“I’m sorry, honey. You’re so beautiful.” Her father wiped his eyes and then stood. “Twenty-two caliber, thirty-eight caliber, nine millimeter . . .” By the time he reached fifty-caliber, her father was calm.
“You made a good choice. Dylan will love you with all his being.”
“I know he will, Daddy. Thank you for giving me the confidence to make mistakes, take the different paths, and to live my best life.”
“Twenty-two caliber,” her father started again after kissing her cheek. The door leading into the church opened and her mother gave Nemi the signal from where she stood at the first pew. The rust-colored dog in the light blue ruffled dress trotted down the aisle before the music changed and Abby looked into Dylan’s eyes.
He was gorgeous in his tuxedo. Nothing, not even the bald man with the circular wire-rimmed glasses sitting in the back of the church, would stop her from marrying the man of her heart.
* * *
Dylan looked down into the eyes of the woman he loved and slipped the simple platinum band onto her finger. Hearing those two little words, “I do,” had changed his life forever.
Abby reached into the basket Nemi held and gently grabbed the ring in her fingers. Father Ben said something and Dylan repeated his promises, but all he could think about was being Abby’s husband.
“I do.”
Cheers filled the room as he kissed her. But as his hands cupped her face and he lowered his lips to hers, there was no one else in the packed church except for the two of them, now husband and wife. Until the thud of a knife landing between them brought Dylan from the kiss. He looked at his father-in-law who just winked at them. Dylan tossed his head back and laughed as he pulled his bride to him in a hug.
“I now present Dylan and Abigail Davies,” Father Ben called out over the cheers, the laughter, and the shocked gasp of those friends of theirs who were not accustomed to Keeneston behavior.
It was a perfect night for a party. They may be on Desert Sun Farm, but the high heels had come off and the cowboy boots and flip-flops had been put on. Music was hopping, people were dancing, and there was lots of laughter and love.
Dylan felt the hand on his shoulder and turned around. “Sebastian.”
“Relax, Dylan. I think you and I are going to be friends . . . very good friends,” he said in his slow deep voice.
“Is that right?” Dylan asked, not knowing whether to trust the man or not. No, Abby trusted him so he should too. “Okay, Bash,” Dylan said with a grin as he held out his hand. “My wife trusts you, so that makes us cool.”
Sebastian’s hard face broke out into a grin that changed his whole demeanor. Dylan would swear he heard half the women around them sigh. “Good. You’re a brave man, Dylan. Much better you than me.”
“I’m not in Delta Force anymore,” Dylan said with regret. Their cover hadn’t been blown outside of Chet’s group, but he and Abby had been put on administrative leave until the higher-ups could decide what to do with them. In the meantime, they’d been helping out at the training center, and Abby’s Grandpa Springer was trying to convince Dylan to get into a leadership role with the Army.
“I wasn’t talking about that. I was talking about having Ahmed as your father-in-law.”
Dylan chuckled as he looked to where Ahmed was dancing with his wife. “He’s not that bad.”
“He just threw a knife at you.”
“Yeah, but he didn’t hit me. That’s how you know it was done with love.”
“Well, like I said, you’re a braver man than I am. Now, I’m here for more than one reason. Let’s go see if we can find your bride. I have a gift to you both. That is, if I can pull Humphrey from the old lady.”
Dylan looked to see the little bald man sitting next to Grandma Marcy. He was holding her hand and then lifted it to kiss her knuckles. “Why did he just kiss my grandmother?”
“Something about apple pies,” Sebastian said with a shake of his head.
“Ah, that makes perfect sense then. If you’d ever had one, you’d be on your knees begging, too,” Dylan said with a grin.
Sydney felt her baby bump rub against Deacon’s hard stomach as they danced. She was just about to start her third trimester and still couldn’t believe the procedure had worked. They were having a baby. It was a dream come true, even if their doctors said the possibility of having another child was very slim.
“You are so beautiful,” Deacon said as he smiled down at her, his eyes full of love.
“I’m a beached whale with the sex drive of a rabbit. What’s not to love?” Sydney teased.
“There’s everything to love. You’ve never been more beautiful to me.” Deacon paused and pulled out his phone. “Who’s calling me this late? Hello?”
Deacon stopped dancing. His face lost all color and his eyes shot up to hers. “Let me call you right back.”
“Deacon, what is it? Is everything okay?” Sydney instinctively put her hand on her belly to protect her baby.
“That was the coordinator. There’s a woman who has been rescued and just found out she’s eight weeks pregnant. When she looked through the applicants, she picked us. She wants us to adopt her baby.”
“Yes,” Sydney said instantly. The applications of adopted parents didn’t reveal their identity. They only assured the pregnant woman they were fit, financially and mentally, to raise a child. It showed that they lived in the country, they enjoyed horseback riding and hiking, and both parents worked, but most of the time from home or a place where the baby could go with them. Also included in the application was a letter she and Deacon had written.
Deacon just nodded as he grabbed her hands. “I want to, too. As many of them that need homes.”
Sydney laughed as tears began to run down her cheeks. “At least three.”
“We’re having a baby!” Deacon called out.
