“How mad was he?” Jenna asked. “Is he at DEFCON status?”

Ryan looked up when she came around the corner and scooted onto the bench seat of their booth. The ladies’ room run had taken longer than usual. There wasn’t enough cold water and prayer in the world to make any difference to the large splotch on the chest of her t-shirt—the result of a glob of red sauce sliding off the pizza slice she’d been shoving in her mouth.

He sort of chuckled, but his face was a patchwork of wonder and worry.

Uh-oh. This can’t be good, she thought.

“Are we in the twilight zone or something?” he asked.

“Why?”

Jen felt his answering sigh as it reached her across the narrow table between them.

“Um, well, he answered and right away got all snarly with me.”

“I told you we should have called him an hour ago.”

“Yeah, that’s not why,” he told her.

The seriousness in his tone made her pay closer attention. She studied his pensive frown and slugged down a third of her soda, playing with the straw and swirling it through the crushed ice in her glass.

His eyes met hers. The deep blue color made her feel oddly safe and comforted.

“He’s with Samantha.”

She almost choked on her drink when shock made her inhale wrong. She went red-faced and gasped through a coughing fit that brought Ryan to her side of the table. He pushed her on the bench seat and sat down at her side while thumping her on the back.

“What does with Samantha mean, Ryan?”

He shrugged. “Said he took my advice, grew a set, and told her how he felt.”

“No!” she frantically wailed. “He can’t do that. We have to work out a plan. And then practice.”

Ryan stroked her back and chuckled. “Babe, for real. I think this time he needed to fly solo. I mean, come on. What were you going to do? Feed him seduction lines by text on his honeymoon?”

“Honeymoon? Whoa, whoa, whoa. What is it with you two and this insane rush to the altar complex?”

“I don’t actually hear you putting up much of an argument. And for all we know, Samantha might have demanded to know his intentions before forgiving his sorry ass.”

The whole thing struck her as funny. John and Samantha. Her and Ryan. Was the moon full? How about a harmonic convergence? Maybe a powerful love spell? Only something wildly unorthodox could begin to explain what was going on.

“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don’t want to be married?” Her voice gave away nothing, but that didn’t stop his mischievous smirk.

“Nice try. That’s the sort of crap Jenna Carlton, Lloyd Global CEO’s right-hand and über efficient assistant, would say.” He moved in close and whispered, “But the whimpering sex nymph who knew the fire we played with and went for it anyway? She’s of a different mind.”

“We were very bad,” she whispered in return. “I’m not like that, Ryan. What crazy voodoo are you using on me?”

He nuzzled her neck and bit her earlobe. “Let’s not pretend this is sudden, okay? We’ve had a couple of years of adversarial foreplay to prime the pump.”

She sniggered and shoved him back. “Can you please find a different expression than prime the pump? That sounds dirty.”

His much bigger hand commandeered hers and moved to the firm bulge under the zipper of his jeans. Her eyes darted around to be sure no one was paying them any attention.

“Touch is a powerful aphrodisiac, don’t you agree?”

His voice held a smoky sensuality that made her insides quiver.

“Want to try an experiment?” he asked.

“I just know I’m going to regret this, but yes.”

Ryan’s lusty smile triggered a rush of excitement so powerful that Jen squirmed and crossed her legs.

“When we leave here, I have to take care of my dog. He’s a good boy, but it’s been hours.”

“Okay.”

“So we’ll take a cab to my rental.”

The distraction of his substantial erection was making her thoughts drift, so she licked her lips, cleared her throat, and forced herself to concentrate.

“Are we at the experiment part yet?”

“In the cab, we’ll place a hand in each other’s lap.”

She looked him in the eyes and marveled at how calm he appeared while she was a hot mess of need.

“Now, if you had on one of those dominatrix business suits, I’d definitely have my hand in your panties.”

“You’re making me regret my choice of jeans.”

He winked. She giggled. “There’s so much I want to teach you, Ms. Carlton. A touch experiment is just the beginning.”

She pouted between laughs and asked, “And what do we get out of this experiment?”

“For however long the cab ride takes, no matter what you do or how hard you try to think about something else, your entire body will be focused on your hand and my bulge.”

“Oh, my,” she murmured when his words struck home. “You mean like right now?” She gave a gentle, loving squeeze to the hardness her hand caressed. He immediately covered her hand with his and pressed it against his body.

