Page 30 of Complete Me

"I want specifics," Smith said, deciding to get back to business. He would never be the one to heal Georgia, no matter the sentimental attachment he held for the woman. He hoped she would find someone who could. If she wouldn't act in regards to Jacobson, he would. There was no other choice. He could see that now. All roads led back to the same decision: to stay under the thumb of an evil man or to destroy the danger once and for all. He’d made his choice long ago, and now it was time for the reckoning.

14

"I am exhausted," Clara announced, flopping onto the couch beside Edward.

Belle sighed heavily. There went her plans. At some point, she felt it was necessary to take Edward on a stag night. There were plenty of pubs in the nearby village, and even Norris wouldn't be able to argue with letting Clara go for such a reason. The trouble was that poor Clara was always tired.

"Why did you leave the nanny at home again?" Belle asked her.

Clara frowned, as if it was obvious. "She has a family, too. There was no need for her to give up her holidays to take care of my child."

When Clara put it like that, Belle couldn't argue with her selflessness. Still, it presented a problem.

"Why so gloomy?" Edward bumped her shoulder.

"I planned to take her to the pub tonight," Belle confessed. "I feel like I should give your bachelorhood a proper send-off as your matron of honor."

"I thought I was the matron of honor," Clara pouted.

"You're both the matrons of honor." Edward stepped in before the two got bent out of shape.

"Regardless," Belle said meaningfully, "I wanted to take you on a stag night. It'll be harder when everyone's here for Christmas."

She respected Edward's desire to keep the whole affair a secret, but that did make it a little more difficult. The extended family didn't plan to depart until right before New Year's Eve. That left no time for a night on the town.

"Go on without me," Clara encouraged.

"We couldn't," Belle said, which earned her an eye roll from her best friend.

"You could," Clara corrected her. "And you will. You two are still young and childless. Enjoy it now." She winked at Belle behind Edward's back.

That hadn't occurred to Belle. Not only were Edward's days as a bachelor numbered, if Smith’s and her new hobby panned out, hers might be as well. It was hard enough for her to get away from her husband for the evening. How much more difficult would it be when she had a baby's needs to meet as well?

"I feel like I'm missing out on something," Edward said, looking between the two of them.

Belle plastered a smile on her face and shook her head. "I was just thinking of where I would take you first."

"Norris better drive you," Clara interjected.

"Are you saying we can't handle our liquor?" Edward said in mock horror, grabbing his chest as though she had wounded him.

"Nope," Clara retorted. "I'm saying you can't stay out of trouble."

The Road’s End Tavern sat delightfully at the road's end. It wasn't uncommon for locals to spot the royal family here during the holiday season, so no one batted an eye when Belle and Edward stepped through the battered door. They grabbed a table in the corner and ordered a few pints.

"I wanted to take you to a strip club," Belle told him apologetically. "But my options were limited."

"I think there's a fair chance that if you get any of these men drunk enough, they'll take off their clothes." Edward teased. The two of them looked around the room and then back at each other.

"Maybe we should skip that," Belle suggested.

"So, I've never done a stag night before," Belle told him as their beers arrived.

"I think we're supposed to chase women and howl at the moon," Edward informed her. "I'm afraid I'm not a fount of information on it, either."

She laughed at the image. If the two of them were going to chase a woman, it would be to advise her to wear a different type of shoe with her dress.

"Nevermind a bachelor party. What about a hen night?" Edward suggested. "Is that more suitable?"