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“Thanks.” He flashed me a devilish smile. “Though I don’t need regular luck. I just need Zero luck.”
Zero rumbled at the mention of his name, lifting his head to look at Axel briefly before resuming his sprawled-out position on the enormous dog bed.
“He’s a great helper,” I admitted, pausing to stroke his silky dark fur. “I’d say he stole the show at the Margulis pitch.”
“You hear that, Zero?” Axel said as he stood in front of the mirror, tending to the last details of his appearance. “You stole the show.”
“Actually, on second thought—youstole the show.” I pinched his waist as I stood beside him. He gave me a suspicious sidelong look. In the mirror, we were an impressive pair. He was exactly the man I’d always wanted at my side, on my arm, in my life. “Even though you wouldn’t look at me.”
“Because you were sitting two feet away from your husband.”
I quirked my lips. “Fair point.”
He smirked at me, dipping down for a quick kiss. “But I still saw you. I couldn’t not see you, Cora. I just couldn’t look for too long. For my own sanity.”
“I know.” I smoothed my hands over the lapels of his suit coat, Axel’s words burbling inside me. “It’s weird to say, but I’ve never felt like he was my husband. Not really.”
“Not even after your wedding day?” Axel asked.
“No. I always had some other idea of what a marriage should be.” I swallowed hard, looking up at him. It was just after seven thirty and we both needed to be heading out the door, but this moment had swollen too big and important to walk away from. “The fairy tale must have gotten to me, even though I never saw anybody in my family living it.”
He frowned, squeezing my arms. “The fairytale might not actually exist, but whatever your parents have going on isn’t even close.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
He lifted a brow. “About your parents?”
“No. About the fairytale not existing.” A smile slowly lifted my lips. “Because you’re my Prince Charming.”
“Aww. Now don’t go making me blush, Miss Cora.” He allowed his Kentucky accent to lilt the edges of his words, whichdidmake me blush. “Or should I say Princess Cora?”
“Let’s go live in a castle somewhere.”
“I’ll hire a magic carpet,” he added.
“And we’ll live happily ever after.” We said it in unison, which caused us both to break down into laughter. He squeezed my sides, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
“Sounds like a plan. You ready?”
I nodded, grabbing for my handbag and briefcase. “Let’s go.”
I followed him out of the bedroom. Axel snapped his fingers as he crossed the threshold, and Zero sprang to life, trotting behind us. In the front sitting room, we found Damian and Trace in similar states of business readiness.
“Morning, you two.” Trace picked up his briefcase. Damian gave us a withering smirk. He’d never been a morning person from what I remembered.
“Morning,” Axel and I said in unison, which caused us to share a secret look. Then we burst into laughter again.
“Too chipper for this hour,” Damian muttered.
“Because hackers are modern day vampires,” Axel retorted. “The sun makes your skin melt off.”
“That, and they require steady amounts of blood or alcohol to survive,” Trace quipped.
“Exactly.” Damian scowled. “Now take me to my darkened chariot that doubles as a coffin.”
“Sheesh. These vamp-hackers are demanding,” Axel muttered, jostling Damian by the shoulders.
The brothers continued ribbing each other while I just laughed and watched. They had a special knack for teasing each other, above and beyond typical brother rapport. There was so much love behind their ribbing. Even after so many years as not only brothers but colleagues, they still wanted to do life together.
