Page 101 of Devoured By You

“I’ll do anything to make you happy.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.”

She motioned to her friends still hovering by the door and chattering at warp speed as she unfastened the top two buttons on her shirt.

“You just volunteered to tell them we’re busy and we’ll see them later. Good luck.”

And with that, she sauntered into the master suite, dropping her shirt to the floor as she disappeared from view.

God-fucking-damn.

* * *

“You look well fucked.” I draped Jill’s hair over one shoulder, kissing her neck.

“Great. Just what a girl needs to hear right before she’s due to have dinner with her kid’s paternal grandparents and his aunts and uncles.”

I chuckled, wrapping my arms around her from behind to cup her breasts. “They won’t care.”

“I care.” She leaned into me, sighing as I brushed my thumbs over her nipples.

“One of these days, I’ll knock that British reticence out of you.”

“I’m only reticent in public.”

“Oh, that I know. Just as well, too. Otherwise, I’d have to let you go.” She elbowed me in the ribs. I grunted and stepped back. “Vicious.”

“I barely grazed you.”

“My cracked rib begs to differ.” I went to answer the door, letting in the babysitter I’d hired especially for this trip. Childminding wasn’t a required service on an adults-only cruise. I called it owner privilege. I’d raised the subject of a permanent nanny with Jill more than once. Each time, she’d met my suggestion with a glower and a firm “No.” Maybe when we had more kids, she’d change her mind, but for now, she worked her writing around the baby’s schedule and seemed pretty happy with that structure.

“Come on in, Diandra. We’re about ready to go.”

“You have our phone numbers, right? And any of the crew can find us at a moment’s notice, I’m sure,” Jill asked, worry drawing her eyebrows inward.

“Relax.” Diandra smiled at us both. “Go, have a wonderful time.”

“If he wakes up, there’s a bottle made up in the fridge, which should settle him right back down. “

“Jill. She’s a professional. And we’re literally a few decks down.”

“I know, I know.” She grimaced. “It’s a mother’s right to worry.”

“Of course it is,” Diandra said in solidarity. “I promise, he’ll be fine.”

Hustling Jill out the door before she decided she couldn’t leave Lukas, I surreptitiously patted my jacket, making sure I had the engagement ring. Nerves knotted my stomach as we rode the elevator down to deck seven. I hoped this wasn’t one of those situations where pride—or rather, overconfidence—came before a fall. The idea that I’d drop down onto one knee and ask Jill to marry me in front of family, friends, and an entire room filled with passengers, only to have her say no… the thought made me want to puke.

Our group took up an enormous table in the center of the restaurant. Everyone got to their feet as we arrived. Multiple hugs and many minutes later, Jill and I took our seats—and at that point, I lost her. Everyone monopolized her attention, asking about her latest novel, the baby, whether I was driving her crazy, and if she wanted tips on burying bodies. The last one, courtesy of Aspen, was rewarded with a sharp kick under the table.

Food was brought, consumed, and empty plates removed. As the waitstaff cleared away the last of the dessert dishes, my stomach tilted. Dad met my gaze, giving me an encouraging nod. Mom clasped a hand to her chest, basically giving the game away if Jill happened to glance in her direction. I’d told them both what I’d planned, but kept it from the rest of my family. The fewer who knew what I was about to do, the better.

It was now or never.

I tapped a spoon against my wineglass until the chatter subsided. Standing up, I put a hand on Jill’s shoulder.

“Firstly, we’d both like to thank you all for coming. Neither Jill nor I knew how we’d feel about coming back here after what happened, but knowing we wouldn’t be alone in facing our demons made it all that much easier. In the end, it’s been a joy rather than a tribulation, but that doesn’t alter the appreciation we feel at having you all around us.”

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