“Momma, you’re really pretty.” Kelsey’s eyes dance as she studies me.

I grin at her. “Thanks, kiddo, though you don’t have to sound surprised.”

She grins, showing off a brand-new tooth that’s just now starting to grow and fill in the gap left vacant by a baby tooth. My little girl is growing up.

“I’m pretty too!” She squeals and spins in a circle, the skirt of the fuchsia sundress she spotted and insisted on wearing swirling out around her as she continues to spin, moving faster and faster. She starts to lose her balance and crashes into Adele, who is sitting on a rocking chair, watching us.

Adele laughs and catches hold of Kelsey’s shoulder. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to run out of juice before the party even begins.”

With Kelsey securely on her feet, Adele stands and walks a slow circle around me, taking in every aspect of my appearance, from my artfully tousled hair to my simple, white silk dress, to my bare feet.

“Kelsey’s right.” Adele wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight. “You clean up nice.”

“Thanks, Adele. You do too.” It’s a little disconcerting seeing Adele out of her standard uniform of faded jeans and baggy sweatshirts, and decked out in a smart beige suit, but it’s a good look on her.

Even Mal looks spiffy. To his irritation, he spent yesterday afternoon at a fancy pet salon where his coat was washed, his nails were trimmed, and his teeth cleaned. Now, his freshly washed fur gleams in the decreasing sunlight.

He’s wearing a black sequined cat harness. I’m still not sure how Adele and Kelsey managed to find it. A matching lead is hooked to the harness, with the other end looped around Kelsey’s wrist. He even stood still long enough for Kelsey to attach a pretty black bow tie to his collar.

Smiling, I bend and offer him a quick scratch behind the ears before wrapping a hand around one of Kelsey’s. I look west, across the brightly sparkling sea, and at the sun that’s starting to paint the sky a soft shade of rose pink. “Looks like it’s about time.”

The three of us carefully move down the hotel’s short flight of stairs and step onto the warm sand.

Kelsey sings a soft song about the water and Adele shoots me a wise look. “Nervous?”

I shake my head. “You know, I thought I would be. I expected that I’d be quaking in my—” I look down at my bare feet. “—in my freshly polished toenails, but I’m not. I think after everything that’s happened, there’s very little that can possibly scare me.”

Adele nods. “Makes sense.”

“The funny thing is, not only am I excited, but there’s also this incredible sense of peace, like everything’s about to be right in the world. Does that make any sense at all?”

“Sure does. I also think that it’s proof you’re doing the right thing.”

“I know I am.”

We reach the same lifeguard station where things got started seven years ago. In its shadow, Jason, dressed in an elegant tux and with his feet as bare as mine, waits for me. His teeth gleam white in his darkly tanned skin. An answering grin spreads across my own face and my heart does a happy little dance in my chest.

It takes all my restraint to keep walking and not race across the sand like Mal.

Kelsey isn’t nearly so reserved. “Daddy,” she shrieks, the unexpectedness of her cry startles a pelican from its perch. She jerks her hand free of mine and charges towards him, kicking up sand as she runs as fast as her thin legs can manage.

Despite the distance between us, I hear Jason’s laughter as he bends and scoops her up. Mal weaves lazy figure eights around Jason’s ankles. Even though I’m not yet in ear shot, I know the cat is purring. Since Jason helped rescue me from Abe, the cat has decided that Jason is the best guy in the world. I couldn’t agree more.

Jason balances Kelsey on his right hip, whispers something in her ear, and they both look at me.

They look so right together. So beautiful. Tears well up in my eyes.

I want to take a picture of the moment. My hand actually moves behind me, reaching for the cell phone I usually carry in my back pocket before remembering that I’m wearing a pocketless dress and not jeans, and that my phone is tucked into my travel bag, which has already been moved onto the houseboat that Jason bought specifically for our honeymoon.

Not that I know much about the boat. He’s handled everything, from the purchase to getting it prepped for our honeymoon voyage. He’s been as excited about it as a five-year-old boy is about the idea of a new bike or a puppy.

I can’t wait to see it.

Hopefully, the photographer is snapping the photo for me. It’s an image I want to cherish forever.

I reach the area that’s been roped off with long strands of clear beads and nod at Daryl, who stands a few feet away from Jason. I’m glad he agreed to be the best man. Not only did he free me from Abe’s hold, but he’s also helping me work with the prosecutor and sort out how to deal with what went down in that Chicago warehouse without anyone feeling the need to press charges against me.

Daryl has even whispered a few words into his boss’s ear about my hacking skills, so now the FBI is expressing an interest in me. And I’ve gotten a few interesting calls from a few other three-letter agencies as well.

It’s hard to believe that just two and a half short weeks ago I was working in a call center and my entire life was owned by the local mafia. The memories are fading, losing their sharpness. Already, I have a hard time believing that it was really my life and not some highly vivid movie or dream.