“Pre ... cise ... ly,” he drawled in three distinct syllables.

Just like that, she was finished and ready to call that cab. “Let’s go,” she demanded.

He sat back and grinned. Until he got up, she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Patience, love. Hurry is the enemy of pleasure.”

Not much she could say to that, so she changed the subject—sort of.

“You have a rental? Since when?”

“Goober hates hotels. Too many people moving around. So I go with one of those extended vacation deals. House with all the equipment needed. No midnight runs to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.”

She broke out a big smile. “How many beds in this rental?”

“Uh, four. Why?”

“Because we’re going to break them all in.”

“Are we now?” he asked with a pleased snicker.

“Yep, yep. And then in the morning, you’re going to use the Lloyd connections and find a judge to marry us.”

“Bossy, much?” His smile let her know she couldn’t have pleased him more.

“My mother is a pediatrician. She’ll be apoplectic if you get me pregnant without a wedding ring.”

Ryan rocked back and forth as he laughed. “Get you pregnant? Jeez, lady. You make it sound like making a kid is something you had no part of.”

Then, as if a switch was thrown, he became deadly serious.

“Jen, would you marry me even if our little oops wasn’t a consideration?”

“Would you have asked otherwise?” she countered.

“You belong to me,” he grumbled.

Men. Such babies sometimes. She came back with a question of her own.

“Do you belong to me, Ryan?”

His quick, assertive answer made Jen’s heart flutter.

“I came back because of you. Plain and simple. Not because of the store and not because of my mother’s relentless mission to make me plant some roots. Three months in Alaska trying to convince myself otherwise was a useless exercise in futility.”

“What we’re doing is beyond radical. You know that, right?”

“Those orchids sealed your fate, baby. We are meant to be.”

“Do you love me?” Jen couldn’t believe she asked the question, but she was having a hard time wrapping her mind around a lot of what was happening.

“I’ve been in love with you for a while, darlin’. Not trying to parse the words, but I believe there’s a difference.”

“So does that mean we’re going to say the words?”

“I’m ready. You?”

Jen considered the question and found her answer in his compelling eyes. “Let’s say it together, okay? Count of three.”

“You’re fucking fantastic,” he murmured through a chuckle. “Go ahead.”

“One. Two. Three,” she counted and then with a full heart, she barked, “I love you!”

His shout went a bit further. “I fucking love you!”

He grabbed her face for a hearty, smacking kiss. “Let’s get a move on.”

She took one last slug from her soda, wiped her mouth on a napkin, and scooted out of the booth. He held out his hand to help her stand, and some part of her being simply went all gooey and mushy at the gesture.

They marched out of the pizza parlor, hailed a cab, settled in, got all handsy with each other’s crotch, and drove off into the night.

* * *

John moved into the kitchen silently and approached Samantha from behind. He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her into an embrace. In the time it took between Ryan’s phone call and making it to the kitchen, he decided there’d be no beating around the bush.

“I won’t let anyone ruin for this for us. Whatever you’re worried about, just tell me, and we’ll face it together.”

She turned in his arms. “Oh, John. Us being together is so sudden. I’m afraid when we leave this little bubble and others weigh in, this won’t feel quite so … perfect.”

“You’re referring to my mother, right? She’s what caused your sudden mood change.”

“Are we a cliché?” she asked. “Boss and employee?”

“No, goddammit. If anything, we’re an inspiration.”

Her smile, even though it was slight, saved his sanity.

“What will your mother think?”

“Oh.” He chuckled. “Yeah. About that. Don’t freak or anything, but we’re having dinner with her tomorrow night.”

“What do you mean?”

“Here’s the abridged version of events. Mom. Aunt Grace. Meddlers. Ryan. Matchmaking. Society succubus. Jen. Furious. A phone call. I biffed. Moms always know. Gauntlet thrown. Both sons ... and their women. Command performance. No regrets will be accepted.”

“That’s a lot to take on board,” she muttered. “Um, explain the succubus, please?”

“Jenna got wind of the twins’ plan to marry Ryan or me off. Let’s just say she wasn’t amused when Ryan was in the bull’s-eye and a potential candidate chosen. I believe the shock of the situation is what forced those two, Ryan and Jen, out of their mutually combative habit.”

