began to sputter. “Mom, no, I’m not g*y and Lauren isn’t a cover name for a man. Yes, I know you’d understand and that you aren’t judging me, but that’s not what it is.”

Lauren started giggling and Noah shook with laughter against her. Liam sighed and closed his eyes as he listened to what apparently was a long stream of conversation from his mother.