I shake my head and force all thoughts and memories of the past away.

But I’m not going to think about how the endless stream of soul-sucking jobs, freelance opportunities, and constant fear are behind me forever. Today isn’t about those things.

It’s about something infinitely more important. Love.

Kelsey stares over Jason’s shoulder at Daryl for a moment before extending her arms toward him. In the past few weeks, she’s spent a great deal of time with both men while Adele and I have scrambled to put together this wedding. During that time, she’s accepted Jason as her father and I have no doubt she loves him dearly.

But she’s become infatuated with Daryl. Just last night she informed me, in a no-nonsense tone, that as soon as she is old enough, she is going to marry him. I can’t fault her taste. Daryl’s a fine man. I might even be tempted to make a play for him if I wasn’t head over heels in love with Jason.

Jason tilts his head back and whispers something in Kelsey’s ear. She relaxes against his shoulder but keeps her eyes glued to Daryl.

A few feet behind Daryl, Ember quietly watches the action unfold. I’m glad she came. She helped keep my little girl safe and for that I’ll always be grateful—besides, she seems like lots of fun, the type of person I’d like to call a friend, now that I’m no longer running scared and feel ready to let more people into my life.

Besides, I’ve seen the way she and Daryl look at one another when they think the other doesn’t notice. There’s no doubt in my mind that they like one another but aren’t sure how to act on their feelings. Since our reception is being held in the same bar where Jason and I met, I’m hoping that the place will cast the same magic over them, and that after a couple of drinks they’ll finally get brave enough to explore the chemistry that’s practically pouring out of them.

Jason keeps one arm around Kelsey, holding her tight against his torso and uses his free hand to take mine, twining our fingers together before placing a whisper-soft kiss on my lips.

Someone clears their throat. “Excuse me. I believe I’m supposed to tell you when you’re allowed to do that.”

Everyone laughs at the minister’s joke and we assume our positions. Jason and I standing face to face, love radiating from both our eyes, and flanked by Adele, who agreed to be my matron of honor even though she claimed to be too old for such nonsense, and Daryl. Kelsey stays on Jason’s hip. The ceremony is as important to her as it to me so it’s only reasonable that she be a part of it.

While the sun sets behind us, we vow to love and honor one another and then Jason takes my mouth in a kiss that has my toes curling in cool sand while Kelsey claps her hands and laughs.

* * *

“Hey, Mrs. Monroe.” Jason’s breath stirs the hair at the nape of my neck. His chest presses against my back as he presses a kiss to my bare shoulder and I shiver.

I reach back and rumple his silky hair. “Hey yourself.”

“Happy?”

I look around the interior of the bar where he first caught my eye. Admittedly, as a venue for a wedding reception, it’s a bit unorthodox, but considering it’s the place where Jason first caught my eye, it feels as natural to celebrate our love here as it did to say our vows at the same lifeguard station where I first fell for him.

“Very,” I tell him.

“That’s a pity.”

My head snaps around and I stare at him. Tension stiffens my shoulder. “Why? If there’s something you haven’t told me, something about Abe or—”

Jason chuckles and wraps a strong arm around my waist, pulling me backwards against him. “Nothing like that. I was just thinking that if you weren’t deliriously happy about being here, or if you’re just getting a little bored, I happen to know of a boat that’s ready and waiting to go out to sea. We could climb on board and throw ourselves a private party. What do you think?”

A warm feeling that’s equal parts lust and love winds through me.

In I twist into his arms until I’m facing him. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Rising up on my toes, I plant an impulsive kiss on his lips. It’s meant to be a quick peck, but just as I start to drop back down to the flat of my feet, his hand comes up and cups my cheek, holding me in place as he deepens the kiss.

We’re both breathless by the time we part.

“Then what are we waiting for?” he says with a grin. He lifts his arm, cocking his elbow, and waggles his eyebrows.

I laugh and slide my hand into the crook of his elbow.

“My, my, look at you, all suave and debonair. A modern-day Sinatra.” Despite my teasing tone, I’m charmed. It’s nice knowing there are a few throwbacks in the world who are willing to turn on the charm and be gentleman and treat a woman like a princess when the occasion warrants it. It’s even better knowing that I’m married to just such a guy.

Yep, I’m one lucky lady.

Jason places a butterfly-soft kiss on the top of my head. “Let’s go find Kelsey.”

I slip my hand in his and thread our fingers together before letting him lead me in a winding path through the guest. Jason ignores them, even though most of them are only here because of him, but I nod a silent acknowledgement to each one. They laugh and raise their glasses or mouth words of congratulations. A few make a few semi-lewd comments. Clearly, they know exactly what Jason and I are planning.

And I don’t care if they think we’re going to go have wild monkey sex in the middle of a public fountain. I’m too happy with the way things turned out to be self-conscious.

