Chapter 38

Marshall tugged irritably at his tie. “Gods, I hate these things.”

Tristan grinned and straightened his own tie. “Aye, but you look very handsome.”

Marshall punched him in the arm. “Shut up.”

Tristan sucked in his breath. He was staring at the door to the common room and Marshall followed his gaze.

“Gods be damned,” Marshall breathed.

Maya, gorgeous in a soft blue dress and her blonde hair glinting in the hundreds of twinkling lights that had been strung to the ceiling, had entered the common room, carrying Nicholas and holding Sophia’s hand.

But it was not Maya that had Tristan’s attention so riveted. Behind her, smiling and clasping her hands nervously in front of her waist, was Avery.

Her red hair was braided and wound around her head with a few soft curls pulled down and framing her pale face. The dress Marshall had picked out for her fit her perfectly. The bodice clung to her full breasts and small waist, and her skin glowed against the