Lincoln shrugged and leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb, clearly indicating he wasn’t leaving anytime soon. “It’s all over town that you got married last night.”
I grunted, happy to hear it.
“I’m sure you can understand my shock at hearing this. I seem to recall expecting a wedding invitation sometime this week,” Lincoln teased, his brown eyes glinting with amusement. “Considering how fast you tied the knot, I came to meet your blushing bride, Don Juan.”
Winter frowned and glanced up at me in confusion. I threw my on-thin-ice best friend a glare and bent to kiss Winter’s forehead. “He’s just being an asshole, sugar.”
Lincoln’s brows shot up at the endearment, but his smile grew even wider. If it got any bigger, he’d rip his face in half. Still, he obviously valued his pretty face because he confirmed that he was teasing. “I’m just giving our boy shit, sweetheart,” I growled, and he snickered. “His silent, grumpy ass is far from suave. I can’t remember the last time he went on a date. So be gentle with him if he’s a bumbling idiot from time to time. He’s got a lot to learn.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I grumbled.
Winter buried her face in my side and giggled.
“I’m Lincoln,” my friend introduced himself. “Christopher and I grew up together. I’m the ‘best’ part of this best friendship.”
“Nice to meet you,” my wife replied with another sweet laugh. “I’m Winter Gr—”
“Mistletoe,” I corrected gruffly. “Winter Mistletoe.”
Winter glanced up at me, and I smiled when her cheeks flushed prettily, and her eyes sparkled with happiness.
“Maybe I should try out this mail-order bride thing,” Lincoln mused, winking at Winter. I glowered and tightened my grip on her. “You certainly got yourself a good one.”
“Why don’t you go check it out?” I suggested dryly. “Now.”
Lincoln laughed, and Winter blushed, poking me in the side. I winked at her, and she melted into my side. “I can take a hint.” Lincoln pushed away from the door and stood up straight. “Hopefully, your husband will allow me to talk to you more at the Christmas tree lighting. Think he’ll be over his Neanderthal attitude by then?”
I snorted, knowing that would never happen. It would be fun to see it happen to him one day.
“I’m sure he’ll have learned a few manners by then,” Winter quipped as she bumped her hip into me playfully.
Lincoln snickered, then doffed a pretend hat at Winter. “Until next time, sweetheart.” He said the last word with a mischievous smirk. I shook my head and returned his look with a threatening one of my own. He was perilously close to getting his ass kicked, but I refrained from doing anything violent in front of my sweet, gentle wife.
Lincoln strolled back into the pub, letting the heavy door slam shut behind him.
“He seems nice,” Winter giggled.
“He’s a jackass,” I muttered.
I curled my arm in, bringing her front flush with mine, and closed the circle with my other arm. Lincoln would never, ever poach a woman, but I was still irritated and feeling possessive. I took Winter’s mouth in a deep kiss, reminding both of us who she belonged to.
When I finally let her up for air, I grinned at the dazed expression on her face. I loved that I could do that to her—make her forget everyone and everything except what I made her feel. She certainly did that to me often enough.
Winter’s passion-glazed eyes began to clear, and she searched my face as she took a deep breath. “Why?”
“Why?” I parroted. Was she asking me why I thought Lincoln was a jackass? After I’d just kissed the hell out of her? If that was the case, then I wasn’t doing my job right.
She cleared her throat and glanced away for a second, but her eyes came right back to meet mine, full of determination. It was sexy as hell to see my sweet wife exhibiting courage and showing that she had an admirable backbone.
“Why me? Why do you want to stay married? And when did you arbitrarily make that decision for me?”
I smiled, and she shook her head, pushing against my chest and trying to shove me away. I didn’t budge an inch. “Oh no, don’t go trying to distract me with your beautiful, megawatt smile, mister.”
Damn, she was adorable. “I knew the second I saw those gorgeous blue eyes gazing up at me that you were mine. I keep and protect what’s mine. That means you aren’t going anywhere. You’re staying. I’m keeping you. Getting married just gave me another way to make sure it happened. Knocking you up helps with that too, but the truth is, I want to see you round with our baby. The idea is sexy as fuck to me, and it makes me want to take you again, right here against the wall, and up our chances.”