Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 561(@200wpm)___ 449(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 561(@200wpm)___ 449(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away from my mouth easily. “I’ve worn it.”
Kev blushed profusely. “I… I mean, outside of our bedroom.”
“Has he been disrespectful again, Doc?” Riggs asked sadly. “I’m afraid you need to punish him.”
I shot him a laser-eyed glare. “Butt out, asshole.”
“Riggs is right,” Champ pronounced. “This attitude wouldn’t be tolerated in the Marines.”
“Et tu, Percival?” I demanded. “What happened to never leaving a man behind?”
“I’m feeling like he needs to recite the fealty pledge,” Carter decided, tossing me a knowing wink. “It’s the only way.”
Champ and Riggs hooted with laughter. “Remind us again what the pledge says, Huxley?” Riggs asked. “I forgot.”
“No you didn’t.” I grabbed Kev around the waist and dragged him up so he was partly on the table beside me and partly on my lap. “Ascend your ass down.”
Yolanda walked over from a nearby lemonade table and straddled the picnic bench. “Shit. Tell me I didn’t miss him doing the pledge,” Yolanda said with a grin. Her wife, Katie, wrapped her arm around Yolanda’s shoulders and kissed the side of her face.
“Nope.” Champ dropped an arm over Quinn’s shoulders and hauled the man against his side. “You got here just in time.”
“Not saying it,” I grumbled, leaning in to sniff Kevin’s neck.
“Pretty please?” Kev’s voice was full of laughter and light, and it was enough to make me feel like I’d say anything just to keep him happy and free.
The past few months hadn’t been all joy and ease, as much as I’d wanted them to be for his sake. The FBI investigation had been long and difficult, forcing Kev to relive some of the scariest moments of his life over and over. Moving in together, which had seemed so easy and natural at first, had involved melding the finances of one happy-go-lucky bajillionaire and one poor-and-frugal Huxley, which meant a lot of discussion and compromise—two of my least favorite things. For a while, even Horn of Glory hadn’t been as fun for Kev as it usually was, almost like peeling back the curtain on HOG Corporate and the cartel, Anomaly and Smitty and all the lies, had dulled its shine.
But we’d stuck together, Kev and I, and the rest of the team too. We’d held tight to the things we loved, and we’d let the rest of the storm blow over us. And now I could confidently say that we were a tighter unit than ever. Happier and more settled than ever too.
Jordan was dating someone. Sasha too. Elvo, while still happily single, was busy showing his younger sister around town, now that she’d moved here to take Herman’s receptionist job and my spot in the apartment with Elvo. Herman, meanwhile, was living his best life at Thicket Sunset, the area’s very own senior community, which, according to local lore, featured such unique activities as Naked Bocce and Swingers’ Saturday Bridge Nights. Herman fit right in.
HOG Corporate was still thriving since the FBI had managed to keep the company’s name out of the media. Jacob Horn hadn’t been pleased, at first, upon learning that he had to change their financial systems as a condition of the deal, but he’d been happy with the result. He’d even given Champ a secret wink-wink during one meeting, implying he’d already made out like a bandit in the short time they’d been rolling in cartel money. Thankfully, Champ had been too much of a professional to knock the man’s teeth out.
The cartel members on the original Horn list had been rounded up and taken in. Once Laurel’s team had managed to capture Gustavo Santiago, the rest had fallen like dominos. Unfortunately, Gustavo had died of a severe heart attack in jail while awaiting trial.
If only he’d had a cardiologist nearby.
And as for me… well, the past few months had worked a lot of changes in me too. I’d started talking to my mom a lot more, making steps to bridge the gap that I’d never managed to cross before my dad died. I’d lost a good chunk of the chip I’d been carrying on my shoulder when it came to money and self-worth. I’d accepted that some people really could love me unconditionally. And I’d redefined what success and winning really looked like.
It looked a lot like a smile on the face of the man beside me.
I watched Kev’s grin grow wider as he joked around with the team. My love for him was like a magical beanstalk that continued growing, twining around everything in its path, nurturing those who needed it, drawing connections where there’d been none, thriving in the light.
“I love you,” I said, low enough that only he could hear.
He turned away from everyone’s hooting and teasing and dazzled me with his grin. “I know what you’re doing, and it won’t work, my love. There shall be a fealty pledge. I won’t let you change the subject.”