“Do you know who it was? The woman Connie and Grace chose?”

“I do, yes. But in retrospect, I’m starting to think it was all a ruse. Mom wasn’t surprised when I told her to back off Ryan. And she didn’t hesitate for even a second when I told her I was seeing someone.”

John held steady while Samantha surrendered to a bout of lip biting and frowns. She plucked a button on his shirt and appeared to find his throat fascinating. He had to get her talking or at least looking at him. He needed those guideposts.

Jen’s calm, firm whisper drifted across his thoughts. She was good at reminding him to slow down. Or, as she put it, to chill the fuck out and breathe a little. She said forcing a speedy conversation or responses was dumb. That even thoughts needed oxygen and a little space.

So he ran his hands slowly up and down her silk covered arms and let her take the time she needed. And to be perfectly honest, standing in the kitchen as they were, with their lower bodies touching in a lover’s pose? He liked it. They felt good and natural together.

After what felt like an eternity, Samantha raised her eyes and ran her fingers down one side of his face. It was a loving gesture made more memorable because her hand wore his ring.

“You poor thing.”

John detected the teeny-tiny mocking lilt in what she said and broke into a grin. That she didn’t find his social challenges off-putting was the bonus he never dreamed would happen.

“I don’t understand your family at all. But I suppose I’d better get it together, huh? Just clarify a couple of things. Please?”

“Oh, my god, Sam. What? Ask me anything you want. I’m an open book where you’re concerned. Just remember, though, that you’re probably gonna always have to ask.”

“Yes, John. I get that part!” A smug eye roll punctuated her words. “Regarding your mother and what she pried out of you by making you panic in a phone call.”

He groaned. “She’s an expert. It’s not just me being hopeless.”

“When you say moms always know and that she wasn’t surprised you were interested in someone, was my name mentioned?”

“No, not directly.”

She nodded but went silent. Then she asked, “Is the plan that we show up at dinner and say, oh, by the way, we’ve never been on an actual date yet but guess what? We’re engaged.”

He snorted a laugh. It sounded so absurd, but that was exactly what would go down.

“Sounds about right.” He chuckled and added, “And for shits and giggles? If you want, we can pretend there will be no hanky-panky before the wedding.”

Thumping a playful hand on his chest, Samantha giggled at his wisecrack.

“Hold up, now. That idea has merit,” she quipped. “We could have so much fun playing it old school. We’d only be able to pull it off that one time, though,” she told him.

“Why is that?” He asked.

“Because, darling, unless I’m reading you all wrong, we’ll be sleeping in the same bed from now on. Am I right?”

He wrapped her in a powerful embrace and grabbed her ass with one hand.

“It’s where you belong.”

“Oooh.” She snickered. “Yes! I like the growly voice and possessive ass grab.”

It was amazing how quickly life changed. He truly had not been this happy since before his dad died. In a way, he couldn’t believe he would get a happily ever after—at his age and with his shortcomings.

And even more astonishing was the instant family that came with the deal.

He couldn’t wait to be Chelsea’s dad. They were going to have an amazing relationship. He was so certain of this because they’d bonded instantly.

“Do we have to drink the coffee? I know you made it special and all, but something else has come up.”

She shimmied on his front and discovered exactly what he meant.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gyrated on his bulging erection and whispered into his ear, “I like when something else comes up. Day or night, darling, just let me know. Maybe we’ll have a secret signal.” She chuckled. “And when you call, I’ll be there.”

John squeezed the crap out of her with his enthusiastic hug.

“Um, one thing. Language. I get a bit crude at times. It’s a guy thing that being shy didn’t affect.”

“That sounds like a disclaimer preceding whatever filthy thought you’re trying to censor. I’m a firm believer in the old adage, ‘a lady in public and a slut in private,’ so have at it.” She sniggered.

“Good, good,” he drawled. “Then be advised that I shall be taking you up on your day or night assurance.”

“Oh, it’s more than an assurance, Mr. Lloyd. It’s a guarantee.”

“Then you can think about this. Sooner or later, I’m going to fuck you in my office. On the desk. In broad daylight. The goal will be to end with a puddle beneath you.”

She reared back, stared at him, and then roared with laughter.

“My boss is very strict about taking breaks. You’ll only have fifteen, maybe twenty minutes to ravish me. Think you can handle that?”

