Shelter in Place
Page 45
“I’ll dance with you. I just need one more minute.”
“It’s about damn time.” And CiCi did a little boogie on the spot. “I’m a little bit psychic,” she added. “Go on, make him smile.” She gave Simone a nudge.
With a half laugh, a quick shake of her head, Simone decided her grandmother just might be a little bit psychic.
She crossed paths with Reed and the faithful Barney in front of the bronze.
“I asked Essie, Hank, and the kids to pack up and head over. I think we need a good party.”
“I think that’s a great idea. Mi can bunk with CiCi.”
“That works. Are you ready?”
“Almost.” She took his face—oh, she knew that face—in her hands. “I want simple. Maybe a wild party after, but simple for the main event.”
“I was going to do burgers and…” The smile came, slow. “When? I’ve got to clear my schedule.”
“Summer’s busy for the chief of police. How about the Saturday after Labor Day? The island’s pretty quiet again.”
“I can do the Saturday after Labor Day.”
“At CiCi’s. Nobody throws a wild party like CiCi, and she and Mi are going to be my maids of honor. No black tie, no tails.”
“Can I begin to tell you how much I love you?”
“You’ll get to that. CiCi’s going to want one of her Wiccan priestess friends to perform the ceremony. I’d like to let her have that one.”
“As long as said priestess is licensed to marry, I’m good. Can I start telling you now?”
“Almost. I want the ceremony part at sunset. I don’t want traditional vows, but I do want an exchange of rings. And I want Florence for a honeymoon.”
She considered, nodded. “I think that covers the absolutes. After those you can have your input.”
“I can agree to all of that. My only provision, at this time, and up to the vows—when it’s legal? If CiCi crooks her fingers and says: Come on, Reed, let’s catch a slow boat to anywhere, you’re out.”
“That’s fair.”
Grinning, he swung her off her feet and in circles while Barney leaped and wagged.
CiCi put an arm around Mi’s shoulders as she watched.
“You’re spooky, CiCi. Really good spooky.”
“Dr. Jung, we’re going to throw our girl one hell of a wedding.”
She watched through a blur of happy tears as a man she adored whirled her greatest treasure in front of the curve of bronze, the hill of white roses.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than two hundred novels, including Come Sundown, The Obsession, The Liar, The Collector, Whiskey Beach, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Part One: Innocence Lost
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Part Two: Passion of Purpose
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Part Three: Proof of Life
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
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About the Author
Copyright
The official Nora Roberts seal guarantees that this is a new work.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SHELTER IN PLACE. Copyright © 2018 by Nora Roberts. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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Cover design by Ervin Serrano
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-16159-8 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-19398-8 (international, sold outside the U.S., subject to rights availability)
ISBN 978-1-250-16161-1 (e-book)
eISBN 9781250161611
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First Edition: May 2018