Page 148 of Luck of the Draw

Brennan had to laugh, but not for longer than a single beat before the need to devour her mouth took over. Clutching her waist tighter, he pushed away from the wall to turn her around and press her back against it so he could kiss her the way she deserved—even though that kind of kissing had no place in a church either.

“Hey, Riley,” Frankie cut in, “I’m pretty sure the Lord frowns upon pre-marital sex, especially when it’s in a church hallway with people watching.”

Brennan begrudgingly drew the kiss to a close, managing to keep his eyes squeezed shut. “All right, all right, all right.” He smooched Skye one last time and then stepped backward with his arm held out. “Drag me back to the man cave, L.”

“I love you, baby,” Skye called from what sounded farther away.

Liza took his elbow and gave him a tug to head back to the exit. “I love you, too, honey. So much.”

“That was kind of epic, B.,” Liza said, then briefly paused. “You can open your eyes. They’re all back in the room.”

He did just in time for them to step out the door to the courtyard and the biting cold of outside. A gust of crisp air blasted his face, causing his eyes to blink and his feet to involuntarily pause.

Look what happens with a love like that.

The idea suddenly felt too big to process.

It finally happened. Love was no longer unrequited. And he was only minutes frommarryingher.

Remaining standing up was suddenly extremely challenging. Brennan pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes as he slowly lowered to crouch right in the middle of the courtyard.

“B.?”

He blinked his eyes open, and Liza was now crouching right in front of him.

She smiled and lifted her hand to rub the side of his shoulder. “Gonna make it?”

It was all still a bit overwhelming, and now Brennan suddenly had words for her that were absolutely not going to stay inside him.

“L.,” he said, grasping her elbows and forcing them both to stand. Once they were, he cupped her face and forced her chin high enough to look him in the eyes. “You need to know something.”

Her jaw flexed like she was clenching her teeth, and then they began to chatter as a shiver shot through her body. “Okay, but tell me quick because it’s really cold out here.”

Reflexively, Brennan released her face so he could wrap his arms around her shoulders to shield her from the cold. “You’re not my number one lady anymore.”

Liza’s lips were parted slightly as her teeth continued to chatter. Her eyes shifted while her hands were curled into fists under his jacket and against his chest. After a second, she laughed. “Well, I’d better not be.”

He smiled, giving her back a rub. “You’re still firmly in second place though.”

She laughed louder and slipped her arms around his waist, planting her cheek against his clavicle. “I think I’m actually more like number three after Savannah.”

Brennan paused to consider that. “Yeah, probably.”

She gave another full laugh, patting the small of his back with both hands and then squeezing him tighter. “Yeah, definitely.”

“But my top three are still at the top,” he added, resting his chin on her head. “And there’s still nothing I wouldn’t do for you, darlin’. And honestly, I wouldn’t have my new number one if you hadn’t done all the things that kept you my number one for so long.”

“Because I’m always right.” She poked the side of his ribs, tickling him and causing him to flinch. “Right?”

“Right.”

“And now…” Liza sighed happily, swaying slightly from side to side and making him move with her. “We finally got you married off.”

“Almost,” he corrected.

“Yeah, almost. As soon as we—” She gasped and hastily smacked both hands against his chest. “Look, B.!”

Brennan lifted his head to skim their surroundings, andno fucking way.

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