“That’s where Max and Callie live. Across the meadow in the house Max built for Callie. It’s not a long walk and there’s a worn trail that leads to their property. Callie’s property,” she amended.

The land had been a bone of contention between Max and Callie. It had once belonged to Lauren’s stepfather, the man who’d raised her and Max, and after he passed, her mother had sold it to the Colters. Max had believed the elder Colter brothers had taken advantage of her mom and had fully intended to do whatever necessary to get the land back. Even if it meant deceiving Callie in the process.

She shook her head. Her brother had very nearly screwed up the best thing that had ever happened to him. He was at peace now. Maybe it was what the land and the Colters had done for him. Maybe it was what would do the same for her.

The front door opened, and Ethan Colter stepped out, a smile broadening his features.

“Hello, Lauren! Come on in.”

Lauren relaxed, smiling back at the older man. She hurried toward the door, eager to be back in the bosom of the Colter family. She always looked forward to her visits here, no matter how frequently she came.

Liam and Noah followed closely behind, and when she got to the porch, Ethan enfolded her in a huge hug.

In the beginning she’d been hesitant around the loving, demonstrative family, even though it was in her nature to be just as affectionate. But Joel had taught her reserve and it was a hard lesson to forget.

“It’s good to see you, honey,” Ethan said.

She squeezed back. “And you.”

She turned to Noah and Liam standing a few steps back. “Ethan, this is Noah Sullivan and Liam Prescott. Noah and Liam, this is Ethan Colter.”

Ethan immediately extended his hand to Noah and then to Liam.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Noah said.

“Come on in, all of you. Holly is dying to get her hands on you. I’ll warn you now. Just take whatever comes. My wife is used to getting her own way. She’ll likely interrogate you and then smother you with hugs.”

He smiled indulgently, his love for his wife softening his eyes and expression.

Lauren pushed by Ethan, eager to be inside. As soon as she stepped into the living room, it was like coming home. Memories of the previous Christmas when she’d been so unsure of her place in the world, and in this family came to mind.

Warmth, love and peace washed over her, cradling her in their soothing embrace.

“Lauren!”

Holly Colter surged up from her place on the couch between Adam and Ryan Colter, and she rushed over, pulling Lauren into a fierce hug that was even bigger than the one Ethan had given her.

Behind her, Adam and Ryan rose, their gazes drawn to Noah and Liam. There was wary reserve and sharp appraisal in their stares. Lauren smiled as the force that was Holly Colter surrounded her, making her feel love and concern that had extended to one who wasn’t Holly’s own. Not that Holly would ever draw that distinction. She’d made it clear from the day she’d come to see Lauren, when Lauren had still been in seclusion at Max and Callie’s home, that she considered Lauren one of her children.

“It’s so good to see you, baby,” Holly whispered. “How are you? Are you okay?”

Lauren pulled away. “I’m fine. Truly. You don’t need to worry about me. Noah and Liam have promised to take care of me.”

Holly frowned a little as she looked past Lauren to the two men behind her. Then she pushed past Lauren, and Lauren turned to see what was in store for Noah and Liam.

“I’m Holly Colter,” she said. “Max told me about you, but I wanted to set eyes on you myself and make sure that you were the kind of men I can trust to take care of my baby.”

Liam’s lips twitched into a smile while Noah looked a little more wary.

“I’m very pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Liam said solemnly. “And I promise to take very good care of Lauren. Noah and I are going to make sure that no one ever hurts Lauren again.”

There was a flicker of response in the Colter brothers’ eyes. Adam’s eyebrows went up a notch while Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

Holly stared at them for a long time, and then she smiled broadly. Then she pulled the much larger Liam into a huge hug and patted him on the back.

“I think I like you, Liam.”

Then she turned to Noah as if she hadn’t yet made up her mind about him.

“And what have you got to say, young man?”

At that Ethan chuckled while Adam and Ryan smothered their smiles of amusement. Noah looked befuddled as the much smaller woman took him to task.

He looked like he’d rather take on a group of terrorists than answer to her.

“I care very much about Lauren’s safety,” Noah finally said. “And as Liam said, we’re here to protect her. You can trust us with her safety. Someone will have to go through us to get close to her.”

Holly gave him the same frank appraisal she’d given Liam and then she smiled.

