She squeezed his hand in encouragement. Nobody was going to do nothing to Devin. It had all been her idea. Well, not the deer. Not even the good Lord himself had control over those flighty critters. They certainly hadn’t meant for Captain McCleod to knock his head so badly, or for anything else to go so wrong.
Gabriel, the archangel responsible for them, stuck his head out his office door and scowled. “Get in here, you two. We need to talk.”
Lulu flinched, but put a brave face on for Devin. She wasn’t about to let some bully of an archangel hurt his feelings. Still holding his hand, they walked into the office.
Gabriel slammed the door behind them and stomped to his desk. Sitting down, he glared over the rims of his glasses. “Would one of you care to explain what happened to Jennifer Dane and Kaden McCleod?” he asked.
“Sir, I—”
“Hush up, Devin,” Lulu said, putting her fingers over his lips. “This is all my fault. They were both alone on Christmas, and I thought I’d try to get some true love going between them. I talked Devin into it.”
Gabriel rubbed his forehead. “And what gave you the idea they’d suit each other? I’d also like you to explain the involvement of Brittany Carter.” Glaring at Devin, he added, “And tell me why you thought it would be a good idea to encourage him to cheat.”
“But I didn’t!” Stricken, Devin wrung his hands together and hunched his shoulders. “He broke up with her because she was mean, and I was hoping Miz Lulu’s idea would work.”
“And now you’ve made two people unhappier than they would have been had you left them alone,” Gabriel said, his scowl growing darker by the minute. “You’re both losing half of whatever points you’ve earned. Maybe that will teach you to choose more wisely in the future.”
Lulu rested her palms on Gabriel’s desk, putting on the face she’d used to scare six children and dozens of grandchildren into obedience. “Devin had nothing to do with this. I’m going to take the whole punishment myself since it was my idea.”
“Careful, Lulabelle,” Gabriel warned. “You need to remember to whom you speak. I’ve made my judgment and you’ll have to live with the consequences.”
“You pompous old windbag!” Lulu sputtered, furious beyond reason. “You can stick your judgment right up your—”
The papers on Gabriel’s desk flashed and exploded into rainbows, making her let out a surprised shriek and back away. Glittering shards of color filled the room for several seconds before fading to nothing.
“What was that?” she demanded, wrapping her ample arms around Devin.
Gabriel stared at them both, then barked out a laugh. “Well, it seems your harebrained scheme worked. You just witnessed what happens for the spark of true love, so I’m going to suspend my judgment. Now, since you worked together, I’m going to split the points right down the middle.”
“Thank you so much, sir,” Devin said. “We’re thankful for your generosity.”
“Maybe next time you two will plan a little better, since you both still have a ways to go to get wings.”
“Not good enough, you old goat,” Lulu said. Gabriel wasn’t about to steal this from Devin. “You give Devin the whole amount and let that sweet boy have his wings.”
“Miz Lulu! You can’t—”
“Hush up. I ain’t done.” She gave Gabriel a beady-eyed stare. “Now, get that boy his wings before I get testy.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Lulabelle, you’re determined to be a pest about this, aren’t you?”
Crossing her arms, Lulu said nothing, meeting his glare with her own.
Gabriel threw up his arms in disgust. “You know what? I don’t care. He snapped his fingers at Devin and said, “Wings for Devin Chance Delacourte. You weren’t far from them even with only half the points for the true love.”
He pointed at Lulu and snapped again. “And wings for Lulabelle Beatrice Penworthy for your selfless act in giving up your wings for another, and because you’re a pain in my ass.”
Lulu’s spine ached as the silvery wings sprouted from her back. Her form shimmered and all the lingering hurt she’d been suffering since her death faded. It felt like she’d turned into pure joy.
“Hey, baby girl. You’re looking mighty fine with those new wings.”
Lulu spun, her outstretched wings knocking papers and a lamp off Gabriel’s desk. “Lord have mercy,” she whispered.
“You got some sugar for Daddy, honey?”
“Remy!” Bursting into tears of happiness, Lulu threw herself into her husband’s arms and kissed his dear, craggy face. “You ain’t changed a bit. I missed you so danged much, Daddy.”
Smiling softly, Remy tipped her chin up and kissed her again, his bright wings flaring over his head. “And you’re just as beautiful as the day I married you, baby.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes, then said, “Get a room, you two, and all of you get out of my office.”
“Thank you, sir,” Devin said, his new wings gleaming.
“You’re welcome,” Gabriel replied gruffly. “And… Merry Christmas.”
About Raisa Greywood
Author of filthy smut, empty nester, and cat snuggler.
She’s worked as a teacher, an actuary (her husband called her a bookie – which isn’t too far from the truth), mother, scout leader, and is now enjoying semi-retirement writing the books she’s always wanted to read.
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Also by Raisa Greywood
Happily Never After (written with Sinistre Ange)
Demon Lust
Blood Lust (Coming February, 2020)
Horsemen Quartet
War (Coming soon)
Pestilence (TBA)
Famine (TBA)
Death (TBA)
Shifter’s Mates
The Tiger Queen
The Tiger King
The Leopard Mage
The Leopard Prince
The Jaguar Rogue
The Jaguar Knight
Standalone Titles & Anthologies
Longing and Lust & Other Short Stories
Bastard’s New Baby
Ladder 54: Five Firefighter Romances
Masters of the Castle: Witness Protection Program
Dangerous Curves Ahead: An Anthology
Jennifer’s Christmas Daddy
Wicked Magic Trilogy
Wicked Deception
Wicked Truth
Wicked Fire
Jennifer's Christmas Daddy Page 7