“I did, too, Mom,” Carolina said, kissing her mother on the cheek.
“Thanks, Mom. You helped me finish up my Christmas shopping,” Evelyn said.
“Good night, all,” Mitchell said, arms laden with bags as he followed Loretta up the stairs. The agents followed behind them.
Evelyn fell onto the sofa and propped her feet up. “Lord, what an exhausting day.”
“I could rub your feet or give you a bubble bath,” Gray said, waggling his brows.
Evelyn laughed and patted his leg. “Both are very enticing options. I’ll reserve both for later. Right now I’m just enjoying not standing.”
“I’m with you on that,” Carolina said. She took off her boots and, with a loud groan, pulled her feet up on the sofa. Drew took a spot on the same sofa, but deliberately didn’t sit too close to her.
“So shopping was fun?” he asked.
“For us, yes,” Carolina said. “For you and Gray it would have been torture. Be thankful you weren’t here.”
“Hey, I was here, and I was spared,” Gray said.
“You were. Your mother suggested I invite you. I said you wanted to spend time with your dad today. See how deeply I love you?” Evelyn batted her lashes at Gray.
“It’s obviously true love. And you have my undying gratitude.” Gray brushed his lips across Evelyn’s.
“Ugh. You two should get a room,” Carolina said.
“We have a room. Upstairs, as a matter of fact. And that hot bath your mother mentioned is sounding better and better. I can’t believe it’s ten thirty.”
Drew arched a brow. “Shopping marathon.”
“Well, to be fair, we did stop and eat breakfast. And lunch.”
“And dinner,” Evelyn added. “So we did get to sit down here and there. But still, my future mother-in-law can shop, and once she gets started, she goes and goes. And goes.”
Evelyn yawned.
Gray stood and held out his hand. “Come on. Hot bath time for you. Then we’ll cuddle up on the bed and watch movies.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She waved at Drew and Carolina. “Good night you two.”
“Night,” Carolina said.
“Good night.”
Carolina turned to him. “I’m so tired. I should probably head upstairs.”
“You probably should. From the looks of all those bags, you have a lot of wrapping to do.”
She laughed. “Yes, there’s that, too.”
“You had a good day?”
“It was great. I don’t get to spend a lot of time with my mom, so spending the day catching up with her was fun.”
“Good.”
“How was your day? What time did you get in?”
“A little before lunch. And my day was fine. I got to kick back with Gray and your dad. We played some pool and watched television. It was nice to relax, especially after a long stretch of games. Plus I got to catch up with Gray.”
“I’m glad you had that time together.”
“Speaking of your brother . . .”