Page 39 of Just One Look

“I had no idea you were a brown belt.” Devlin sidled up beside her.

“You never asked?” her response was more of a question, punctuated with a chuckle.

Standing on the side patio, Devlin glanced around them and pulled her into an embrace.

Without hesitation, her arms found their way around him and her head rested on his shoulder.

“I will say, you scared the bejesus out of me.”

Tipping her head back, she glanced up at him. “Why?”

“Well,” he shrugged a shoulder, “besides not knowing you were a martial arts star…”

That made her chuckle. Star. She liked that.

“I also had no idea what Courtney’s skills were, but more than that, if she played dirty. Which, knowing her more and more, I wouldn’t put past her.”

“Nah.” Her head fell back against his shoulder again. “She fights like a girl.”

Devlin’s chest rumbled with laughter, then she felt it. His finger gently lifted her chin to face him again.

Their gazes met and she swore if he weren’t holding on to her she’d probably melt on the spot. Had any man ever made her feel so safe, and warm, and content with just a simple look?

“This may be way too soon, and if it is, don’t run off. I’ll wait for you to catch up to me, but, Elizabeth Carter, like it or not, good or bad timing, I love you.”

“You do?” she barely got the words out.

His head bobbed, his finger still gently under her chin.

“As in, gee golly you and your sister are my best friends, or as in, the big L?”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and his head inched a fraction closer to her. “As in the very big, extra large, L.”

“Hmm,” she tried to tease, him but couldn’t play hard to get. Instead, she raised her arms around his neck and just before pulling him in closer, whispered, “I love you more.”

Floating on a cloud, everything about kissing Devlin was beyond perfect. Only the sound of a husky voice clearing his throat broke through the exquisite moment. “Excuse me.”

Regretfully, inching away from each other, Liz glanced over at Porter and Colton, the two brothers standing side by side, looking down at their shoes. The sight actually had her chuckling. Two grown men looking like a couple of nervous schoolboys.

“Uh,” Porter started, “the last of the guests is gone and Grams wants everyone in the family room to go over the haul.”

Liz took another step back, delighted when Devlin’s hand slid down and latched onto hers. He didn’t want to let go any more than she did.

As everyone made their way back into the house, Liz was surprised at how many cousins either winked at her, smiled at her, or gave her a thumbs up. What the heck was going on? Surely they didn’t all know that she and Devlin were now an item?

“I haven’t laughed so hard in years.” In the family room, Leah handed her husband a drink.

“The woman has been a menace to the male species for as long as I can remember.” Kyle shook his head and poured himself a glass of lemonade.

“And here she is.” Jared, Eve’s husband, pushed to his feet and raised his glass in Liz’s direction. “The conquering hero. I strongly suspect every bachelor from here to Timbuktu appreciates you putting the barracuda in her place.”

“Doesn’t anyone like that woman?” Liz scanned the room.

Several heads moved from side to side and chorused, “No.”

“As a matter of fact, dear.” Mrs. Baron walked into the room. “I received several donations from both men and women who were absolutely delighted someone finally put Courtney in her place.” The woman turned to her grandson-in-law, Jared. “It’s not nice to call people names.”

Contrite, Jared dipped his chin. “Sorry, ma’am.”

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