"So," I finally say, "how long did it take you to realize you couldn"t live without me?"
He looks down at me with a sly smile. "About five minutes. Took me longer to convince them to turn the car around though."
I raise an eyebrow. "Five whole minutes, huh?"
"Shut up. It took you eighteen years."
"True. You definitely have the smarts in this family."
"Then let"s hope our kids get my brains and your beauty. And your right hook." I grin and he returns the favor. "She was right though. I do make a lousy bodyguard."
"My love, for the nine hundredth time, I do not need you to save me."
"Then what do you need from me?"
I gaze up into his bright blue eyes. "Just for you to be yourself. And love me."
"Think I can handle that," he says after a kiss.
I pause and move my head to its spot right over his heart. "And s.e.x. Lots and lots and lots of s.e.x. I have a whole slew of years to make up for."
"More than happy to oblige, ma"am."
George and two of the squad walk out of the front door. "We"re finished in here," George says. "If we have follow-up questions, we"ll call."
"We"ll be here," Adam says.
George smiles and follows his men to the car. "See you next year, George!" I shout.
A few seconds after the SUVs pull away, Jason and his wolves come onto the porch. Adam doesn"t move, he just smiles at them as I do. "Y"all leaving too?" I ask.
"Yeah," Jason says.
"Thank you for all your help tonight," I say.
"I"ll think of a way for you to repay me," he says, voice icy as always. Can"t wait. He looks at Adam. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"
"Never been more sure of anything in my life." He pauses. "Better make it official. I, Adam Paul Blue, do hereby renounce any and all allegiance to the Eastern Pack of America, and in doing so am declaring myself a Rogue with all that entails."
Jason bows. "Very well, then. Goodbye, brother. You will be missed." He steps off the porch with his men, then turns around. "Oh, Mona. Vivian wanted me to invite you to our Frankie"s birthday party next month. All the pack will be there. You can bring a guest if you like."
Both Adam and I smirk. "We will definitely be there," I say.
"Good," he says with a nod. With that, he leaves. I am actually beginning to like that guy.
I sit up and stretch. "Well then," I say with a sigh. I stand and look down at Adam. "All our guests are gone, the girls are tucked into bed, and we have nothing on the agenda for almost twelve hours. Whatever shall we do?"
He raises an eyebrow, smiles mischievously, and grabs for my leg, but I leap away, giggling. Can"t make it too easy for him. I take off inside running with him hot on my heels. He catches me halfway up the stairs, tosses me over his shoulder, and carries me to our bedroom.
G.o.ddess, I do love this man.
SUNDAY TO DO:.
Iron mine and the girls dresses.
Find a suit for Adam Answer the million phone calls about last night Try to get a few online orders done Shower and makeup Go over to Debbie"s and help out Run errands for Jocasta Sit patiently while get hair done Help Debbie on with her dress Wedding Reception.
Get the girls home.
AS QUIETLY AS WE can, Adam and I creep into the house carrying our slumbering girls. The wedding really took it out of them. Debbie decided to go through with it-no surprise there-and Kaylee became maid of honor. It"s such a shame Collins skipped town without a word to anyone but me. Everyone, save Maxine, understood. Still, a lot of tongues were wagging. I didn"t care. Debbie looked glorious and Greg got teary when he saw her. I raised her right. They"ll make it.
As for me, I had a blast. I did the "Electric Slide" with Tamara, got to see Clay and Bethany making out under the gazebo, heard Auntie Sara gossip with everyone, watched as Adam taught the girls "Y.M.C.A.," and felt pretty darn good as all those people who usually come up to me and say, "Don"t worry, you"ll be next," held their tongues as Adam spun me around on the dance floor in-between kisses. Yep, best wedding ever. At least until mine.
We put the girls in their beds, tuck them in, and both stand by the door for a few seconds watching them sleep in their flower girl dresses, dreaming only good dreams. He kisses my head, takes my hand, and leads me into our bedroom. "You know, nine people tonight asked me when I was making an honest woman out of you," he says, taking off my daddy"s old tie. "Nine. I kept count."
"Welcome to Goodnight," I say, falling face first into bed.
A few seconds later he climbs in too, spooning me. "So. The shop"s fixed, the demon slayed, the coven meeting and co-op over with, the evil witch is in jail, your sister is married and on her honeymoon, and even the litter box is clean. What"s on the agenda for this week?"
"Shut up," I mutter.
"Because, you see, the full moon is Thursday, my birthday is Friday and you have to find a schoolgirl uniform and a can of whipped cream to celebrate. Not to mention all of my stuff is still at my house in Maryland and needs to be moved, the house itself has to be put on the market, those showers of yours are in dire need of grouting, and-"
I flip over and press my hand over his smirking mouth. "Baby," I say, "I love you to death, but shut the h.e.l.l up and kiss-" He brushes my hand away, and raises his lips to mine. The whole world stops as it always does. He rolls me onto my back and pulls away, gazing down at me with such love I feel like I"m made of stardust. "h.e.l.l"s bells, I love you."
The biggest smile I"ve ever had is only for him. h.e.l.l"s bells are ringing indeed.
MONDAY TO DO:.
Lie in bed all day with the man I love.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
First, I just want to acknowledge all of you who sent me letters and e-mails telling me how awesome I am and how much you enjoy my books. They mean more to me than words can express. Keep them coming.
Thanks as always to my agent, Sandy Lu, for all her hard work and determination. She keeps going even when I fumble.
Thanks to Terri Bischoff for loving this book so much she championed me to another three-book deal. You have changed my life. I owe you a million thanks.
Thanks to everyone else at Midnight Ink, especially Nicole Nugent for her edits and Courtney Colton for being a wonderful publicist.
Thanks to my Beta Bunch: Susan Dowis, Jill Kardell, Ginny Dowis, and Theresa Fredrich for their honest criticisms and for helping me make this book better.
A special thanks to my good friend Lydia Vigna for including me in her wedding so I knew a little about what they entail. It was beautiful.
Also to the Prince William and Fairfax Library systems, for giving me a place to go and work-I would definitely be considered a shut-in otherwise.
As always, thanks to my family for all their support both mentally and monetarily. I love y"all.
Finally, to all the Wiccans out there, including my aunt and late great-grandmother: blessed be.
Bill Fitz-Patrick.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Jennifer Harlow (Mana.s.sas, VA) earned a BA from the University of Virginia in Psychology. Her eclectic work experience ranges from government investigator to radio DJ to lab a.s.sistant. Visit her website www.jenniferharlowbooks.com to read her blog, Tales From the Darkside; listen to the soundtrack to this book; and more.
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