Page 234 of Solanum

"Stop, stop. You'll wrinkle it." She shoved her way between them. "Lesbians who don't know how to tie a bowtie. Honestly. Being an Army brat taught you nothing, Miller."

"That's racist." Sali frowned at Nora, gazing up at her with narrowed eyes, but she let her fix it anyway.

"Racist?" I laughed at her and it only earned me a scowl. "Idiot."

"She's too impatient. You can keep her, Nor." Maggie sighed while fixing the front of her dress. She wore a knee-length rich blue cocktail dress that appeared appropriate for the spring weather. "Zip me?" she asked, turning around with her back to me. "My wife is too busy throwing a fit."

"Shut up, Mags," muttered Sali, which earned a swat from Nora.

"Wish granted." I wagged my brows at Sali who continued to glare at me. I laughed while zipping Maggie's dress. "There ya go."

"Thanks." Maggie smoothed down the front of it again then propped her hands on her hips. "Vivian's all set. Her mom is taking over from here."

"Good." Nora settled Sali's bowtie and grinned at her. "You're so cute, Sal."

"Caroline made me wear it." Sali grumbled, then rolled up her sleeves to the elbows, brandishing the tattoo that matched her wife's. "That's better."

"That's hot." Nora grinned and nodded to Maggie. "Agree?"

"Agree." Maggie's smile broadened and she slipped her arm around Sali's waist. "Hey, love."

"Hey, babe." Sali grinned up at her and traced her finger along the shoulder of Maggie's dress. "You're smokin'."

"From tantrum to sexy." I shook my head at the two of them, then held Nora around the waist as well.

"Yeah, well." Sali wagged her brows at Maggie. "I'd do anything for my wife. C'mon, babe. Let's go help get everyone settled before Harper skins us for being too slow."

Maggie smooched her cheek while keeping her in a stranglehold, before the two of them headed outside.

In the sudden quiet, Nora gazed up the stairs to where we awaited Maya's freshly-painted emergence. Her soft smile and twinkling eyes spoke a thousand words that her lips didn't.

Ben and Moreno appeared in the kitchen with Detective Garrett, the three of them carrying food trays in and out while they chatted about work. Nothing broke Nora's internal reverie, however, until I ran my finger down her cheek.

She turned to me, her smile radiant.

"Hi, Kitten."

"Hi." She nuzzled my chin with her nose. "I'm so happy for Maya."

"I know. Me too." I kissed her forehead between her eyebrows, and she closed her eyes. "She's ready for this."

"She is," I said, smiling through it while continuing soft kisses along her brow. "Are you?"

"For my little Maya to be grown up, owning a home, and being a wife?" She chuckled, her eyes still closed, and she nodded. "I am. I'm so happy for her."

"Me too. She deserves happiness like this."

"Yeah. She does."

"Look, baby. I spy two kinksters in a kitchen." A raspy croon called out from behind us.

Nora and I turned quickly to see Samirah's grinning face, coupled with Rosie's pink-cheeked smile.

"Sami." Nora squeaked and scurried over to her.

Samirah grinned, catching her in a one-armed hug while holding Rosie with the other. I waved at Rosie when she met my gaze, and she wiggled her index finger at me, the broad smile never leaving her lips.

"Look at you, all prettied up." Samirah smooched Nora's cheek, then released her to repeat the gesture with me. "Hey, Beast."

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