“Yeah, we know,” Ryan jokingly yelled back.
“No, another baby! We’ll be adopting a baby in about seven months.”
Cheers went around the reception as her parents ran to hug them. Sydney clutched her husband’s hand as the town celebrated the love between husband and wife and the love between parents and children.
Wyatt congratulated his sister and brother-in-law. He was going to be an uncle in three months and again in seven months. He couldn’t wait to spoil them rotten. Stepping back, he allowed the others to congratulate Sydney and Deacon.
He looked around and noticed Dylan and Abby had disappeared. He’d wait until they returned before heading out. He wasn’t in a party mood. It was almost eleven so he’d stayed a respectable amount of time. He was struggling with the farm and had to lay off some of his help because he couldn’t afford them. That meant he had to get back and start on the chores before he could go to bed.
Wyatt pulled out his phone and saw he’d missed a call from a phone number that screamed spam call. He stepped outside and away from the band and listened to the voicemail.
“Doctor Wyatt Davies,” the clearly nervous, slightly Irish accented voice said. “My name is Camila Callahan and I am very much interested in becoming your trainer and farm manager. I will be in America the second week of May, right after the two thousand and one thousand Guineas Stakes at Newmarket here in England. I’m about to start training for the day, but will have my phone nearby. Please call me if you are interested in setting up an appointment.”
The voicemail ended and Wyatt immediately searched her name. The only thing that appeared was that her mother was big in racing in Spain and her father was a big-time Irish trainer in the United Kingdom. Think outside the box, Wyatt remembered. He dialed the number back and it was answered on the first ring.
“Ms. Callahan, this is Wyatt Davies. I’d love to meet with you next month.”
King Draven of Bermalia took a deep breath and used his fingers to rake back his longish dark hair. His future queen was across the dance floor from him, and he was determined that this time she’d see him for who he was, not who he had bee
n.
Okay, maybe he wasn’t quite perfect yet, but she had to see he was working on reforming himself. He’d even started to attend meetings with his advisors, had developed a healthy trade deal for his country, and had only gotten caught naked on a magazine cover twice in the past six months. Massive improvement.
“I’m a king and she’ll be thrilled to know I’ve selected her for my queen,” Draven muttered.
“What’s that?” Zain asked as he came to stand next to him. Draven had become good friends with all of the Ali Rahman family, and subsequently the people of Keeneston. It was strange, though. They didn’t seem to care that he was a king. In fact, many found it an annoyance—like his future queen. Well, she didn’t know she was his future queen, but she would.
“I’m in love,” Draven said as Zain followed his line of vision.
“Oh,” Zain said slowly as Gabe joined them. “Draven is in love,” Zain told his brother.
“Does she know that?” Gabe asked, handing them both a drink.
“Not yet, but she will,” Draven said, taking a deep breath.
It was time. Draven tossed back his drink and shoved the empty glass into Gabe’s hand.
“Good luck!” the brothers called out as Draven took his first step toward the woman who had haunted his dreams ever since he met her.
“Hello,” Draven said as he looked down at her. She sat at a table with her friends. They were sipping champagne and all laughing together, and he’d never wanted to be a part of something more.
“Hi, Draven,” she said happily. That had to mean she was ready to be his queen.
“Would you like to get a drink with me?” Draven held his breath as he waited for her to answer.
“Sure.” She tossed back what little champagne she had left.
His smile surely lit up the entire reception as she placed her hand on his arm. They didn’t talk as he led her to the empty end of the bar. He pulled out a stool and helped her sit before taking his seat. It was going so well.
“You look radiant tonight. Pretty as a princess,” Draven said, before realizing the insult. She wasn’t a princess. She’d be a queen. “Or a queen,” he added quickly.
She looked down at her dress and back up at him. “Thanks. You look very . . . um, military.”
Draven beamed. He’d worn his general dress uniform to impress her. “I have a gift for you.”
“Me? Why?” she asked as he handed her the bag.
“Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he admitted.
She froze as she looked into the bag. Her face went white and then red. Yes, she was thrilled with his gift.
“Is this what I think it is?” she asked, not pulling it out from the bag.
Draven smiled with pride. “Yes. That is my royal member cast in gold for you so that you may think of me as I think of you.”
She was quiet for a moment before shoving the bag back at him. “Did you seriously give me a gold dildo as a way to ask me out on a date?”
Was that wrong? By the way people were staring, he guessed that it was a bit over the top.
“You are always on my mind,” he whispered to her as her face grew redder.
“And that’s why you were photographed naked with a Brazilian model two weeks ago?” She stood up and put her hands on her hips and glared. “That is not a way to woo a woman. You need to grow up!”
Draven sat defeated as she stormed off. Slowly, Gabe and Zain approached and handed him two drinks. “I thought it was a beautiful gift,” Draven muttered.
“I think we need to add romancing to your lessons,” Zain said with a grimace.
Draven perked up. “Yes! I will give you anything you want if you teach me to romance that all-American woman.”
“Oh, boy,” Gabe muttered. “This should be interesting.”
