Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“To the left.” I guide her past the small round tables and into the locker room.
“Let’s see. Number 1147. Not this one. Nope.” She goes down the row until she finds Xanny’s old locker.
She uses the combination lock, spinning back and forth until it opens with a click. “This is great. I should work for the FBI.”
I groan. “Let’s not.”
Her laugh is musical, a beautiful sound I love to hear. “Okay, I suppose that might cause some complications.”
“Let’s get the cash and get out.” I watch as she opens the locker then pauses. “What is it, little one?”
She stands, frozen, then slowly raises a hand to her mouth. When she turns to me, she has tears in her eyes, and when I drop to one knee, she lets out a little gasp of surprise.
Reaching up, I take the ring from the locker and hold it out to her.
“I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you. It’s only ever been you, and it will only ever be you. Will you marry me?”
She nods, a tear dropping down her cheek. “Yes!”
“Of course she said yes.” Xanny punches Lenny in the arm as they and the security guards watch us from the break room. She’s holding Bentley in her other arm, a little white tie around his neck.
“You were all in on it?” Zoey gawks at them. “Even you, Bentley? Oh my God!”
“We couldn’t turn this down. Watching you get the surprise of your life? Come on.” Xanny grins.
“And you.” Zoey looks at me, love in her eyes. “You got me.”
“That was my plan.” I slide my ring on Zoey’s finger, then rise and pull her into my arms. “You’re mine, little one. Forever. Our deal is finally done.”
EPILOGUE
ZOEY
“You know you can’t hide from Bentley.” I shake my head at Finn as he creeps into my closet.
“Mommy, I got this,” he whispers and disappears.
Not long after, Bentley prances into the room, his whiskers at attention as he surveys his domain.
“I haven’t seen him,” I blurt.
He gives me a sharp look, his little chin jutting into the air as he moves farther into the room.
Damn, why do I have to cave under pressure so quickly? But I guess I always do wherever Bentley is concerned. He’s so spoiled. Then again, so is Finn.
“Nope, not in here.” I start whistling. But I can’t really whistle, so it just comes out sort of spitty and half-whistle.
Bentley jumps on the bed to get a few pets from me, then hops down on the other side and does a quick twirl around the bathroom.
At this point, I know he’s just toying with Finn. He knows right where that kid is.
Still, I keep trying. “You should look in Xanny and Lenny’s room. I bet he’s hiding in there,” I call.
Bentley gives me a long-suffering look, his tail straight up, then he trots to my closet.
“I don’t think he’d go in there, Bentley. Come on.” I force a laugh.
Bentley scoots through the crack in the door, and then I hear a giggle from inside.
Thank heavens the hunt is over. I lean back and relax, my hand going to my baby bump. I can’t wait to give Finn a little brother, though I do wonder at all the mischief my three boys will get up to.
Finn walks out of the closet with Bentley in his arms. “He found me.”
“I see that.” I smile at them. “How many games is this? Three now?”
“Let’s see.” Finn puts Bentley on the bed and scratches between his ears. “I think I found him three times. He found me four times.”
“So what’s that make? How many games?”
He thinks hard for a while. Only four, he’s already as clever as his aunt and as devious as his dad. Finn’s going to be a real handful when he gets older.
“Seven?” he asks.
“That’s right!” I open my arms, and he crawls onto the bed and gives me a warm hug. “My smart little guy. I love you.”
“I love you, Mommy.” He starts to wriggle free.
I sigh and let him go.
“Go hide. I’ll count to ten.” He gives Bentley one more pat.
Bentley stretches as Finn starts counting. The confident little brat doesn’t start running until Finn’s all the way to six. Once he takes off, Finn finishes his count and runs off after him.
“How many games is that today?” Leone walks into the room and closes the door behind him.
“Eight so far.” I can’t help but lick my lips as he strips off his tie and starts unbuttoning his shirt.
“How was the meeting?” I ask.
“Good. We got the warehouse space we need to start our own grow operation, and Lenny is champing at the bit to get started. I think he and Xanny might take over the world at some point, if I’m being honest.”
I laugh. “They are a perfect pair. Cunning. A little bit crazy. Totally in love.”