Page 78 of Deadly Forever

“Oh, you’re going to get so lucky!” Mandy threw her arms around his neck as he held her close and laughed. He could feel her heart pounding against his and then she gasped and stiffened in his arms.

James glanced over his shoulder and smirked when he saw Jake leading Ally to the patio. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, everyone else is coming, too.”

Mandy raised an eyebrow. “Everyone?”

“Mom and Dad have the baby,” James replied. “They offered to chaperone because they thought it would be funny, but I didn’t think anyone wanted to add that level of mayhem to tonight’s festivities. Finn, Emma, Grady, and Sophie are on their way.”

“What a fun night,” Mandy enthused.

“Oh, and Maverick asked Darcy and they’re coming, too,” James added, rubbing his thumb down Mandy’s cheek. “She agreed to be his date. He told me to make sure everyone knows that when the story of today’s action hits the conversational circuit, he’s supposed to be the hero. He wants Darcy to know that and he says you’re always the hero so it’s his time to shine.”

“He was a hero,” Mandy said solemnly. “He ultimately knocked out Jacob.”

“And yet we both know you did all of the work,” James said. “I’m fine with making him look like a hero, though. I want Darcy to have a good time.”

“I think you’re the best man ever,” Mandy said, her eyes glistening with tears.

“I think that you’re the best wife ever,” James said, leaning over so he could plant a soft kiss on her mouth. “This is for you and I want you to enjoy it. I’m even going to dance.”

“Yay!” Mandy hopped up and down and clapped her hands.

“At midnight, though, all of these prom goers are being tossed out on their asses,” James added. “Then it’s just going to be you and me … and we’re not seeing any of these people tomorrow either. Tomorrow it’s just us before the big wedding.”

“You had me at ‘you and me,’” Mandy teased.

“You had me the moment I laid eyes on you, baby. I’ve been yours ever since.”

“THIS WASthe best idea ever,” Ally said, leaning back in her chair and resting her head on Jake’s shoulder as she munched on a cheese biscuit. “I can’t believe you guys came up with this.”

“Yes, well, we’re nothing if not in tune with our future wives’ needs,” Grady boasted.

James scorched him with a murderous look. “Seriously?”

Grady’s smile slipped. “Fine. This was all James. We just invited ourselves when we heard what he was doing.”

“It’s still fun,” Emma said. “I never got to go to a prom before. This has been … the best experience. I mean, I love the baby and all. This is beautiful, though. I’ll never forget it.”

“I’m glad,” Finn said, squeezing her hand.

“Even Maverick is having a good time,” Jake said, pointing to the far side of the pool where Maverick and Darcy danced. They animatedly talked as they swayed back and forth, and even though they didn’t look overly romantic, there was clearly something going on between them.

“I’m glad everyone is having a good time,” James said, turning his eyes to Mandy. “Now, if you’re done stuffing your face, I was hoping you would dance with me, baby.”

Mandy beamed as she took his hand. “I would love to dance with you.”

“That’s good,” James said. “I paid the guy spinning the music to come up with as many power ballads as possible.”

“You’re always thinking.”

“I am,” James agreed, slipping his arm around Mandy’s waist and tugging her close as they swayed to the familiar sound of Cheap Trick’s “The Flame.”

“Oh, this is it,” Mandy murmured, resting her face against his shoulder.

“This is what?”

“It’s a perfect moment,” Mandy replied. “You don’t get a lot of them in life. Whenever I feel one, I file it away in my memory so I’ll never forget it.”

James arched an eyebrow as he glanced down at her. “What other perfect moments have we had?”