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“You want to work together? Now? Why? You haven’t needed my input thus far.”
“Maybe I have gone about this the wrong way.” He sighed. “Look, I want to keep you safe, and I want to find the bastards who did this to our families. It would be easier to do both with your cooperation. If we eliminate the threat, we can finally breathe.” Was that a glimpse of understanding that crossed her features? Was he finally getting through to the girl?
“Okay.” She nodded. “I see what you mean.”
“Okay? What does okay mean? You won’t fight me on every little thing?”
“I guess…” She took a deep breath. “I guess I can try.”
He visibly relaxed.
“By the way, I never dreamed of a big, white wedding. All my sisters did, but not me. Actually, I guess I just never dreamed of a wedding at all.”
“You didn’t want to get married?”
“I don’t think I gave it much thought. I’m the youngest of six. Whether I did or not didn’t matter. I’m not a girly-girl like my sisters. I don’t know fashion or own an abundance of makeup, and I only have like four pairs of shoes.”
He was surprised, pleasantly so. “Is there something you collect?”
“Books.”
The answer came without hesitation. He grimaced. Those could take up a lot of space.
“Don’t worry, I collect them on hard drives and my Kindle.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t too worried,” he lied. “What about hobbies? Gardening?”
“Eh, I don’t have a green thumb. I was mostly gardening to feel closer to my nonna, who died two years ago. She loved her garden. Ever since I was a baby, I’d be out there with her, listening to her stories.”
“So, you mean, you used to be a good listener? What happened?” he teased.
“Ha-ha!” She poked him in the arm. “Hilarious.”
Shane was glad she was teasing him. The spark in her eye was much more attractive than the spite and hatred he had seen earlier. He remembered how she tasted sweet, so incredibly sweet last night, how she felt under him, writhing as he feasted on her sweet honey. Looking down, he was captivated by her full, pink, soft lips. He closed the short space between them, lowering his mouth to hers.
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her into him, kissing her deeper. Her hands stroked his back, up and down, a rhythmic motion, and he wondered if she knew she was doing it. His hand went into her hair, fisting it and yanking her head back, opening her mouth to him. He thrust his tongue inside, mating with hers.
Desire filled her. He could feel it radiating off her, she was humming with it. The tightening of his penis in his pants pointed out she wasn’t the only one who felt it.
He broke the kiss.
“We don’t have time. Father Thomas will be here soon.”
Frankie
Frankie craned her neck to look up at her groom.
Her groom.
Those two words sent ice to her heart. How was it possible she went from single to standing before a priest in forty-eight hours?
Shane was incredibly handsome in his simple khaki 5-11 pants and black polo shirt. He had shaved off the five o’clock shadow, and the masculine scent of his aftershave whiffed toward her.
Mak had done an unbelievable job picking out clothing. The perfect-sized white sundress had a deep V-neckline and a gathered bodice, framed by short puff sleeves with elasticized cuffs. A sheer crochet lace formed a set-in waist, topping a flowy A-line silhouette that ended at a ruffled hem. When she turned around in the full-length mirror, the dress revealed an open back with a tie at the neck closure. The flirty lace accents on the shoulders and back were fun additions.
Mak, standing just behind her, looked elegant in a simple emerald sundress, her hair tied up in a bun with a few curled wisps falling around her face. Frankie couldn’t see her. The way she was facing, all she could see were Shane and Brad, who looked identical in their outfits, both the definition of United States Special Forces Operators. Father Thomas stood beforethem, smiling kindly at Frankie as he made his way through the quick ceremony.
“Francesca Elena Lombardo, do you take Shane Connor O’Brien to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love, honor, and obey him, in sickness and in health until death do you part?”
