Epilogue
Asmall child’s laughter, followed by a splash, put a broad smile on Audra’s face. She turned her head against the spray of droplets Em’s mini-cannonball threw into the air. Max lifted her from the water and tossed her up, catching her.
“’Gain!”
“Again?” He groaned. “Em, my arms are tired.”
Audra chuckled, watching the pair. For nearly fifteen minutes, one of Margot’s twin toddlers had been jumping into the pool at Max. He would pluck her out of the water and toss her high into the air, then set her on the pool deck, where she’d jump in all over again.
“Honey, let’s give Max a break. How about you come over here and play with the fishies with your sister?” Margot sat in a wading pool with Em’s twin sister, Lily. She waved a colorful plastic fish at her daughter.
“That sounds fun.” Max tucked the girl to his chest and walked toward the steps. Em protested, but he kept going.
“She is a handful and a half.” Sam sank into the chair next to Audra’s and took her hand.
“That’s for sure. He’s really good with her, though. After seeing them together this week, I understand why you all say he’s taken.”
Sam grinned. “Yeah. It’s only a matter of time, I think, before he realizes he’s in love with Margot and asks her to marry him. He might be already and is just waiting for her to be ready. What she’s been through—” He stopped and shook his head. “It hasn’t been easy.”
Audra didn’t know much of the story, except that Margot’s husband had left abruptly and they hadn’t had any contact since.
“Edie, come on. You can’t go to your wedding in flip-flops and shorts.”
Audra turned to see Edie exit Max’s house, her sister, Esther, on her heels.
“I’m already married, Essy. It doesn’t matter.”
“But this is for the wedding pictures.”
“I have those.”
“And they’re crap! Mom and Dad want the perfect, glorious picture of you two to set on their mantle.”
Sam chuckled as the sisters continued around to the other side of the pool, still bickering. “You sure you want to be here for Jordan and Edie’s vow renewal? It’s chaos around here.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m sure.” Truthfully, she found the liveliness of Sam’s Costa Rica family thrilling. She’d never had the big, happy family before. But in the month since she’d retired from the SIS, they’d embraced her fully. “I’m going to miss everyone when I go back to testify next month.” The U.S. District Court that covered Nevada was finally ready to take Donny and Liam’s cases to grand jury for their formal indictments. She’d been recalled to give a deposition for both cases. Sam wasn’t going with her, so she hoped it went by quickly. His bar manager had threatened to quit if he left her again anytime soon. Max and Dean were going, though. They had to give testimony for the Powells’ grand jury case.
“I hope that really only does last a couple of days. I want to go with you but?—”
She laid a hand on his arm, cutting him off. “It’s fine. Really. When I get back, I’ll make it up to you.” She sent him a hot look. After several days apart, she was sure their reunion would be explosive.
He leaned in, a hint of a smile on his full lips. “Yeah, you will.”
Audra let out a girly giggle as his mouth brushed hers.
“Yuck. Cut it out.” Asher nudged Sam’s chair with his leg as he sank into the chaise next to them. “I can’t go anywhere anymore without seeing someone smooching on someone else.” He flipped his sunglasses down over his face and leaned back in his chair.
“You’re just jealous,” Sam said.
Asher scoffed. “No.”
Audra grinned. She had a feeling Sam was right. Asher was the odd man out. While Max and Margot weren’t officially together, they spent most of their time with each other. He needed someone.
“What are they arguing about now?” Asher nodded toward the redheaded sisters across the pool.
“Whether Edie should wear a wedding dress this weekend,” Sam said.
A smirk lifted one side of Asher’s mouth, baring his perfect teeth.
Audra still couldn’t get over how movie-star handsome he was. If she wasn’t head over heels in love with Sam, Asher would turn her head.
“Edie doesn’t stand a chance. Esther knows which buttons to push to get her sister to do things. But Edie likes to push her buttons, too, I’ve noticed. She’s probably already decided to wear whatever her sister wants and is just stringing her along now.”
“You know Esther that well, huh?” Sam asked. “After three days?”
Asher lifted a shoulder. “I’m observant.”
Audra covered a chuckle with a little cough. He was observant of Esther, she’d noticed.
“You all right?” Sam glanced at her.
Heat curled in her belly like it did every time he gave her that caring look. This man made her feel so cherished and loved. “I think I could use a drink.” The direct look she gave him said she wanted far more than a drink. “You?”
He nodded once and sprang from his chair. “That sounds nice. I could use a drink.” He took her hands and helped her up.
Asher snorted. “You’re not fooling anyone.” He waved a hand and wrinkled his nose. “But go. I’ll stay here and monitor the kids.” He gestured to Edie and Esther.
This time, Audra didn’t bother to hide her laugh. She tugged on Sam’s hand and led him away from the pool.
“So, I was thinking…” Sam said as they ducked into the house.
“About?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulled her through the living room and out the front door. When they reached his car, he pushed her against the door, trapping her against the vehicle.
Audra bit her lip as she lifted a leg, eager to ease the ache in her core.
He growled and leaned down to nip at her neck before he lifted his head to look her in the eye. “I was thinking we should get married when you get back.”
Married?She froze and stared at him with wide eyes.
“I know we talked about having the big wedding with the flowers and the white dress—and I’m totally fine with it, if that’s what you want. But I really just want to call you my wife. Maybe make a holy terror or two of our own in the not too distant future.” He hooked a thumb toward the house and the twin toddlers they’d left behind.
A slow, happy smile spread over her face, stretching her cheeks so far they hurt. “I don’t need a fancy dress. And any old flowers will do. How about we get started on the baby-making now, though?”
An answering smile crinkled the corners of his dark blue eyes. “Yeah?”
She nodded, framing his face in her hands. “Yeah.”