Elizabeth couldn't help but smile and followed him out of the office to the front door. Aiden opened it wide and both men stepped back startled. To those who didn't know the Unit Commander, he could come across as a harsh military man. But she knew better since she lived with him, the man was a complete marshmallow.
"Gentlemen," Aiden barked and walked past them, towards the training area.
Both men turned to her, looking spooked. She gave them her brightest smile and they relaxed a bit. "This way, gentlemen. I can't wait to see what the office will look like with the new furniture. We'll have to be careful with the Commander's desk though, it's an antique." She showed them where her future office would be. Both men eyed the huge hand carved desk and gulped. It would be a chore to move.
An hour later the men tipped their hats and left. She looked around the room. It seemed a lot bigger after they had moved Aiden's wooden monstrosity of a desk to one side to act as a flat surface workstation. The newer desks were smaller but were more functional with technology hutches, filing cabinets and drawers.
She looked down at the new computers still in their boxes. Smiling she walked to the media room where Meryn was showing Jaxon and Noah how to strip ethernet cables to attach new heads. Noah must have slipped back in during all the furniture moving. She was glad he made it back safely.
"Oh Meryn, I have a job for you," she said.
Meryn looked up. "What's up?"
"The new computers are here. Feel like showing your minions how to set them up?" The words had no sooner left her mouth than Meryn was up and moving. She, Jaxon and Noah followed Meryn to the office where they found her smelling the boxes.
"They have that new technology smell," she said before she began to decimate the packaging.
Elizabeth sat back in her new leather manager's chair and closed her eyes and listened to their excited chatter. She was exhausted. She would let them work on the computers while she just rested her eyes for a bit.
*****
When she woke the sun was setting and the room was starting to get chilly. She looked down to see that Meryn had once again lovingly covered her with a red throw blanket. Smiling she got up. It took her a moment before the dizziness passed and she felt well enough to walk. When she was on steady feet she followed the sound of voices and found that the men and Meryn were in the family room. Gavriel stood when she walked in and was immediately at her side.
"You could have woken me," she said when he leaned in for a kiss. His lips were warm and soft, the man had no right being so beautiful.
Gavriel shook his head. "I tried to wake you but you were sleeping so well I didn't have the heart to move you. If you hadn't woken up on your own I was going to wake you in a little bit for dinner."
They walked over and sat down on one of the many love seats. Keelan was reading and Colton and Darian were bantering back and forth over a chessboard. Meryn was sitting next to Aiden and they were reading 'Macs for Dummies'. She looked around and noticed that there were no trainees around.
"Meryn where are your minions?" she asked.
Meryn looked up. "Lennox came and pulled Noah and Jaxon away so all of the trainees could get to know one another. They finished up their dinner about an hour ago. Ryuu is setting up the dining room for us now."
Elizabeth turned to her mate. "Sterling?"
Colton barked a laugh from across the room. "He said he was too tired to eat and was last seen staggering towards his room. He'll regret not eating tomorrow," he shook his head.
Gavriel nuzzled her neck. "Colton and Darian took very good care of Sterling," he whispered.
"Oh dear," she said then laughed.
She looked around the room, everyone was enjoying their evening. The fireplace was going and cast a warm yellow glow into the room. She snuggled closer to her mate, basking in the fire's warmth.
From the foyer the sound of the doorbell had them all looking at each other. Everyone then turned to look at her.
She blushed. "All my deliveries already came today."
The doorbell chimed again.
Aiden stood and left to see who was at the door. She heard familiar voices before what had to be the entire McKenzie clan walked into the room. Meryn got to her feet and immediately went to Adelaide for a hug. She was then passed to an older version of Aiden who kissed her on the top of her head and passed her to Adam. Adam and two other men hugged her friend and ruffled her hair.
Aiden looked at them. "What are you all doing here?"
Adelaide shot a look in Meryn's direction. Meryn, who was jumping on the blond man's back didn't even notice the scrutiny. Elizabeth smiled. Adelaide may come across as sweet but she was sharp and extremely observant. She was willing to bet money that Adelaide had noticed a change in Meryn during their visit with the sewing circle and had convinced her menfolk to come for a visit so she could check.
Adelaide looked to Marius who stepped forward with a huge basket.
"I brought cookies." Adelaide said and pulled back the red and white gingham towel to reveal a smorgasbord of sweets.
Meryn stopped mid-hop, the good looking man forgotten and raced forward. "Cookies!"
Adam elbowed the pouting blond man laughing. "Looks like you rank below cookies Ben," he teased.
"We can't let our love show too much or Aiden will get prickly," Ben said.
Aiden growled and Ben sighed. "See, he's already getting grumpy."
The man that looked like Adam and Aiden guffawed. "One of these days he's going to maul you and you'll deserve it baby brother."