“Okay, so what is this about?” Abby asked as Sebastian and Humphrey ushered her and Dylan into the back of an extended SUV.
“Well, first I have a gift for you,” Sebastian said, handing her an envelope.
Abby opened it and then handed it to Dylan. “That’s very generous of you,” Abby said, reaching into the third row to give him a hug. It was a voucher for a free flight on his private jet to any of his hotels for an all-expenses-paid two-week honeymoon.
“What are friends for?” Sebastian said, trying to play it cool. And that’s what they were—friends. Dylan shook his hand and Abby was relieved to see the two joking around. Sebastian needed some friends like them to brighten up his life.
“Well, I come with gifts, too!” Humphrey said, rubbing his hands together. He pressed a button and a screen between the two front seats lowered.
“President Stratton,” Dylan said with surprise as Birch appeared on the screen.
“Have you given them the gift yet, Humphrey?” Birch asked.
“No, sir. I was waiting for you.”
“Excellent,” Birch smiled. “Congratulations to my two best operatives.”
“Ex-operatives,” Abby said still a little resentful about being let go.
Birch smiled again and leaned forward. His face filled the camera. “A couple years ago I started a beta program to test the benefit of off-the-books operatives. It’s been a success, but those initial operatives are moving on with their lives. They’re not taking as many cases, and it just so happens I have the need for a husband and wife team. Ready to get back to work?”
Abby looked quickly at Dylan who gave her a single nod. “We would have a team?”
“No. It would just be you two. You’d operate how you see fit,” Birch told them.
“Who would we take orders from?” Dylan asked.
“Me. And only me.”
Abby was quiet for a moment. “You said others have come before us. Do we get to choose our cases?”
“There’s always the option of saying no. Think of yourself as freelancers. But these missions won’t be like anything you’ve seen before. Strictly off the books. There will be no Delta Force or DEVGRU to come to the rescue.”
“We have our own backup,” Dylan said with a sly grin.
“Yes, you do. In fact, it was Miles Davies who recommended you for this position.”
Abby knew her eyes were wide. “What?”
“Are you in or out?” Birch asked.
Abby looked at Dylan who had a grin on his face that said it all. “We’re in,” she said. “But we get to be based out of Keeneston, we get to tell our family, and we can quit at any time.”
“Deal,” Birch said. “Now, go and enjoy your honeymoon. Dylan, ask your uncles what they do on their guys’ weekend trips. Then you’ll have your answers. I’m glad we’ll be working together, even if it might only be for a couple years. Cheers to your marriage.”
The screen went blank and Abby turned to Sebastian. “You knew about this. How?”
“I funded the first team,” he answered.
“Are they still active?” Dylan asked.
“Yes, but with life comes marriage. And after marriage come babies. Some of them are stepping down now, but they always answer the call to see how they can assist,” Sebastian said with a hint of a happy smile.
“I hope to be named a godfather soon. Wouldn’t that be something?” Humphrey said as he pulled out his own envelope. “Many blessings to you both. And remember, if a baby comes sooner rather than later, Humphrey is an excellent name.”
Humphrey opened the door and held out his arm ushering them out. “We’ll be seeing you both soon.”
Abby and Dylan waved as the SUV drove off.
“What’s in the envelope?” Dylan asked as she opened it.
Abby and Dylan stared at the check in silence for a full minute. “That’s way more than I made in Delta Force.”
“We can buy a house here in Keeneston,” Abby said with realization. She turned and he already had his arms open wide.
“And we get to work together.”
Dylan kissed her and it was if all her dreams had come
true.
“We’ll be quick,” she said before she placed her lips on his. He was instantly lost in the warmth of her mouth, the feel of her breasts in his hands, and the way she fit against him. How many times had they done this? It didn’t matter because each time seemed like the first.
She pulled him farther into the darkness away from the reception. Her head was tossed back as they laughed at their little secret. They laughed, they loved, and they burned together. He couldn’t be happier. He loved her with a passion that was only growing, and knowing she felt the same only caused their love to burn brighter. It wasn’t as if they meant to keep having these semi-public trysts, they just couldn’t seem to stop them. As much as he knew they should end it, he also wondered what would happen if they never did?
“Abby,” her mother hissed as soon as the dance was over. Dylan kissed her quickly and went to have a drink with his cousins.
“Yes, Mom?”
Her mother looked around and shoved something into her hand as if she were involved in a drug deal.
“Mom! Why did you shove a thong into my hand?” Abby looked widely around. This was far worse than drugs.
“You are married. It’s your wedding day, for crying out loud. Keep your damn panties on at least until the limo,” her mother whispered angrily.
Abby looked down at the panties. “Um, Mom.”
“Hush, just go put them back on.” She let out a long breath. “I’m sorry. It’s your wedding day, and I’m glad you two are so in love.”
“Mom!” Abby said between clenched teeth.
“What?”
“Mom, these aren’t mine. Mine say Bride on them.”
Abby’s mom’s eyes shot up to hers. “Do you know what this means?”
“That you’ve given me more credit as the panty dropper than I deserve?” Abby said snarkily as she shoved the panties back into her mom’s hands.
“There’s more than one panty dropper.”
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