Page 84 of V is for Valentine
“Behave,” he replied before he kissed her again.
“Always.”
Epilogue
Six months later.
“Here’s what Ithink,” Felicity said as she turned Stevie’s hand so that her new engagement ring caught the light. “In keeping with tradition, Tess and I should plan your wedding, and you should simply show up, like Kara and Theo did after you and Brant planned their wedding.”
“Actually, I like that idea,” Stevie said, “but I don’t see how you’re going to do that while living in Seattle.”
“Video chat, Zoom. So many options.”
“You’re going to hate it when I say yes.”
A flare went up from the charcoal barbecue and the three men gathered around it fell back, laughing as they made a show of protecting their faces. Pete sat in a lawn chair nearby, talking with Danny’s parents who’d returned home after their warm Arizona winter.
“Let’s let them plan the wedding,” Stevie said gesturing at her new fiancé, Brant Gilroy, Danny, and Jason Regan.
“It would be memorable,” Tess agreed, shifting her position as Neville came out from under the porch, his nose and front paws dirty from digging, and worked his way onto her lap. “At least we have one man who knows better than to play with fire,” she murmured to the terrier, rubbing his ears.
Another shout went up from the barbecue area, and Felicity smiled as she leaned back against the newel post, the sunbaked wood warm against her back. Men and fire. A tale as old as time.
“A penny for them,” Tess said, and Felicity realized that she was smiling as she watched Danny.
“Just dreaming about soaping up car windows,” she said.
“I never thought you’d go soft,” Stevie murmured. “Look at you. All gooey in love.”
“That’s me,” Felicity replied. And love had worked out better than she’d dared hope. She hadn’t given up her job in Seattle. Danny had convinced her that if they could make it through two decades of firefights, they could make it through two years of long-distance courtship while she became vested in the company retirement fund. In the meantime, as she planned her future in Idaho, researching jobs and the possibility of going solo, he and Sandra continued to build their real estate holdings. He was already in negotiations for another rundown building with good bones in the same neighborhood as his current project.
“Are you guys thinking of tying the knot?” she asked Tess, catching her sister staring at Jason in much the same way that she’d been staring at Danny.
“Mmm,” Tess replied. “There’s been mention, but,” she gave Stevie a pointed look, “we don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder.”
“Steal away,” Stevie said. “Hey…we could make it a double—”
“Girls!” They looked up at their dad’s shout. “Picture time.”
“Love picture time,” Felicity murmured. “Best make sure that my hair is standing on end.”
“And I’ll need a few minutes to practice closing my eyes at just the right moment,” Tess added as they crossed the lawn to where the parents were already choreographing.
“Danny, stand behind Felicity,” his mom, Molly, directed.
He nodded and took his place.
“No rabbit ears,” Molly added sternly.
“No, ma’am,” he said, exchanging a look with Jason before settling his hands at Felicity’s waist. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he murmured close to her ear.
She couldn’t help sliding a hand up along his cheek, only to drop it again when Molly rushed back to her place in front of Danny’s dad after setting the camera timer. “Now concentrate, people. I want a perfect family portrait. One, two…”
On three, four sets of masculine hands made rabbit ears behind the women’s heads in front of them, and the camera clicked.
Felicity laughed when she looked at the photo and saw that her dad had made ears behind Neville’s head as he held him. “He’s spending too much time with you,” she murmured to Danny.
“I’ll try not to lead him astray,” he murmured as his head came down to lightly kiss her. “Much.” The barbecue flared again, and he smiled down at her. “I’m needed.”
“Go. I’ll meet you at the dessert table later.”
He nodded, then leaned down for one last kiss. “Love you,” he said.
Felicity put her hands on his chest. “Love you back. Now go put out a fire.”
The End