“Sam,” he growled. “You don’t work anymore. Not for me. Not for anyone. You’re a stay-at-home mom from now on. And you’ll have a car to run around town in. It’s not up for negotiation,” he forcefully asserted when she started to disagree.

“Excuse me?”

The expression on her face was damn hard to read. Was she about to rip him a new one?

“Was that a step too far with the macho thing? Shit. Sorry but not really. I’m serious, honey. It’s admirable that you want to resist but tough shit. And this isn’t a case of me wanting to say my wife doesn’t work. I know you, Sam. I saw how you were that day we spent at the museum. Being with Chelsea, enjoying her childhood, being the best goddamn parent you can be ... it’s part of you.”

“So what? You’re putting your foot down and making a bunch of alpha proclamations because you know what’s best for me?”

“Yep.”

He remained stoic but was frantically in silent prayer he wasn’t making a mistake.

“Well, alrighty then,” she chirped. “Let me just turn off the coffee so you can take me back to bed and introduce me more intimately to this lurking alpha.”

When she turned around and leaned to switch off the coffeemaker, he swatted her butt and belted out, “Hurry up, woman.”

She jumped and yelped then fell into his arms as her laughter bounced off the walls.

“Shh.” He growled the way she liked and added a tsk-tsk for emphasis. “Our daughter is asleep. Control yourself or I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”

Sam slapped a hand over her mouth and continued laughing. Then she sobered up, took his hand, and led him from the kitchen. Halfway down the hallway, she whispered, “Will this lesson include a spanking? Asking for a friend,” she teased.

In the bedroom, he quickly stripped off his shirt and tore her robe off.

“I’ve never done that before ... spanked a grown woman. Any woman, any age,” he added.

“I’m a spanking virgin, but with you? I think I’d like to find out what all the hoopla is about.”

“Sounds to me like a bit of research is in order.”

“I agree,” she said with a bright smile. “As long as we do the research together.”

“Mmm, sounds like fun. Agreed,” he drawled as they shook hands.

“Now, about the day and night pledge.” He looked around her bedroom. “Fiancée’s choice. Where do you want to do it?”

Her hands were on his pants and working the zipper so fast, he barely had time to take a breath.

“I want you in that chair, the one without arms. Let’s see if we can ruin the upholstery.”

He watched her take control of removing his slacks and grinned when his cock sprang into view.

“Unless it’s waterproof, that poor chair is going to get drenched.”

“Flooded,” she primly snapped.

“I stand corrected.” John smirked.

She neglected to mention the part about getting on her knees to suck the life out of his cock or how perfectly her big breasts bounced when she rode him like a filthy rodeo gal as she drove them to a mind-blowing finish that completely soaked the damn chair.

Ryan spooned ice cream from the pint of Häagen-Dazs in his hand as he leaned against the wall and watched Jen roll around with Goober. It was impossible not to witness this side of the lady without being utterly astonished at how carefully she’d hidden her true self.

He understood more than she realized. Adventuring the planet wasn’t the only thing he did. He was like her in some ways because he also had a public and a private face.

The Ryan Lloyd who globetrotted and made exploring new worlds and places and cultures an in thing was who the public saw.

But he was more than just an outdoor cover model. His extensive travels opened his eyes, and when he wasn’t doing Lloyd Global work, he volunteered in any capacity he could with dozens of charity projects and third world missions.

He’d constructed schools, dug through mudslides, helped build a dam, and done conservation work in some pretty unforgiving environments.

Kids, especially girls, and the way they were used, bartered, bought, and sold like pieces of firewood gutted him. A universe of difference existed between a girl in Africa fighting for a chance to just go to school and Jen’s privileges, but he still got it.

She wanted to be seen as a person first. Not through the lens of her gender.

At the present moment, however, she was making his dog fall in love with her. Goober was never this silly with him. He was all over her and acting like a tail wagging, face licking, overly enthusiastic puppy. Since his wolf dog wasn’t a purse pup, it was all kinds of comical when the big bushy goofball tried to squeeze onto her lap as she sat cross-legged against a wall.

Jen took it all in stride. Nothing the dog did fazed her in the least. Not even the slobbering tongue swipes. She cradled the ridiculous beast like a baby and told him how handsome a pooch he was.

Ryan finished the ice cream about the same time he admitted he was jealous of the damn dog.