We find Kelsey sitting on a tall bar stool, watching Daryl play a game of pinball.

“Hey, baby girl.” Jason rumples her hair. “Your mom and I have decided to call it a night. Okay?”

“K.” Kelsey doesn’t take her eyes off the little steel ball that zips from one side of the machine to the other.

“Can I get a kiss?” Jason cajoles.

She brushes a kiss in the general direction of his cheek.

“Thanks,” he mutters, amusement softening his dry tone.

It’s my turn. I wrap my arms around Kelsey’s thin ribcage and pull her to me in a hard hug. “We’ll be gone for four days and while we’re away, you, Adele, and Daryl are going to Disney and Epcot Center, right?”

Daryl shoots me a dark look. He’s not thrilled to be getting dragged to Disneyland, but since Kelsey begged him to go with her and Adele, he relented, but he doesn’t like being reminded of it.

Glaring at me costs him. The steel ball drops into the hole and rattles its way into the bowels of the machine.

Kelsey boos and glares at Daryl.

He sighs and drops a pair of quarters into the slot. The ball reappears and Kelsey leans closer to the machine.

I roll my eyes and plant a kiss on her soft cheek. “We’ll see you in a few days. I love you.”

“Love you too,” she mutters. I roll my eyes a second time and turn away from her, accepting that it’s as good as I’m going to get. God, if she’s this bad now, what’s she going to be like in a few years when she turns into a teenager?

I shove the thought aside. It’s too bleak to even consider right now.

I’d much rather think about my new husband.

Hand in hand, we step out of the bar and onto the beach. I breathe deeply, unable to get enough of the sweet, sea-scented air.

“We should buy a place here,” Jason says.

I slant him a look from beneath my lashes. “What?”

“You love the sunshine and the sea. I also know that as long as Kelsey’s in school, you’re going to want to remain based in Chicago so she doesn’t have to deal with the stress of being the new kid, but there’s no reason we can’t find a little place here. Something right on the ocean, or maybe on one of the keys, and come down here whenever we need a break from Chicago life. What do you think?”

I think I married the most amazing man in the world and that if he proposed we live in a cardboard box, I’ll be happy to go along with it.

I rise, walking on my toes for a few steps while I kiss on his cheek. “Let’s get through the honeymoon before we start talking vacation homes. Okay?”

Jason chuckles and leads me into the marina. “You’re so practical.”

“One of us has to be,” I quip. We turn and move between two rows of boats, each one sleek and expensive looking. Jason leads me to the very end of the dock, where a huge tan houseboat bobs up and down as it waits to be boarded.

It’s easily the biggest houseboat I’ve ever seen in my life. Granted, I haven’t seen many, but still. From here, it only looks a little smaller than one the cruise ships those fancy vacation companies use.

“Is this it?” I squeak.

“This is it,” Jason confirms. “Look.” He places his hands on the tops of my shoulders and gently rotates me a few degrees to the right so I’m looking directly at the boat’s bow. The marina’s floodlight makes it easy to read the bright red block lettering painted there. Ella and Kelsey.

“You named it after us?” It’s a small thing, really, but still it warms my heart and has me falling even more deeply in love with this beautiful, sentimental man.

He dips his head and nuzzles my neck. “Of course. Do you like it?”

“The name?” I shift my head to the side, giving him better access. He rewards me by gently nipping my earlobe. The bite radiates through my body, the vibrations going straight to my pussy. I squeeze my thighs together and lean against Jason. “What’s not to like?”

“You little brat.” Jason swats my bottom, making me squeal. “I’m talking about the boat.”

“The exterior is nice, but I won’t know how much I like it until I’ve seen the inside.”

“Like I was just saying, practical.”

Jason keeps his arm wound tightly around my waist as he helps me onto the boat he’s named after my daughter and myself. “What do you want to see first?” he asks as soon as we’re standing on the deck.

“Hmm, so many choices.” I pretend to mull them over, drawing out the moment, letting the sweet anticipation build between us. “I suppose the best place to start is the master bedroom.”

Jason throws his head back and lets loose a full belly laugh. The sound spooks a pelican that was roosting on a pylon near the boat. It takes flight, shooting us a resentful glare before disappearing into the night sky.

I expect Jason to guide me to the master bedroom, as per my suggestion, but he leads me directly past it, heading deeper into the enormous houseboat, until he guides me into the galley.

There’s just enough moonlight streaming through the portholes to make out the standard appliances. I cast a side eye up at Jason. Amusement glitters in his eyes.

“If you think I’m spending my wedding night cooking for you,” I warn, “you’d better think again. I have plans for tonight and they don’t involve anything to do with a stove or microwave.”

