As to her father, Titus had later told them he’d been shipped back to hell bound by angel magic, making it impossible for him to ever leave or terrorize George again.
She and Dex had stumbled around in their new relationship for a little while, learning about each other, learning their likes and dislikes, dating, laughing, arguing on occasion, but mostly they spent their time working toward their common goal to become a strong force in the rescue community and an even stronger couple who had healthy communication skills and loved each other with intention.
And now they were here today with the people she’d fallen in love with, people who loved her, people who’d promised to always be there no matter what—and Dex.
Oh, Dex. Kind, loving, sexy-as-hell Dex. She was nuts about him, and she’d taken the bull by the horns and told him so a few months ago.
And he’d responded in kind.
And today they’d get their permanent wings—together.
Speaking of the man she loved, he sauntered across the green grass toward her, past the tables filled with food Arch had insisted he orchestrate, and winked at her with a laughable saucy wink.
“Are you lost, ma’am?” he asked teasingly, pulling her to him and molding her body to his strong frame.
She batted her eyes at him. “Lost? I don’t know what you mean?”
“Because somebody better call upstairs and tell them they’re missing an angel.”
George groaned into his broad chest. “Oh, that was bad. Really bad, buddy.”
“Bad jokes are why you love me, right?”
She stood on tiptoe and dropped a kiss on his luscious lips. “Well, that and, you know, that thing.”
He chuckled, the rumble tickling her chest pressed to his. “Yeah. I know the thing.”
“Lovebirds!” Titus shouted from across the green expanse of lawn, a cigarette between his fingers, his long robes swishing in the gentle breeze. “It’s a fine day for some wings, huh? How are you two?”
George ran to him and threw her arms around Titus’s big neck, hugging him hard. They’d become friends over the course of these last months. Many a night would find them talking over a cup of coffee for her and a flask of one whiskey or another for Titus.
She dropped down from the hold he had on her and asked, “How are you?”
He tweaked her cheeks. “Oh, you know, the youge. Chaos times a billion. Babies going to the wrong couples. Women dating men who are all wrong for them and vice versa. Remind me to tell you about Guthrie Merkel and his online love affair with a catfish. Then there’s angels gone wild. You know, same old, same old.”
She laughed up at him as the sun bathed his form. “I’m glad you’re going to be the one to give us our wings.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for all the Crown Royal in the world. Now, I heard there’d be potato salad. Arch said so. I love his flipping tates salad. Point an old angel in the right direction, would you?”
Dex slapped him on the back and pointed at the tables set up under the blue sky. “Middle table.”
Titus winked. “See you guys in a bit for the big to-do, huh?”
George grinned at him. “Can’t wait.”
Titus headed toward the infamous potato salad and, as he did, George took a good look around at the newly renovated house, the beautiful gardens, the sanctuary they’d built for animals in need, the friends she’d acquired…and her throat tightened.
She didn’t know happiness like this existed, but she’d found it, and she was never letting it go.
“Look at what you’ve done, Dex. You should be so proud. I’m so proud of you.”
“Look at what we’ve done,” he replied, nuzzling her neck.
They had done this—together.
Something fell on her head then, brushing her hair before it fell at her feet. When she looked down, it was a peach flower.
Just like the one Effie’d had in Cabo.
“Effie,” they said in whispered unison.
George stooped and picked up the flower, tilting it to the sky. “To you, my friend.” Then she tucked it behind her ear and smiled, her heart full.
“Hey,” Dex said. “I’ve been thinking.”
She curled her arms around his neck and stared into his dark, sultry eyes. “About?”
“We need to name the pig pen.”
She played with the ends of his hair, twirling them around her finger. “Why do we need to name the pig pen?”
“Well, the cats have a name for their domain. Don’t you think the pigs will be jealous?”
Giggling, George tilted her head. “Um, do pigs get jealous?”
He ran a finger along her nose. “Of course they do. So, wanna hear the name I came up with?”
She winced comically. “Um, I dunno. Do I?”
“Put Your Ham in the Hand of the Man Who Stilled the Waters,” he said with far too much excitement. “Genius, right?”
Her head fell back on her shoulders as she laughed. “I think it’s a good thing I love you.”
“It’s the best thing,” he said with his gorgeous smile.
Yeah. Probably the best thing ever.
But second runner up to the best thing ever? She fit somewhere. She fit with these chaotic, loud, loving group of people.
Finally.
She fit.
The End
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About The Author
Dakota Cassidy is a USA Today bestselling author with over eighty books. She writes laugh-out-loud cozy mysteries, romantic comedy, grab-some-ice erotic romance, hot and sexy alpha males, paranormal shifters, contemporary kick-ass women, and more.
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