“I could—but you sure you want to hear that response?”

Putting his arm around Dee’s shoulders, Ric admitted, “As always you have made an excellent point.”

“I try.”

“I’d better get back inside,” he said, turning around and putting both his arms around her.

“Make sure that food is getting out to the ravening, blood-thirsty hordes.”

“Or,” Dee said, hugging the man she loved, “you can just call ’em family.”

“Makes sense. We’re stuck with them anyway. Just like blood relations.”

“Such a positive viewpoint.”

“I do my best.”

Arms around each other’s waists, they headed back to the side door of the restaurant.

“I never got to say,” Ric told her, “how amazing you looked yesterday in that dress.” She smiled, feeling intense pleasure at his praise. “Thank you.” Ric held the door open for her. “Although I have to admit, Dee, that in the end, I still prefer you naked.”

Laughing, Dee walked into the restaurant. “And I still say—like a wolf with a bone, Van Holtz.”