wrinkled outfit.
“Maybe he’ll rub off on me,” I suggested.
“Oh, he’ll rub off on her all right,” Creely snarfed.
My mom’s mouth fell open.
Oh, goody. The biker witches were feeling better.
“Please. Do
“Because a kitchen isn’t the place for it, right?” Ant Eater winked.
“Of course it’s not…I don’t know what you mean.” Mom said quickly. Whether it was from the topic or because she really did remember what she’d said.
I ran my fingers down Dimitri’s muscular arm—I loved his arms—and lightly caressed the olive skin at his wrist.
Dimitri grinned.
Mom frowned. “What I’m trying to say, honey, is that we know you like that dress but you didn’t have to sleep in it.”
I glanced down at my wrinkled sundress and noticed the dirt streaking it. Pirate’s paws must have been filthy last night.
She poured cream into her coffee. “A husband always appreciates it when his wife puts in the effort to look beautiful for him.”
Good thing she didn’t see the hot glare Dimitri shot at her. “Lizzie is naturally gorgeous, and I appreciate everything about her.”
Hillary looked as shocked as if her toast had started attacking her.
Her eyes caught his and Dimitri stared her down until she found her coffee mug fascinating.
Great.
I touched him on the arm. “Can I talk to you for a sec, sweets?”
He didn’t look so eager. Too bad. I led him past the stove, to the corner by the door. Then, as we noticed all eyes on us, he opened the back door and we ducked outside onto the porch.
“You don’t have to defend me,” I said, once the door had closed behind us.
It was a little chilly outside, but not biting. I wrapped my arms over my chest.
Sure, I knew he’d always love me, even when he saw me at my worst. Physically. We’d been to hell and back together and he still loved me. But he had to get along with my mom as well.
He opened his mouth then closed it. He clearly didn’t get it. “That wasn’t a defense. That was me telling the truth.”
Through very rosy sunglasses. “You know what I mean.”
“I can’t help it,” he said, “I want to protect you.” He said it as if it were fact, like he didn’t have a choice.
I glanced out over the early morning garden. “Okay.” I’d give him that. His protective, loyal streak was one of the things I loved about him. I knew I could always count on him. “But this is my
He frowned. “And you saw how she acted. You may be used to it, but I’m not. I won’t ever be. If someone takes a swipe at you, I’ll block it. If someone throws an axe at your head, I’ll defend you. Even if it’s against someone who’s supposed to love you.”
I got what he was saying. I really did. “Let’s not start any fights, okay?”
“I didn’t start it,” he reminded me.
“Okay, well don’t engage in any battles with my mom.” That was my job. Even if I wasn’t doing so hot.
He didn’t make any promises. He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “Ten bucks says your dog’s in there eating my breakfast.”
I wouldn’t take that bet.
“Come on,” he said, opening the back door for me.
We walked in to a loud table of biker witches and a glaring Hillary. And Dimitri was right about Pirate eating his bacon.
“Are you done keeping secrets now?” My mom asked.
“I wish,” I said, taking the chair across from her.
Dimitri loaded up a new plate, and I dug into my semi-cold one. It didn’t matter. The eggs were amazing. I wished I could relax and enjoyed them.
I twined a pinkie with his, feeling solid. Dimitri had a way of making me feel safe. “I’m glad you finally made it.”
He glanced at the witches, then back at me. “Me, too. A couple things happened last night,” he said, lowering his voice. “I’ll tell you later.”
When we were alone. Okay.
My mom gave a tight smile as Grandma rose from the table and started taking her plate to the sink. “Thank you for the breakfast, Dimitri. Now I think we’ll all agree when I say we have a lot of work to do today.”
While she addressed the table, Creely slipped some gray powder into mom’s coffee cup.
We all finished up at that point, and I managed to catch Creely by the prairie dress on her way out of the kitchen. “What did you just put in her drink?”
“Relax,” she said, tucking a lock of green-streaked hair behind her ear. “It’s a hangover remedy. We broke her. We fix her.”
I glanced back at my mom, who was sipping her coffee with gusto. “What’s in it?”
The witch gave me a pitying look. “Oh honey, you don’t want to know.”
Chapter Seven
This was one case where I’d have to trust the biker witches. Heaven help us.
Dimitri and I loaded up the dishwasher, and then I showed him up to his room, the one across the hallway from mine.
“Where’d you sleep last night?” I asked, as we climbed the stairs.
“The Red Skulls were nice enough to leave a couch open,” he said. “I thought about trying to find you, but I didn’t want to start opening doors.”
I wished he had.
When we made it to his room, he ducked his head inside the masculine, blue and green space, then back out to look at me. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“House rules,” I said. “I’m across the hall.”
His lips quirked. “Did your mother say anything about me having guests?”
“Rule breaker,” I said, as he drew me inside.
“Count on it,” he said, his lips against my ear before he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.
The sensation of it rushed over me and I melted into him and the sheer warm, sweet desire of it. The door slammed shut, and my back was suddenly against it. My body collided with his and I gave in to the sensation of completeness, belonging. Him.
At last I broke the kiss. He took the opportunity to nibble at my ear. “I can’t wait to marry you,” he murmured. I ground against him, making him groan.
Warmth flooded through me. “Me, too.”
I touched his cheek, his strong jaw.
He kissed my palm.
I wanted this to be an easy, simple, fun wedding week, but, “I need to tell you about what I found yesterday.” I took both of his hands in mine, drawing him over to the bed. He went quite willingly, happily in fact, until I began explaining to him about the old observatory.
The bed dipped as he sat next to me, and I handed him my cell phone with the pictures of what we’d found.
