“I …” Her breath caught in her throat as her head swung around to meet Rosie’s gaze. The older woman looked at them warmly, affection evident in her eyes. “I don’t know …”
“It’s not gonna happen right now, maybe not soon,” he said. “But, how about it? We can be partners.”
“Partners?”
He nodded. “You and me. What do you say?”
She looked deep in thought for a moment, then said, “Of course, I mean, yes. Thank you.” She reached out to wrap her arms around him, embracing him tightly.
“Thank God,” he said. “That means I don’t have to go back to the rangers and pretend I’m not dying inside when I see toads and frogs.” He gave an exaggerated shiver.
She chuckled. “You know I’ll protect you from those evil slimy adorable monsters,” she said. “It’s my job as your mate, you know?”
Warmth filled him he looked at her beautiful face, feeling the bond between them that had been growing stronger each day. He pushed a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes, his fingertips brushing the marred skin of her cheek. She didn’t blink, flinch, or even turn away. In fact, in the last few months, the scars didn’t seem to bother her as much. Today, she wasn’t even self-conscious about going out into the dining room full of people wearing a shirt that left her arms bare and her hair tied back into a ponytail away from her pretty face.
He licked off a spot of flour from her nose. “You know, I’m really glad you, J.D., and Anna Victoria have become good friends,” he began. The two other women had fully embraced his mate, and they hung out and went shopping all the time. “I still haven’t thanked them for whatever it is they’re doing to make you feel more comfortable about yourself.”
Her head cocked to the side. “Anna Victoria and J.D.? Oh, Gabriel.” She reached up and cupped the side of his face. “It wasn’t that,” she said. “I mean, yeah, I do feel comfortable around them, and they’ve been great friends. But the reason I’ve been feeling less self-conscious is …” She took a deep breath. “It’s you, Gabriel. When I look at your face, into your eyes, I see the way you see me. Like there’s nothing wrong with me.”
“There’s not,” he said flatly. “It’s the way I’ve always seen you.”
Her eyes misted. “I know,” she said, her voice choking. “Now I know.”
The bond hummed between them again, and he couldn’t help himself as he reached for her and pressed his mouth to hers. Later tonight, when they were alone in bed after they made love, he would tell her, too. Tell her that when he looked into her eyes, he saw the love reflected there that made him feel like he was more than just a shallow charmer, a rich pretty boy that was suitable only for one purpose. In her eyes, he was a man worthy of her love. He would ask her, too, to be his forever, not just in the eyes of their kind, but in the eyes of everyone so there would be no doubt in anyone’s mind they belonged together. I’m going to marry you so hard, Temperance Pettigrew, just you wait and see. But for now …
“I’m starving,” he said, pulling away. “Let’s eat.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Temperance and Gabriel’s journey.
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Now, what exactly happened during the bachelor party in Vegas?
And who is this mystery lady looking for Daniel?
(More important—why does she need to talk to him?)
Find out when Blackstone Ranger Hero comes out in early September.
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All my love,
Alicia
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