“So, you met my family,”I say. “And all the extended ones, too,” I tack on with a laugh. “Well, most of them. The rest of them will be here tomorrow for the second day of the wedding if you’re still willing to be my plus one.”
“I don’t mind.” Ethan quietly snorts, reaching for my hand. “They’re not so bad. I like them.”
“I like your family, too,” I say. “Maybe, when I fly out next month for your birthday, I can finally meet them in person.”
“I would like you to meet my sister and Aaron,” he responds.
“But not your mom?” My brow quirks.
“Barbie, the minute she meets you in person, she’ll start asking what the name of our future kids will be.”
“Obviously,” I hedge, “it’s Bambi.”
He halts in his tracks and tilts his head to the side. “Good God?—”
“I’m messing with you.” Amusement tugs at the corners of my lips as we come to a stop before our hotel door. Instead of dealing with the traffic from LA to Newport tomorrow afternoon, we’ve decided to get a room not too far from the venue. “You aresoeasy to mess with.”
He expels a sigh. “I think I actually miss when you were half-assing your edging operation.”
My grin widens. “Is this your way of telling me you want me to edge you the entire time you’re here?”
“Baby,” he says, all low and growly, and I’m practically beaming at him as I key us into our room. “I’m only here until Sunday morning.”
“That’s plenty of time to edge you,” I tease. “I’m kidding.” I kick the door open, gesturing widely to the suite. “There’s only one bed here, and we’re putting it to good use and making the most of it like we should have done in South Carolina.”
Laughter lines form around his eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” My hand fists his tie, and his adorable dimples pop in response.
“I like where this is going,” he whispers, his hands going to the zipper on the back of my dress.
“I like where this is going, too,” I reply, breaking into laughter when he lets me tackle him and we go tumbling onto the mattress together. His lips find mine easily. My leg hooks around his hip.
I’ve got a one-track mind right now and it’s Ethan,Ethan, Ethan.
EPILOGUE
ETHAN
I don’t thinkI’ve ever witnessed anybody devour a slice of mango like this before. She’s just inhaling it like a shop vac. If she doesn’t slow down, she might choke. I know CPR. But I’m afraid I might do some damage and crush her ribs if I have to perform it?—
“All right, EthanHawk.” Barbie’s voice pulls me out of my train of thought. She comes to a stop beside me, holding a paper bag filled with donut holes in her manicured hand. “It’s official. Your job has made you too paranoid.”
“I don’t want to see her choke.” As an EMS helicopter pilot, I’ve seen some things. I’ve heard plenty more from my team, some of which I don’t ever want to think about again.
Barbie, who’s observant as ever, squeezes my shoulder. There’s an earnest intensity of concern in her eyes as she reaches up and soothes away the frown lines on my face. “You wanna see something in the shower later?”
A quiet laugh escapes me. She spares me a half-smile.
“Offer still stands, Pilot.” She moves away from me, crouching low to pry the mushy remains of a mango slice from Cameron’s sticky little hand. “Okay, Ronnie, how about we—”Before she can finish her sentence, our toddler presses her palm across Barbie’s cheek.
Barbie blinks, then turns to level me with a grumpy, unamused stare.
This time, it’s a louder snort that escapes me.
“You’re supposed to be on my side. What happened toin sickness and in health?” she deadpans. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to wash my faceandpick myself up a little treat.”
“You’re going to get a pistachio ice cream scoop, huh?”
