Page 79 of Harmless Secrets

“Ali?” She looked up at him. “Marry me. Let’s be a family.”

She swallowed as happiness bloomed inside her heart. “Oh, Devon, yes, I’ll marry you.”

Relief softened his eyes. He pulled out the ring and carefully slipped it on her finger.

“But there is one rule.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Bridget said we need to go back to Seattle. Oh, and you can stay in the guest room.”

He laughed. “I’ll have a chat with her about that guest room.”

She was laughing when he bent his head to kiss

Epilogue

Alicia looked out over the wedding guests milling around the ballroom at the casino hotel. Satisfaction and happiness danced through her. Alana and Bridget were running around, stealing bits of cake and giggling while they did it. Her new sister-in-law laughed at their antics. Dee was standing next to her friend May. The gorgeous Hawaiian held her newborn son.

The entire management of Rough ‘n Ready came over for the wedding. She knew it was expensive for them to do, but Micah and Evan had closed down the club, citing a family gathering. And, looking at the way everyone was interacting, Alicia realized it was true. While not all blood related, this was a family.

Six months ago, Alicia would have never thought this would be her. Not only had she gained a husband, but also a wealth of friends that included two BDSM club owners, a former FBI agent and somewhere along the way, an Australian cowboy. One top of it, she reconnected with Sean. She looked down at her ring. She had her life back. No, she had a better life and all because of one man. As if he read her mind, Strong arms slipped around her waist.

“Well, Mrs. Stryker, we do know how to throw a wedding,” Devon said as he nibbled on her earlobe.

She patted his hand and turned to face him. “We do. A bloody amazing wedding. You don’t think it’s tacky we had it in Las Vegas, do you?”

He shook his head as a sexy smile curved his lips. “No. It’s where I fell in love with you.”

Her heart squeezed tight, but she rolled her eyes. She still wasn’t accustomed to the way Devon expressed himself. It had to be the Italian in him. The man never seemed to have an issue with telling her how he felt. She lived for each and every comment, but Alicia still had to come to terms with it.

“No, it’s true. Couldn’t get you out of my mind,” he said as he slid his hands up to cup her face. “You captured me that night, love. My heart and my soul.”

Alicia lifted her hands and slid her fingers around his wrists. “You don’t have to keep saying things like that.”

“But I want to.”

She smiled and leaned up to give him a kiss. Just a simple brush of her mouth had her body humming. When she pulled back, Devon kept his eyes closed for a few seconds before slowly opening them.

“You kiss me like that and I have to behave? Doesn’t seem fair.”

She opened her mouth to retort his question, but she spotted Sean heading to the door.

“I need to catch him.”

Devon nodded and kissed her nose. She hurried through the crowd and caught Sean right before he reached the door.

“Leaving without dancing with the bride, Sean?”

He turned and smiled. “I walked you down the aisle. I don’t need a dance.”

She took his hand and walked with him out into the corridor. “That’s rude.”

He chuckled then faced her. She still didn’t like what she saw there. He’d disappeared after her adventure, returning with a few more scrapes and bruises than before he left. Sean would never talk about it, she knew, but something went horribly wrong on the last mission.

“I never said I was nice.”

“But you are, and I know it.”