Between untangling my legal situation, fielding media calls, and trying to put a wedding together in two weeks, Jason and I have barely had a moment to ourselves, and the few moments we managed to find only lasted long enough to steal a few kisses and strokes, small teases that have made me so desperate for him that on more than one occasion, I seriously considered throwing decorum and modesty to the wind and jumping him in the middle of a crowd.

I’ve resisted the impulse and managed to wait until tonight, but I don’t intend to wait a single moment longer. Tonight, I’m going to enjoy my brand-new husband.

Jason chuckles and kisses the tip of my nose. “I don’t expect you to cook anything for me.” He hugs me close, letting me feel how stiff his cock already is, banishing any doubts I have about whether he wants me as much as I want him.

I sigh and rotate my hips, grinding myself against his length, when he suddenly releases me and steps back.

“Just one moment,” he murmurs. “Don’t move.”

Something clicks and a flame bursts to life in Jason’s hand, the flickering light casting intense shadows across his face. He moves around the room touching the lighter to first one candle and then another until the entire galley is bathed in golden light. The faint smell of jasmine, one of my favorite scents, wafts from the candles as I get my first good look at the small room.

“Oh, Jason,” I breathe out on a long sigh.

He turns a wicked grin on me. “Twice we’ve started to have mind-blowing kitchen sex, and twice we’ve been interrupted. I figure the third time’s the charm.”

He touches the lighter to another candle. “Daryl has already been told that if he so much as even thinks about interrupting us tonight, I drag his ass to the zoo and feed him to the tigers.”

“It’s amazing,” I say. The word doesn’t describe how magical the scene is or how touched I am by how much thought and effort he obviously put into tonight.

The candles make up only one aspect of the scene he carefully set. He’s also covered the entire room with red and white rose petals that gleam softly in the golden candlelight.

He tosses the lighter to the side and returns to me. His hands cup my hips as he takes my mouth in a soft kiss that shakes me all the way to my toes.

“No,” he whispers as we part for air. “You’re the amazing one.”

I twist my arms around his neck, burying my fingers in his hair while lifting my mouth for another toe-curling kiss. “Instead of arguing about which one of us the most amazing,” I say against his lips, “how about we just agree that together, we’re pretty damn spectacular?”

“I can agree with that.” Jason’s grip on my hips tighten and he lifts me up and sets me down on the edge of the counter, just like he did our first morning together in his house. “So how ‘bout we start being spectacular together?”

“Sounds good,” I gasp as his head drops to my cleavage and he places a nipping love bite on the side of my breast where it swells above my sundress.

His hands shift, first sliding down my legs, and then making a smooth, sensual return trip, pushing my skirt as they go until it’s bunched around my waist.

As he slips one hand between my legs, pushing aside my damp panties and sliding one finger into me, I reach for him. Clawing at his shirt, I tug and pull and buttons fly from the material and scatter all over the small galley.

His thumb brushes my clit, sending a wave of liquid heat through me while he nuzzles the thin straps, pushing them down my shoulders, freeing my breast. With a pleased groan, he takes a nipple between his teeth and sucks hard.

Heat pools through me, settling at my core. I squirm against his finger. It feels good, but it’s not enough. Not right now. I know exactly what I want and I want it right now.

I grapple with the front of his pants, fumbling as I unfasten his belt buckle. I use a combination of hands and feet to help slide the pants down his legs.

“Jason,” I gasp as his mouth finds my other nipple. “I can’t wait.”

Hearing the desperation in my voice, he rips off my panties, tossing them behind him and moving between my legs. With one last long stroke of his finger, which has me biting my lip as my back bows, he moves his hand, replacing it with his cock.

I scream in delight as he rams himself flush with my hips in one long, smooth stroke.

The feel of him inside of me, in the exact place I’ve been fantasizing about having him for the past few weeks, catapults me over the edge.

Jason starts moving, rotating his hips and stroking in and out of me, as wave after wave of hot ecstasy rolls through me. The force of each thrust pushes me backwards on the counter, and I wrap my legs around his hips, my heels digging into the soft globes of his ass, spurring him on.

His cries mingle with my own until his body stiffens and he empties himself into me.

Spent, his knees buckle and he slowly collapses to the floor, dragging me down with him.

“Oh boy,” I say when I finally regain my strength.

“Yeah,” Jason agrees. He props himself up on one elbow and looks down at me. A self-satisfied smile creases his face. He reaches out with his free hand, smoothing damp hair away from my face. “I don’t know about you, but if this is any indication of how the rest of our lives will be, I think I’m going to really enjoy married life.”

Howling with laughter, I reach up and jerk his head down, covering his mouth with mine in a driving kiss. “I’m not so sure,” I tease. “I think I’m going to need a few more examples before I reach a conclusion.”

Jason’s grin matches mine as he shrugs out of the shirt that’s still hanging from his shoulders. “I’m game if you are.”