“I think he likes me,” she exclaimed. “Does he have any toys? Where are they?”

Okay. That was enough with his pet. He hadn’t brought her here to break out the dog toys.

“Are you going to be one of those wives who gets chummy with all my guy friends?”

His accompanying wince was because he heard the petulant whine in his voice and felt a stab of embarrassment.

She wrestled the large dog off her lap and stood. He glared at Goober who completely ignored him.

“I think it’s sweet that you consider him a guy friend.”

Ryan grumped. “That’s not what I meant.”

Ignoring him, rather like his dog, she started walking around the house to check things out.

“Wow,” she murmured when a cook’s dream kitchen came into view. “This is incredible. They must make a lot of money on a rental like this. Smart business model.”

“There are only so many tents, hammocks, and hotel rooms I can take. If I’m someplace for long, I like to live like a normal person.”

“And what about now? This is temporary, right?” she asked with a wave of her hand at the surroundings. “If you’re the face of the new store, don’t you have to have a base of operations in the city that is more permanent?”

He sighed. “Still haven’t had many chances to think through all the details. I hope you’re okay with Denver being our official home. I’m still committed to my responsibilities with the outdoor division. The blog that started all of it is about me. I figured once the store is established, I’d work remotely. I’m putting together a team to manage the day to day and run the cash register.”

“Maybe you should take on a protégé? Someone you could mentor to step into the globetrotting thing?”

“That’s a really good idea.”

They shared a smile. She had compelling eyes that hid nothing from him. He found it incredibly easy to become lost in her chocolate gaze.

“I’ve never been to Denver, but from what I know of Colorado, it sounds wonderful. And as far as having a base of operations here, we can live at my place. Us and Goober. It’s perfect. He can be outside. There’s plenty of room once I clear away my clutter. No sense in wasting money or real estate.”

“Who owns your place?”

“I don’t think I even know whose name is on the deed. It’s been in the family for generations. If I didn’t need it, I’m afraid the beautiful old place might sit empty.”

The sweep of her long lashes distracted him when she lowered her eyes and gave a self-conscious shrug that contradicted the self-assured ballbuster he’d known her to be.

“It’s just a suggestion. I know it’s old and probably a shithole by Lloyd standards.”

“Are you kidding?” he asked with a laugh. “Wait till you see Mom’s place. My folks bought this sprawling nightmare of hodge-podge styles because it seemed lonely. I’m not shitting. That’s the way she tells the story!” he emphatically told her. “And guess what? There’s an equally sprawling mess of greenhouses in the backyard.”

Jen gasped, and her eyes grew large. “Your dad? How wonderful.”

“So, um, speaking of Mom and the house.”

She came to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “Relax. I’m letting you off the hook because I like you so much.”

“Seriously?” he asked. “So does that mean I don’t have to come up with a raft of bullshit about this dinner with Mom event?”

“This one time, Imma give you a pass. But you have to promise that from here on out, you let me deal with Constance Nelson Lloyd.”

“And her evil, shit stirring twin?” he joked.

“Her too.”

Ryan considered the very deliberate way she delivered her statement. “Is that a thing? When the son’s wife runs the interference now? I could get used to that.”

“Enjoy it and then keep this in mind. You’ll have a mother-in-law to schmooze for the rest of your life. It works out, don’t you think?”

“Are we really going to do this, Jen? You’re not just playing, are you, babe, because I’m serious as a heart attack.”

“You haven’t shown me the upstairs yet.”

His eyes narrowed, and he searched her face, but she was the picture of innocence.

“You want a house tour? When I asked a serious question.”

He wasn’t sure what to do when she pushed away and started walking. “Upstairs, I assume?” she asked while pointing at the stairs.

She was halfway to the top when she turned around and made a face. “Are you seriously just going to stand there when I’m trying to find a bedroom?”

“The bedrooms are upstairs,” he mumbled.

She skipped back down the stairs and took his face in her hands.

“Oh, my god. You and John share more than a last name. Are all the Lloyd men this thick? Ryan. A bedroom. Why? A bed. Caught up with me yet?”

“Oh,” he mumbled when it finally dawned on him what she was doing.

She took his hand and started back up the steps. “It’s okay. I’ll find a bed. You just follow along.”

The whole thing was so funny he started howling with laughter.