Page 298 of The Reluctant Hero

Shade’s clear obsession with Gabriel standing like a frozen statue behind him is a sight. I take several pictures of the deer in the headlights look on his face. Their sister, Andi, is clutching Gabriel’s arm and shaking it with excitement. She’s pushy and loud, but no holds barred honest. South is spoiling Shade, with Tera trying to cry quietly behind her. Max, on tissue duty, is hovering behind her, handing them out and taking the soaked ones to toss in the trash.

After the embarrassingly thorough kiss that gets us all booted out of the courthouse we stand around gossiping.

I peg Shade in the chest with the tiny bag of seeds Tera handed out earlier. He doesn’t seem to notice, too blissfully in his own world to care.

“Fucking sap,” I scoff.

Everyone else does the proper thing, opening the bags and showering them both in seeds to celebrate.

“Honeymoon?” South glances at Shade with a sly smile.

“Please,” I roll my eyes. “You’re going home for a week and screwing your brains out.”

“That’s a honeymoon,” Andi points out with a grin.

“That’s theirevery day,” I protest. “What are they going to do? Screw all over town instead?”

“You think they haven’t already?” Max smirks.

“Please don’t make me throw up,” Tera winces.

“Sorry,” he mutters as Asher absently rubs her back. His smile is a little tight as if his mind is far away from here.

“We need to head home,” Jake tells Gabriel with raised brows.

“Why?” Ace asks warily.

“I have a surprise formeine Seele,” he grins back.

“Is it an ice pack?” I ask dismally.

Mikael’s arms wrap around me, allowing me to lean back and let him take my weight.

“Let’s get back and relax,” Cade smiles and leads the way to the car.

I make it through the ride with a lot of shifting in discomfort. Gabriel watches me with a smug smile that I try not to punch off his face.

“A soak in the tub after your surprise,” Jake takes pity on me.

“That sounds amazing,” I sigh.

We settle on the couches in the meeting room exactly as Jake tells us. Gabriel sits on a couch with Mikael and Ace oneither side. Cade sits in an armchair. Jake stands, and I sit in the other armchair.

“What the hell is goin’ on?” Ace asks him for the fifth time.

Jake is arranging things in the room and tidying up.

“Why are you nervous?” Cade’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “You’re never like this.”

“Everything just so, Cadey,” he replies absently. “Straighten up and look like less of a pervert, would you?”

Cade gapes at him in disbelief. “The fuck did you just say?”

“Sir?” A hesitant voice pipes up from the door. We all look at the maid, making her more nervous. “Your visitors are here.”

“Excellent,” Jake claps his hands and drops onto the empty couch. “Send them this way.”

As she leaves, we all stare at Jake. The number of times he fixes his tie is a little concerning.

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