“I’d think so,” Sami replied, propping her chin in her hand.
“You’d be wrong,” Molly grumbled, holding Devlynn closer as she settled back against Devil’s chest.
“So, what are the two destinations up for decision?” Devil asked, sliding his arm around Molly’s waist as he brushed a kiss against her neck and ogled the lovely expanse of creamy skin bared by her strapless dress Damn, she was beautiful. Right now, he wanted to give the designer a cash bonus.
“We’re going to Aruba!” Mannie shouted as he slid open the sliding patio door and stepped outside into the sunny afternoon. “Sun, surf, and sand, Nicky! Those are key ingredients to a happy honeymoon!”
“Armando, I rented us an entire Swiss chalet,” Nick countered, ready to state his case. “Hot cocoa snuggled by the fireplace on a bear rug….”
“I would rather be naked and swimming in the ocean,” Mannie yelled passionately, stomping down the stone steps.
“Never mind, I think I got it,” Devil mumbled into Molly’s neck, watching the newly wedded couple head their way, both of them stone-faced and ready to do serious battle.
“Molly, we need an impartial party to help us,” Mannie yelled at Molly. “Tell this foolish husband of mine that Aruba is much more suitable to a honeymoon destination. One week on the sandy surf is much more romantic than shivering to death in the Alps! Tell him, chica! Tell him!”
“We are NOT going to freeze, you drama queen! The chalet has heat – and a hot tub!” Nick spat, dropping his hands and propping them on his hips.
Shifting Molly off his lap and into the seat beside him, Devil rose, put two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. “Okay, enough,” he growled. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the two men he considered family. “Okay, you got a week on the beach, right, Mannie?”
“Si, and our bungalow faces the ocean, Papi,” he added with a conceited lift of his chin.
Turning to focus to Nick, he asked, “How long do you have the chalet?”
“Two weeks,” Nick groused. “And I’ll see his bungalow and raise him a Jacuzzi on the deck of the chalet and a masseuse on-call 24 hours a day!”
“Ohhhh, that sounds nice,” Sami whispered to Molly. “I’d go with the chalet.”
Looking over his shoulder, Mannie turned his angry eyes toward Sami. “Yet another Judas in my midst. Et tu, Brute?”
“You’ll get over it.” Sami shrugged carelessly.
“Do both,” Devil stated decisively.
“Huh?” both men questioned in unison.
“Do both,” Devil repeated. “Allow me to save the world from some scorched Earth. I’m ordering you to take some extra time and visit both locations. I have it on good authority that your boss will give you both the time off,” he offered with a shrug. “He’s already got your replacement lined up,” he informed them, turning to wink at a beaming Molly.
“Really?” Armando squeezed, cupping his junk as he jumped up and down in his red velvet tuxedo.
“Really,” Devil confirmed, rolling his arms at Mannie’s theatrics while Nick looked at the plane tickets in his hand.
“I hate to break up the party, but if we’re doing this, we gotta go. Our flight leaves for Aruba in ninety minutes,” he told Mannie.
A flurry of hugs and goodbyes ensued and a short time later, Devil and Molly were waving off the trio of friends. Mannie and Nick were off on their honeymoon adventure and Samantha was driving them to the airport.
Leaning her head against Devil’s chest as she held their baby in her arms, Molly sighed as she watched Sami’s convertible disappear around the curve. “Well, she whispered, “It’s done.”
“It is,” Devil agreed, tightening his arm around his wife. “And all we got on this crazy trip was a few scorch marks to remind us where we’ve been,” he added with a grin.
Tilting her head, Molly laughed. “Better to be scorched by my Devil than burned by anyone else, honey.”
Smiling widely, Devil nodded and pressed a kiss to Molly’s forehead. “And don’t you forget it Molly. Don’t ever forget.”
The End
Dedication
I’d like to dedicate this novella to all the wonderful medical professionals that took a role in saving my life this past September 2014. Each one of you took the time to comfort and calm a terrified woman while she faced one hugely scary medical situation.
From my family physician at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (Ft. Campbell, KY) to my cardiologist at Gateway Medical (Clarksville, TN) to my cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Thomas Medical Hospital (Nashville, TN) and all of their fabulous nurses, both in the Cardiac Intensive Care and on the medical wards and in the family care clinic, I thank you each of you from the bottom of my now-working-again heart.
Without ALL of you, Scorched would never have been written. God bless each one of my medical guardian angels.
Acknowledgments
When we first dream up a book in our demented little minds, we are fairly certain that our husbands attempt to run screaming from our homes. But, for some strange reason, they always come back. As much as we joke and rant about the craziness that is our lives, we both know that we would be lost without the two men that make our lives complete. Thank you, M & G. We love you dearly.
Our children are the lights of our lives. Our hearts are completely wrapped up in the joy and love that literally bursts from us when we even think about them. We cannot imagine our lives without them and would move heaven and earth to make sure they were safe and sound and happy. When we list our proudest creations, our babies are at the top of the list.
Thank you, Mommas. Thank you to Crazy One’s Momma for her eagle-eye editing, support, and gentle nudging. Thank you to Crazy Two’s Momma for encouragement and for never failing to provide cookies at just the right time.
Thank you to the Sarah O’Rourke Crazy Crew for your continued support, encouragement, and shameless promotion. You ladies rock!
Thank you to all of the wonderful bloggers who take time to share about our books!
Want to know more about Sarah’s books? Visit us at http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahorourke
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Dedication
Scorched (Sizzle #2) Page 14
