Chapter Twenty-three

One Month Later

Ruby sipped her champagne and watched as one of her operatives, Angel DeLuca, took on a different kind of mission.

Angel stood up from at the head table in the reception hall and lifted his own glass. "People say that a good marriage is where both the bride and groom are each certain they got the better deal." Angel winked at the bride, Billie Cooper, before shifting his attention to the groom, Presley Nolan, his foster brother and best friend. "But I gotta say, Billie, you sort of got the short end of the stick with Presley."

"It's not that short," someone called out.

That brought the expected laughter and a fist pump from their other foster brother, Jace Malley.

"Seriously though," Angel continued when the laughter died down. Everyone in the reception hall knew, though that no seriousness was about to follow. He lifted his glass again. "It's great that you two lovebirds found someone to annoy for the rest of your lives."

More laughter, and as Ruby glanced around the room, her gaze landed on Owen. Of course, her gaze had been landing there a lot, not just today but over the past month. Despite her better judgment, she hadn't stayed away from him.

And her body was saying all kinds of hallelujahs and thank you very much for that.

The man was a walking, talking orgasm.

Along with being top-notch in wrapping up an investigation.

There'd been a lot of loose ends to tie up with what had happened at that abandoned motel. A gazillion reports, interviews, and debriefings, but they'd reached a couple of critical bottom lines.

Marlie and Trent were dead so no more threats from them, and Ruby wasn't shedding any tears over their demise, only tears about the hell they'd caused.

Bottom line two: Francine had been arrested for her part in harboring a fugitive and other assorted crimes associated with helping her asshole son. Again, no tears for her. If Francine had just turned in Trent right at the start, then Brynn wouldn't have had to live a nightmare for three years.

Bottom line three: Alice had been arrested with similar charges to Francine's after she'd gotten out of the hospital. Unlike Francine, Alice had shown some remorse, but Ruby intended to hold a grudge. Remorse and some boo-hooing weren't going to undo what Alice had done to Brynn.

Bottom line four: Heather, the dirty cop, had been arrested as well. No remorse, no boo-hooing, but Ruby figured the woman would have plenty of time to rethink her choices while behind bars.

Bottom line five: Bonnie, the nurse, had been located, arrested, and thanks to the woman accepting a really crappy plea deal, she was already tucked away at a maximum security prison.

Bottom line six was the best one yet. Brynn had needed some time in the hospital, too, but she was back on her feet, well on the path to regaining her life…and flirting with one of Owen's operatives, Ruby noticed.

Brynn was at the table with Declan Brodie, a bonafide hunk, and Brynn was chatting him up. Declan was being friendly enough, but he was also well aware that Brynn was his boss' niece and, therefore, hands off.

Well, maybe.

Ruby's own daughter, Caroline, was at a table with her fiancé, Nash McKinnon, one of Ruby's operatives so sometimes love, or lust, dealt with the consequences.

Which was sort of what she was doing with Owen.

The lust was still there in spades. Yep. It hadn't cooled down one bit despite all the sex they'd been having. In fact, it had heated up even more, and along with the heat, she'd done something truly stupid.

She'd fallen in love with him.

As if he'd read her mind, Owen snagged her gaze again and flashed one of those orgasmic, rock star smiles.

"May your love be as endless as these wedding reception speeches," Angel went on, drawing Ruby's attention back to him. He looked at Presley. "Love you, man. Treat her right because you've got a good one there."

That brought on some ahs, and it gave the bride and groom another reason to kiss. The guests cheered for them, but Angel pretended the applause was for him as he returned to his seat.

The music immediately kicked in, the DJ going for an Elvis song, I Can't Help Falling in Love with You , no doubt as a tribute to Presley's namesake. Presley and Billie made their way to the floor to do the opening dance.

And Owen made his way to her.

He looked amazing despite the odd fashion combo of a tux jacket, a black tee ,dark camo pants, and combat boots. She had to admire a man ready for both combat and a celebration.

"It sort of feels like a merger, doesn't it?" he asked. "A Maverick Ops' groom and a Strike Force bride."

