Page 10 of A Perfect Christmas with Chaos
I laugh.“It’ll be fine.Plus, that's what carpet cleaners are for.Homes are meant to be lived in Mav.Shared.It's not the mess that matters, it's the memories made here.”
Grumbling, he places at kiss on my temple and lets me go.“I’m going back in there.Someone needs to make sure Bodie doesn’t sneak into our bedroom with those tarts, and I already caught Grinder eyeing the vase on the mantle.I warned every single one of those fuckers that if anyone pisses anywhere but in the toilet, I’m gonna kill somebody.”
I’m about to follow him, but there’s a knock on the door.Turning back, I open it.
And I’m not going to lie.My breath does hitch slightly...only slightly, mind you...at seeing Dozer looking like a Nordic God on my doorstep.His hair is long now, slicked back, and tied in a queue at the back of his head.He's also sporting a few days' worth of scruff, which looks pretty great on him.His smile is both naughty and nice, and his steel blue eyes look amazing next to the matching blue of his collared shirt.That's not all that's changed, though.
Where the president's patch was missing from Cap’s vest, it now sits on Dozers.
Yep, he was voted in as the HOCs new president, and he didn’t turn it down.
I thought he might go after Bethany when things didn’t work out between us—especially after I chose to give Mav a second chance—but that’s not what he did at all.Instead, Dozer stepped into his rightful place as president and became an even bigger whore around the club than Bodie.He’s with a new girl every time I see him.Honestly, I’m surprised there isn’t one on his arm right now.
Still, the role of club president suits him.He’s stern and demanding, yet stalwart and honorable.
To me at least, it's obvious he's just lonely.
I have high hopes he'll fill the role as well as his dad did and eventually find love.And then maybe he'll be whole.Actually, this very thing just might be my Christmas wish this year since I have nothing else personally to wish for.
Stepping through the doorway, he gives me a subtle smile and whispers, “Hey, Pumpkin,” and slowly, his large arms fully envelop me as I'm pulled into a hug.
It only lasts a few moments before I hear, “One.Two.Three.”
Dozer lets go.His gaze darts up and behind me to what I assume is a pissed off Mav.Then looking down at me.he asks, “What’s he doin’?Playin’ hide and seek with Will?”
The door opens behind him as I shake my head.“No, Mav thinks he’s implementing a new five second rule with me.He’s threatening to remove arms if you guys touch me longer than that.”
“And you’re lookin’ like you wanna be armless,” Mav threatens.his voice low and sharp enough to cut glass.
Glancing over my shoulder, I catch him leaning casually against the wall, though there’s nothing casual about the energy rolling off him.His arms are crossed, the black dress shirt pulled tight around biceps that look as if they could split the fabric with one wrong move.Tan slacks stretch over his impossibly long legs, which are crossed at the ankles in a stance that screams both confidence and warning.
It’s a relaxed pose, but the tension in his body tells another story.The veins running down his forearms, exposed below his rolled-up sleeves, pulse with the kind of quiet strength that demands respect—and fear.
I hear Griz’s laugh before I see him.He didn’t knock because he never knocks.He practically lives here with us.“Good luck with that one, brotha.You ain’t keepin’ me from touchin' and huggin’ on my girl.”
“My girl,” Mav growls.
Turning, I glare at him.He curses, glowers at the two bikers in the entryway, and then pushes off the wall and heads back into the kitchen.
“Check on the ham!”I shout to him as he walks away.“And this time, don’t burn it.”
“One time!”he shouts back.Then grumbles, “And it’s your fault.You distracted me.”
Griz's red and silver hair is pulled into a low ponytail at his nap.His beard nearly reaches the top of his chest.He sets the three full bags filled to the brim with presents on the floor and moves close to throw his tattooed arms around me.He kisses me on the top of my head and hugs me fiercely.
Did I mention he's my favorite?Because he is.
"Hey you," I say with emotion bubbling up inside me because it hits me at that exact moment, in this warm and welcoming hug with Griz, how wonderful this moment is.Not just this moment but this day.These people.My new family, and that for the first time ever, I am having the Christmas I've always dreamed of with the family I never knew was out there waiting for me.
When he pulls back, he grins and eyes me keenly, “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.How you feelin’?”
I fight the happiness tears threatening to come to the surface and swallow down the thickness in my throat before clearing it to say, “Good.Still no morning sickness.I guess I’m one of the lucky ones.”
“Good for you,” he says."Blessed are those who go through the toughest struggles.Remember that darlin."He turns to Dozer and greets him.The three of us chat idly for a moment before Griz probs, “So about this ham.I thought you said there’d be turkey.”
Grinning, I say, “There’s some of that too."
Griz arches his brushy eyebrow as he says, “We talkin’ stuffing and gravy.”He rubs his belly as if in anticipation.
