Jamie stirred, as though she sensed himstaring at her. She opened her eyes and smiled. “Hey, you,” shemurmured.
“Morning, my love.”
“What’s the time?”
“Early, before seven. Sleep well?”
A sexy dimple appeared in her cheek. “Iseem to recall we didn’tsleep much.”
He chuckled. She wasn’t wrong.
“Did that really happen?” she asked.
He caressed her bare backside. “You betterbelieve it.”
She laughed and shoved his chest playfully.“Not that, you big, bad wolf. I meant did we get engaged?”
Grayson sought her left hand and brought itto his lips, the sapphire ring on her finger. “You better believethat, too, future wife.”
Her wide grin warmed his heart, not to mention making hiscock twitch.
“Well, future husband, as much as I’d like tostay here forever, I better sneak out before Luna and Alice realiseI stayed the night.”
“I’m sure they won’t mind in the slightest.Knowing Alice, she’ll want to cook you a fine breakfast.”
“No, I should go. You’ll have to tell Lunaand Alice about our engagement.”
“They already knew I was going to askyou.”
“I know, but it’ll be better if you tellthem on your own, just to make sure they’re happy aboutit.”
“They will be, believe me.” He wrapped hisarms around her and drew her close, then kissed her tenderly,hoping to change her mind.
“Hmm, tempting, but I’m going.”
He made an exaggerated sulky face, but hecouldn’t deny she was right; he did have to tell Luna and Alice before thegathering.
Shit, the gathering. It’stonight. In less thanthirteen hours, all of his pack would be here.
Jamie went to get out of bed, but hepulled her back. “There’s one more thing I wanted to ask you beforeyou go…” He hesitated,uncertain of how to put it. “You can say no if you want, but itwould mean the world to me if you would come. To tell the truth, Ihate these things, but they’re part of my alpha duties. I wish Ididn’t have to hold them here in the ballroom—”
“Grayson!” she interrupted. “What are you talkingabout?”
“Sorry. The pack gathering. We hold themtwice a year. They’re a load of pomp and ceremony, and there’salways trouble of some sort, family dramas and such, but it’stradition, a way for the pack to keep in touch. I wouldn’t ask normally because Iknow you hate all that unnecessary extravagance, but it would bethe perfect opportunity to announce our engagement. Plus, I get toshow you off to everyone.”
She regarded him for a moment. “The wholepack will be there? Whatif they don’t like me?”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’llcome?”
She nodded.
“So, you’ll be in a room full of werewolvesand all you’re worried about is if they will like you?”
“Yeah,” she said slowly. “Is theresomething else I need tobe worried about? For instance, will Imogen be there?”
“Yes, Imogen will be there, but you’venothing to fear from her. One advantage of being alpha is everyoneis answerable to me.”
She blew out a breath. “Okay, I supposeone posh do won’t hurt. I haven’t dressed up in ages. When is thisgathering?”
“Tonight.”
Panic swept across her pretty features.“Tonight? Whydidn’t you tell me before?”
“I didn’t want to bother you with all thepreparations.”
She slapped her palm to her cheek. “Oh myGod, what the heck am Igoing to wear? Talk about short notice. Now I really need to leave.I wonder if Willow’s free to come shopping.” She grabbed her phonefrom the side of the bed and texted her friend, then leapt out ofbed.
He watched her, admiring hernaked, peachy arse asshe disappeared into the bathroom, having half a mind to followher, but he thought better of it.
Coming between a woman and her shoppingmission was not a good idea.
* * *
Grayson fiddled with his bow tie in thehallway mirror and then gave up.
His head spun when he thought of howquickly it had all happened with Jamie, but he’d fallen head overheels in love with the most amazing, kind, sexy woman and hecouldn’t wait to announce their engagement tonight.
The doorbell rang.
“That’ll be Jamie now. I asked her to arriveearly,” he said to Luna and Alice. He half ran to the door,excitement fizzing in his belly.
His breath caught as he opened the door.“Jamie.” His stunning wife to be.
She stood on the stone steps, a vision ofperfection in a cobalt-blue dress, its cut simple yet elegant as itmoulded to her petite figure. She wore her caramel-coloured hairswept to one side, a thick ponytail coiled into an S-shape andresting on one shoulder.Although he couldn’t see beneath the floor-length dress, her extraheight suggested she was wearing high heels.
Jamie’s lips parted as she looked at him inhis tux, with much the same awestruck expression he imagined on hisown face.
“You found a dress today then?” He cringed inwardly; of courseshe did. “You look stunning.”
“Ditto.” She licked her full lips, coveredwith a hint of pale pink lipstick. “Can I come in, or are we goingto stand here gawping at each other all night?” Shegrinned.
He took her hand—noting his ring on herfinger—and led her into the hallway.
She’d not stepped more than two paces whenLuna came at her like a heat-seeking missile. “Jamie! Dad just toldus you’re getting married.” She collided into Jamie, whostumbled in her heels,but recovered in time to return his daughter’s overly enthusiasticembrace. “I’m so excited!”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Luna. I am too.” Sheflashed a smile his way and his heart liquified.
“Can be a bridesmaid? Pleeease?”
Jamie tapped Luna’s nose and laughed. “You will make the prettiestbridesmaid ever, won’t she, Grayson?”
Grayson didn’t hear her. His pulse ratequickened as he noticed the back of her dress, or rather the lackof it. It was cut into a deep V that reached her tiny waist,and a delicate silverchain held the silky fabric on her shoulders. Below the nape of herneck, the chain hung vertically, following the delicious curve ofher spine. As she moved, the chain swung like a pendulum and herivory skin shimmered like she’d sprinkled it with apricot candydust. He had a mind to take her upstairs and lick that evocativesweetness right this minute. Where else has she dusted it?
Alice hobbled over to Jamie.“Congratulations, Jamie.” She kissed both her cheeks. “I don’t knowof two people who aremore perfect for each other. I hope you’ll be really
