EPILOGUE

Four months later

Parrain’s Po-Boys was empty tonight except for the raucous table in the middle of the restaurant. Marin’s colleagues had reserved the place for the evening and were in high spirits as they ordered everything on the menu—fried things landing on their table like delicious flavor bombs and drinks flowing freely.

Marin hadn’t wanted any big thing made over her probation turning into an official position, but Ori had looked at her like she’d said she wanted to wear black to her wedding. So Marin had been made passenger on the party ship, and Ori had sent the word out. But now that Marin was surrounded by the group, she was glad Ori had gone through the trouble.

Though Oriana had made one gaffe on the guest list. Not knowing the history, Ori had invited Elle McCray to the festivities. Marin had been shocked to see her walk in. They’d managed to forge a professional relationship at work, but they were never going to be friends. However, McCray had shown up and had even brought a little congratulations gift of expensive wine. Maybe she was trying to build bridges. Because, God knows, she didn’t look comfortable being there.

Marin actually had a pang of sympathy for her, realizing for the first time that maybe Elle wasn’t lonely by choice. Maybe she didn’t know how to be with other people like this. So before the party got going, Marin pulled Lane aside and asked if he’d try to put McCray at ease.

Lane’s brows had gone high. “You want me to hang out with Dr. Ice? She hates me. I once overheard her call me a hooker to someone.”

“She doesn’t hate you. Who could hate you?”

His gaze slid over to McCray. “Lots of people, doc.”

Marin handed him an extra glass of wine to bring over. “Look, you’re the best I know at making women feel comfortable. Just . . . chat with her. Bring her a drink.”

Lane sighed and then leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Only for you, doc. But when she scratches my eyes out, you’re paying the medical bills.”

She smirked and patted his arm. “Oh, Master Cannon, I think you can handle one hardass doctor just fine.”

“Can I bring cuffs, maybe a ball gag?” He looked over again, wary, but something else flickering over his expression.

“Play nice.”

“Never.” But he strode off and carried the wine over.

Arms wrapped around her from behind and Donovan gave her a squeeze. “Poisoned her wine, right?”

Marin laughed and turned in his arms. “Do I look that vindictive?”

He nodded sagely. “Yes.”

“Shut up. I was actually doing something nice.” She pushed up on her toes and kissed him. “I told Lane to keep her company.”

Donovan looked over, his eyes narrowing, a calculating look on his face. “Hmm, that could be . . . interesting.”

“What do you mean?”

He turned back to her and smiled. “Never mind, gorgeous. I came over here to tell you a) how proud I am of you, b) how hard it is for me not to drag you back to our place with this dress you’re wearing, and c) that your party is requesting you back at the table.”

She looped her arms around his waist. “Thank you on all accounts. And you can drag me back home later. But we’re going to have to be quiet. Nate and Kai are staying the night.”

He groaned. “Hmm, well maybe their loud monkey sex will drown out ours.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that first part. I don’t want to know if they’re doing that yet.”

“Oh, they so are. Look at them together.”

Marin glanced over. Nate’s and Kai’s chairs were so close they may as well have been sitting on the same one, and they kept looking at each other like no one else was in the room. And truly, she couldn’t find it in herself to be stressed by it. Nate had worked through so much over the summer. Moving. Losing his first real boyfriend. And then having a temporary moment of insanity—his words—with a girl. She was happy to see that he’d started school and had found a guy to light him up like that.

Which did not mean she wouldn’t be pulling him aside before the night was done to reaffirm her stance on safe sex. Old habits die hard.

Marin looked up at Donovan. “How you doing, West? It’s been a long week.”

He’d gone back to Texas this week. There’d been a break in his parents’ case earlier this month. A new arrest had been made—a career criminal known for break-ins. Marin had worried that the news would derail Donovan. But he’d handled it well—taking a few days to absorb the information, to process it, but getting comfort from having some sort of closure, some justice.

Donovan brushed her hair away from her face. “I’m good, Rush. I’m really good.”

“Good.” She smiled and kissed him again. She never got tired of doing that. “I love you.”

“I know.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Don’t give me that look. Love isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel for you, woman. New words need to be invented. Maybe whole languages.”

Warmth moved through her. “You can be devastatingly romantic when you want to be, you know that?”

He nuzzled his nose against hers. “Don’t let the word get out.”

“Stop making out and get your asses over here. There are toasts to be made,” Oriana called out. “Drinks to be had. Drunken mistakes to commit.”

Marin and Donovan laughed, and he let her go so they could take their seats at the table.

Once they were settled, Ori raised her mug high and the rest of the people at the table followed suit. “To Dr. Rush, the newest official member of our crazy-ass team. May she facilitate many happy relationships and many successful orgasms during her illustrious career.”

“Ori!” Marin shot her a disbelieving look.

“Well, she is excellent at facilitating them,” Donovan offered from the spot next to her, an unrepentant grin on his face. “Exceptional, really.”

“Oh my God. Shut up.” She smacked Donovan’s arm, making his drink slosh.

And her little brother, who apparently everyone had forgotten had been invited to this soiree, put his face in his hands and groaned. “Dear God, please let a lightning bolt hit me. Please erase this memory from my head.”

Everybody laughed and Kai put a hand on Nate’s knee as he grinned. “Your family’s parties are the best, dude.”

Nate glanced up, a long-suffering look on his face, but when his eyes met Marin’s, she saw the glimmer there, the quirk of a smile. Family. Yeah, that was nice.

They’d always had each other. They always would. But looking at the faces around the table—Lane and Ori and Ysabel. Donovan. She could feel her heart swell big in her chest. She hadn’t just found a job. Or her passion. Or love.

She’d found their place.

Nate lifted his Coke, his cheeks red. “To orgasms then!”

Everyone clinked their mugs, and the resounding chorus rang out in the restaurant. “To orgasms!”

Then they drank and laughed and ate. They made fun of each other and walked each other home. They did what friends and family do. And when she fell into bed next to Donovan later that night and felt his arms go around her, his naked body pressing against hers, all she could do was smile.

He rolled her beneath him and stared down at her with one of his wicked looks. “What’s on that mind of yours, Rush?”

She let her hands slide down his back, loving the heat of him, the hard muscle, the way he felt against her. “Really, really dirty things. Scandalous, even.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head, his grip hard as he aligned himself along her body “Tell me all about it, Dr. Rush.”

She did.

In illicit detail.

And she never once blushed.