“I’m pretty sure you owe me after terrorizing my girlfriend,” Jack countered, his annoyance on full display. “That means you don’t get to ask questions ... or give us any grief.”
“I didn’t agree to those terms.”
Jack’s eyes were dangerous brown slits. “I know you like this persona you have, the one where you’re the world’s biggest jerk, but I don’t buy it. You’re not all that bad of a guy. I need you to prove it by leaving Ivy out of this. She’s been through enough ... including you having your grubby hands on her.”
“Fine.” Archibald threw up his hands in disgust. “I won’t say anything. Are you happy?”
Jack slid his eyes to Ivy, who had stopped crying and looked to be pulling herself together. “Well, my fiancée survived yet another trauma and came out mostly unscathed, despite doing the stupidest thing in the world to protect me. I’m getting married in a few weeks to the woman of my dreams ... and I’m pretty sure there’s cake in my future because I rode to the rescue today. I don’t see where I have a lot to complain about.”
Despite herself, Ivy smiled. “Who is making this cake?”
He poked her stomach. “The Dairy Queen because you can’t stand long enough to bake. As soon as you’re mobile again, though, you’re baking me a pie.”
“Oh, so you’re getting cake and pie, huh?”
“I am.”
She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I can live with that.”
“Me, too.” He cupped the back of her head. “You might be a jailbird, but you’re still my favorite person in the world.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet.” She snuggled closer, resting her head against his chest. “Just one question before everyone else gets here, though. Why did he do it?”
“Because he could,” Archibald replied. “He liked the power ... and the money ... and hurting other people. I think he was a sociopath who didn’t care who he hurt.”
“And Bethany? Is she going to be okay?”
“She’s going to be fine. I’m going to make sure of that myself, and that includes getting her into a rehab program.”
Ivy found she was relieved. “That’s good. And what about me? Am I going to be okay in all of this?”
Archibald sobered. “You’re going to be fine. I can’t promise much, but I can promise that.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Yeah, well ... I still have a lot of questions.” He held Jack’s gaze for an extended beat. “I guess you’ve earned a break, though.”
“We have indeed,” Jack agreed. “Now, give us our break. I want to spend a few minutes with my fiancée before the circus arrives. Do you think you can manage that?”
Brian sighed. “I guess, but you’ve got exactly five minutes. After that, it’s back to work.”
“You’re such a slave driver.”
“You’ll live.”
They were all going to live ... and happily ever after at that, Jack surmised. It wasn’t the easiest of days, but they were together and alive so it was a win for him. Things were only going to get better moving forward, and he couldn’t wait to see where they would end up.
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Acknowledgments
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Books by Lily Harper Hart
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Ghostly Deceits
Ghostly Worries
Ghostly Images
Ghostly Wrecks
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Ghostly Holiday
Ghostly Ordeal
Ghostly Fears
Ghostly Charms
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Murky Seas
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Raging Seas
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The Dirty Coven
A Fistful of Demons
Boot Scootin’ Boogeyman
A Supernatural Speakeasy Cozy Mystery
The Hexorcist
Crossovers
Wicked Ghosts
Wicked Seas
Ghostly Seas
Grave Seas
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados
Deadly Arrival
Deadly Rivalry
Deadly Memories
Deadly Adventure
Deadly Reunion
Deadly Conflicts
Deadly Payback
Deadly Waves
Deadly Forever
Wicked Reunion Page 20