Yes, it did feel like a kind of bridging the gap. Then again, maybe she felt that way because of all the gaps that Owen and she had been bridging in bed. On the floor. And in the shower.

Owen gave another dose of bridging . He leaned in, putting his mouth right against her ear and nudging her body with his.

Damn him, damn him, damn him .

"You're not happy about how you feel about me," Owen said, his breath acting like foreplay on her neck and ear.

"I'm not," she admitted.

He smiled that devil smile again, the one that made her want to haul him off to bed. Of course, his breathing made her want to do that.

And he knew it.

That's why he kept on smiling.

The DJ moved to another song, a wedding reception classic , Another One Bites the Dust , that got cheers from those who clearly wanted to have some fun to go along with their champagne buzzes. Some of those cheerers moved out onto the dance floor.

Owen set their glasses aside, drew Ruby out onto the dance floor, too. And they got some cheers. Some behind the hand whispers, too. There was no doubt plenty of gossip about the bosses banging each other.

Part of Ruby wanted to hang onto her military bearing AKA kickass boss attitude, but it was hard to do that with Owen. The man was a crappy dancer, and the result was a whole lot of body bumping going on. Which, in turn, resulted in her foot getting stepped on.

And some laughter.

Actually, lots of laughter.

When the song ended, the DJ continued the tongue in cheek musical vibe with Lady Gaga's Bad Romance , but Owen and she didn't stay on the floor for that one. Instead, Owen led her to Presley and Billie, where they doled out final congratulations, hugs, and back slaps before Owen and she went to Brynn and gave and got more hugs.

And one eyeball warning look from Owen to Declan.

With that chore done, Owen and she made their way out into the large entry area outside the reception room. Ruby figured the party would really kick into gear now that the bosses were gone.

"Did you want to stay for the bouquet tossing?" Owen asked.

"No," she couldn't say fast enough.

"Might save Brynn from catching it," he concluded, sounding exactly like the protective uncle that he was.

"Still no," Ruby insisted.

Owen took hold of her waist with just his fingertips and eased her to him. And he kissed her. Of course, he did. Along with sex, that had been their default activity for the past month.

Somehow, though, Owen managed to make this kiss feel as if it were the first one. That thrill of the new taste. That punch of heat.

That love.

Hell in a handbasket. Yes, that love. His kiss made her feel all of that and so much more.

Once he had her hotter than fire and in need of oxygen, he pulled back and met her eye to eye. Her heart skipping a couple of beats. Her stomach went tight. Because she could see he was about to say something important.

Maybe even the l-word.

"Want to go on a date?" he asked.

Okay, so not the l-word, but this was good, and Ruby relaxed a little. "Sure. I'd like that."

"A date with a sex for dessert?" he added.

She smiled and did even more relaxing. This wasn't going to get weird. "I'd like that, too."

"Good." He kissed her again. A twist on French, foreplay, and down and dirty all rolled into one.

Ruby sank right into that kiss and wondered just how fast she could get him behind closed doors. She started inching toward the exit with him. They made it a few steps before he stopped.

"How are you going to handle me being in love with you?" he asked. "I mean, totally batshit in love with you."

So, it had gotten weird after all. Except…it hadn't. Ruby felt the emotions swarm through her. Not weirdness. Heat. And lust. And warmth.

And love.

So much love for this man who would upset the heck out of her life. Along with making her the happiest she'd ever been in her life.

Ruby latched onto the lapels of his tux jacket, hauling him to her so she could dole out her own kiss. And she made it count. It was long, deep, and filled with so much promise of things to come.

When she finally pulled back, Owen was breathless. Okay, so was she, but being breathless together felt right. In fact, everything about this hit the right mark.

Especially Owen.

"I'm good with you being in love with me," she let him know. He flashed that amazing smile. "How are you going to handle me being in love with you?"

That smile widened, and he leaned in and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth. "Ruby, I'll handle it just fine. In fact, why don't we handle it together?"

No answer was necessary. Or possible. Because they got busy with another kiss to seal the deal.