Page 147 of Exes and Oh Hell No

Connor applauds while Allie cheers beside him.

“That was quite a show.” Jaxson King strolls toward us, grinning. “Well done, man.” He clasps my hand, shaking it.

I nod, pleased by his praise. “Thanks.”

Harper moves beside me. My arm wraps around her,my lips brushing her forehead. “This is my soon-to-be wife, Harper.”

Jaxson takes her hand. “Welcome to the extended family. We’ve got your back.”

Zayne Morine walks up next, his arm around a pretty brunette. “Hey, Ford.” He clasps my hand, grinning. “Nice work.”

“Thanks.”

Zayne gestures to the woman beside him. “This is my wife, Delaney.”

I take her hand, shaking it. “Nice to meet you.”

She smiles. “Likewise.”

Harper’s posture relaxes.

Her smile is genuine. “Lovely to meet you, Delaney.”

“Likewise. This is my husband, Zayne. Half of the ‘Fix-Anything’ team of King Morine.”

“Hi, Zayne.” She shakes his hand.

“Nice to meet you. My wife’s right. We solve problems.” His eyes dart to Jeffrey’s corpse. “We don’t leave a trace. Nothing will be tied to you or Ford. Or anyone else.” He gestures at Connor, who is talking with Jaxson and Allie.

“Thank you.” Her shoulders sag from relief. “I couldn’t stand for him to be?—”

Her lip quivers.

I spin her around, pulling her into my chest, knowing she hates crying in front of anyone except me.

“It’s alright, baby. I’m not going anywhere,” I murmur against her dark hair, breathing her in.

Allie walks over to us, shaking Zayne and Delaney’s hands before turning to us. “Why don’t we head back to the house and let them do their thing.” She gives Harper a pointed look. “Connor can drive me back to the B&B, and Ford can bring you over whenever it’s convenient?—”

She flashes him a mischievous smile, winking at him. “Then we can have some wine and celebrate the ending of shitty men and the beginning of new things.”

Harper raises her brows and Allie immediately backtracks, her face scarlet as she stumbles over her words. “Not for me. I don’t have a new man or anything.”

Connor slides his arm around her shoulder. “Are you kidding? We’re engaged.”

Zayne, Jaxson, and Delaney immediately offer their congratulations while Allie waves her hands frantically, her eyes wide. “No. No, we’re not.” She looks like she’s seconds from having a panic attack.

“Breathe, baby. Or I’ll play doctor and nurse you back to health.” Connor wiggles his brows amid our chorus of laughter.

“I love our crazy friends.” Harper grins up at me.

“Our family, baby.” I rub my hand over her stomach. “And if I have anything to say about it, it will grow soon.”

She growls again, and I fucking melt from the sound.

My wife is the cutest badass.

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