Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Her father’s gaze softened when he looked at her mom. He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. “Well, we married within three weeks of meeting each other, so I think it can work out. Have I told you how much I missed you?”
Her mom ordered a whiskey of her own. “No. You were too busy starting a cartel war that led to your best friend’s daughter nearly getting murdered and our own being forced to use all of her assets to save her.”
“Now, Avery, you can’t blame it on me,” her da countered. “First off, it worked. As of an hour ago, the man Daisy is supposed to testify against is dead. Shanked in prison because someone started a very good rumor about him turning on another cartel and exposing their crimes. What’s good for the goose and all. Brighton told us when we were explaining all the bodies. Kai’s pissed, by the way. We got blood on the concrete or something and it could be triggering to patients. I say it’s like immersion therapy.”
“That’s not a good therapeutic plan in the case of PTSD,” Daisy pointed out. “Oh, and I’m going back for my master’s in clinical psychology. I’m going to start a children’s practice at the Ferguson Clinic. I told Uncle Kai all about it.”
“No wonder he looked a little green,” her father said.
“I think it’s a wonderful plan.” Her mom held her glass up. “To our Daisy.”
“Hey, what the hell is happening?” Her brother was dressed hastily, his shirt not properly buttoned and…yes, it was inside out. “Gabe shows up at the club and tells me Devi got kidnapped and Daisy distracted the bad guys with her boobs and now everyone is dead, but you guys are drinking?”
Her poor brother. “Just another night for the O’Donnells.”
“Get my son a drink, Matt,” her father ordered. “And top me and my daughter off. Did I mention to you my sweet Daisy can drink anyone under the table?”
Aidan sank down beside her. “I have no idea what’s going on.”
“Daisy and I have agreed to be ourselves around each other from now on.” Her father picked up his now full glass again. “The bad guys are all dead. Your sister has a career path that has nothing to do with danger, and both my kids are getting married. Nate hasn’t formally asked yet, but he knows what happens if he doesn’t. So let’s have a toast, and then you two should stay away from the main stage unless you want to know how you were conceived.”
“I’m going to need more liquor,” her brother said.
Maybe her da was onto something. She lifted her glass. “I think we can stay a little delusional, Da.”
He grinned and winked her way. “To delusion.”
That was something she could drink to.
* * * *
Nate stared across the lounge where it looked like the whole O’Donnell family was now celebrating.
Damn, his woman was fine.
“You really think you can handle her, son?” His father stood beside him. The same way he’d been for as long as Nate could remember. Brody Carter might have missed the first couple of months of his life, but he’d more than made up for it.
“Of course he can.” His mom wrapped an arm around his waist. “He and Daisy are a perfect match. Just like her parents.”
He watched as Liam and Daisy managed to slap their shot glasses on the bar in time and drink in perfect synchronicity.
A terrible thought hit his brain.
“I’m the Avery, aren’t I?”
His father patted his shoulder and sighed. “Yes, son, I’m afraid you are definitely the Avery.”
“Hey,” his mom said. “That’s not such a bad thing to be. She’s all kinds of awesome.”
Nate threw his head back, laughter filling him. His woman was wild, and he would have to balance her. She looked over and smiled his way.
It wasn’t a bad thing to be at all.
He led his parents into the bar to join their extended family.
Epilogue
Years later
Dallas, TX
“I’m going to run to the store, love.”
Avery glanced up from her work. Casseroles. She’d already made three. One breakfast and two for lunches or dinners. Her daughter’s freezer was going to be well stocked for the coming weeks.
Damn, but she loved Liam O’Donnell. He’d aged some, but she still saw him in the prime of his life. So gorgeous she could barely stand to look at him. Sometimes she still felt the moment her eyes had locked with his and she’d known she wanted to be with him forever.
Or maybe it had been more complex and the years had softened the actual history. Maybe it had been harder, but there was nothing hard about loving Liam O’Donnell now.
“Do you need anything?” he asked.
Anything she’d needed, she’d been given.
“Hey, love, what’s this about?” Liam moved into her space, cupping her cheek, and when he looked down at her she was young again. He used his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears clinging to her. “I don’t have to go to the store, but you know Brody and Steph are on their way from the airport right now, and Brody’s been on a plane for twenty-four hours. He’s going to be hungry. Besides, our Daisy asked for chicken salad.”