“Back off Zach. He’s the Alpha Male, my best friend, and my brother. So no telling him to go fetch unless he started it.”

“But he—”

Conall covered her mouth with his hand. “Not. A. Word.” She rolled her eyes and glared. “I expect you to always have two pairs of those pumps you had in Seattle. The heel is to be no less than five inches. One pair red and one pair black. They’ll only be used in here. And you’ll be naked. Also, I make the bed every morning, but feel free to sniff it whenever you feel the need. And don’t get too attached to any of your clothes. Because if they’re not off when we get in here, I’m ripping them off. And I really like ripping them off. Because I like you naked.”

She pulled his hand away from her mouth. “Anything else, Viking?”

“Just one thing.” He pulled her crossed arms apart and stepped into her body. He kissed her neck, her shoulder, her chin. Then he lifted her up. Automatically, her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck. She dug her hands into his hair and pushed her small body up against his. She stared into his eyes and smiled. A smile that was for him and him alone.

“No matter where we are. No matter where we go. Or where we end up. That you always…and I mean always, Miki Kendrick…” he leaned in close, “…make sure our freezer has cherry ice pops.”

Miki burst out laughing as Conall carried her to their bed.

Epilogue

She forced her eyes open. Her head throbbed. Her back hurt. She felt pain in her arms and her knees. She sat up, slowly, and kept her eyes turnedaway from the French windows that had bright morning light streaming through them.

She waited until she felt like she could look around without throwing up, then she took in the room. It was beautiful. Gorgeous furnishings. Hardwood floor. Soft bed with a steel frame. This room alone must have cost a pretty penny to furnish. Gold silk sheets with a frighteningly high thread count covered her naked body.

The bedroom door stood open and she wondered whether she should make a run for it. She was pretty sure, though, that she’d start vomiting as soon as she stood up. But she wasn’t too worried. Her wounds were dressed. Her body cleaned. The last thing she remembered was something, a lot of somethings, coming out of the trees by her store and charging her. They had resembled dogs almost, but she really didn’t know. She remembered going for her gun, then something from behind…tackled her? And that was the last thing she remembered.

She rubbed her temples and tried to piece together the last few hours. That’s when she heard it. It wasn’t a growl. Or a roar.

It was a purr.

Angelina Santiago looked back at the bedroom door and watched a six hundred pound tiger walk by. It stopped. She could still see its tail swinging slowly from side to side. Then it backed up, turning its majestic head to look at her. And she looked at it. She patiently waited for the fear to set in. And the pure unadulterated panic that comes with it. Then it shifted and spoke.

“Well. Hello, sugar.”

Angie let out a cross between a sigh and a breath. “Oh, shit…”