Page 163 of Wilde and Deadly

Rowan laughed, the sound light and free, and leaned into his side. He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight on his chest lifted.

Audrey’s smile—so much like Rue’s—was bright as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Well, I, for one, am thrilled. And I hope this means we’ll be seeing more of you, Davey.”

“Absolutely. You’ll have a hard time keeping me away.”

“Good answer.” Audrey’s gaze shifted to Rowan, her expression turning serious. “And you, my fierce girl. Are you happy?”

Rowan hesitated. Just for a heartbeat. But it was long enough for Davey’s stomach to drop. His brain took that second’s hesitation and ran with it.Why was she hesitating? Was she not sure? Was she second-guessing them?

Then, her fingers curled tighter around his.

“Yeah, Mom.” Her voice was steady. Sure. “I am. Very.”

Relief crashed through him so hard he nearly swayed. Jesus Christ. He’d survived combat, near-death experiences, and some of the most brutal missions imaginable?—

But that single pause had almost taken him out.

“Good,” Audrey said, her voice a little rough. She stepped forward and kissed Rowan’s forehead, then squeezed his arm as she turned to face him. “You keep her that way, mister.”

“I plan to, ma’am.”

“Well, this has been touching and all,” Gabe grumbled, breaking the moment, and strode for the door. He still moved like a SEAL with only the slightest hitch in his step from his prosthetic leg. “But we’ve got a long drive ahead, and I’m not getting any younger. Let’s wrap it up.”

Audrey shot him a half-amused, half-exasperated look. It was the same look Davey’s mother often gave his father. “Sailor, we’re flying back.”

“We’ve still got a drive to the airport, and there’s traffic.”

“Not until tomorrow morning. I told you we’re staying the night, and we’re taking our girl and her man out of dinner.”

“I hate this city,” Gabe grumbled.

Audrey rolled her eyes at her husband’s back. “Sorry. He’s cranky.”

“He’salwayscranky,” Rue added.

“I heard that,” Gabe called over his shoulder, not bothering to turn around. “And I’m not cranky. Toddlers are cranky.”

Rue snorted. “And old men.”

“Yeah? Come over here and say that to my face, brat.”

Rue grinned and bounded over to her father, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “You’re a cranky old man,” she said, her voice muffled against his back. “But we love you anyway.”

Gabe’s scowl softened slightly as he patted Rue’s hands. “Yeah, yeah. Love you too, kid.”

Despite his gruff exterior, it was clear there was a deep well of love beneath the surface.

“So, dinner?” Audrey looped her arm through Davey’s and steered him toward the door. “I’m thinking that little Italian place down on Fifth. The one with the homemade pasta. What do you say, Davey? Up for some carbs and more interrogation? Oh, and you can invite your parents! I haven’t seen Jude and Libby in?—”

“No,” Gabe growled. “Not fucking Jude. Cam and Vaughn, fine. Reece, sure. Greer, great. But not Jude. The man is a goddamn menace. I’d rather chew glass than have dinner with him.”

Audrey cleared her throat pointedly and tilted her head in Davey’s direction. “Jude is Davey’s father,” she reminded in sing-song.

Gabe’s glare softened marginally. “I mean… he’s all right.”

Davey smothered a smile and decided to let Gabe off the hook. “If he was anything like my brother Dom is now, ‘goddamn menace’ is a good description.”

That got a faint smirk out of Gabe as he turned back to the door. “All right. If we’re doing this dinner shit, let’s move. I’m hungry. And, yeah, invite your parents.”

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