“You’ll do.”

Then she hugged him just as enthusiastically as she had Liam and then promptly ordered him and Liam to have a seat.

Once satisfied that Noah and Liam were taken care of, she turned back to Lauren.

“Lily and the boys are on their way over now, and I expect Max and Callie at any moment. I prepared lunch today,” she said proudly.

Adam gave her an indulgent smile.

Ryan took his seat on the couch across from where Liam and Noah had taken their seats. And sent them both a look of amusement.

“After more than thirty years, our wife has taken it upon herself to learn how to cook. She made Christmas dinner for us all without burning the kitchen down, so we’ve agreed to turn her loose on occasion. What’s she’s prepared is anyone’s guess, so I hope you brought the antacid.”

Holly sent a glare in Ryan’s direction. “Oh hush. You’re going to scare them and have them thinking I’m going to poison them.”

Ethan ruffled her hair affectionately. “Not too long ago, that would have been the truth. I have the fire extinguishers on standby.”

Noah and Liam both wore peculiar expressions, as if they weren’t sure how seriously to take the bantering. Lauren just laughed and hugged Holly again.

“I think you’re a wonderful cook, Mama C. I’ll be happy to eat whatever you fix.”

Holly beamed and patted Lauren’s arm. “I always knew you were my favorite child. Come into the kitchen with me. We can talk while I finish up and we’ll leave the men out here to do whatever it is men do when they’re together.”

Then she sent another glare in her husbands’ direction. “You don’t say another word about my cooking. You’ve liked what I’ve cooked just fine.”

Ethan put his arm around her. “Sweetheart, you’ve only cooked twice more since Christmas. Give us time to adjust. We’re too used to having the fire department on standby when you venture into the kitchen.”

Holly shook her head then reached for Lauren’s hand. “Come on. I’ve got nothing left to say to these men.”

Lauren allowed herself to be dragged into the kitchen, though she felt a brief moment of guilt for pitching Noah and Liam to the wolves. They’d probably get grilled by the Colter men. Hopefully the others would arrive soon. At least Noah and Liam knew Max and Seth already.

But on the other hand . . . If she was truly going to entertain having a relationship with Noah and Liam, the Colter family was going to be something they would have to get used to, because the Colters were too important to Lauren.

They were her family.

“Sit and keep me company,” Holly said, steering her toward the L-shaped bar that curved from the kitchen counters.

Lauren slid onto one of the leather stools and propped her elbows on the counter.

“So what are you cooking today?” Lauren asked.

Holly grinned, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “I’m totally cheating. Lily brought me three pans of lasagna yesterday, premade. All I have to do is pop them in the oven and voila, a mouthwatering Italian dinner. I have bakery rolls from town and bag salad from the store.”

Lauren laughed. “I won’t breathe a word.”

Holly took the lasagna from the fridge and slid them into the double-wall oven, set the timer and then came back to the bar and peered across it at Lauren.

“So tell me about Noah and Liam. I sense there’s more to this whole thing than their being some random strangers Max hired to protect you.”

Heat crept into Lauren’s cheeks and she fidgeted nervously on the stool.

“Why do you say that?” Lauren asked curiously.

Holly smiled. “Baby, the way those men look at you tells its own story. And the way Liam talked about people going through him and Noah to get to you? If you were just a job, they would have had some polished spiel they regurgitated for every client. There was passion in his voice and I absolutely believed him when he said he wouldn’t let anyone hurt you.”

Lauren sighed. “I wanted to talk to you about them.” She dug her fingertips into her temples and rubbed.

Holly’s look turned to one of concern. “What is it, Lauren? You know you can talk to me about anything.”

“They want a relationship with me. Like the one you have with your . . . husbands.”

Holly’s eyes widened a bit and then her brow furrowed. “Isn’t it a bit soon? Didn’t they just arrive?” Then she broke into a wry smile. “Like I can talk. Adam, Ethan and Ryan took one look at me and decided I was the one. They never looked back. It was the same when Seth first laid eyes on Lily. People laugh at the idea of love at first sight, but I’ve certainly witnessed it firsthand. Over thirty years later, here I am, still just as much in love with those old fools as I was as a starry-eyed naïve girl in my twenties.”