Page 82 of Deadly Forever

Mandy pressed her lips together and nodded. “I guess. I congratulated them. It’s not as if I’m never going to see them again. They’ll be back in two weeks.”

“And you’re not going to be bored while they’re gone,” James said.

“That’s right.” Mandy bobbed her head. “I’m going to start working on my project.”

“We’re going to look at the warehouse this week,” James clarified. “You’re not working on your project more than that until they get back. This is kind of a second honeymoon for us, too. I don’t have a lot of work and with no one bugging us, we’re going to have endless time to spend together.”

“It sounds good, but it’s hardly a honeymoon,” Mandy said. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“Not next week, no,” James said. “We’re going someplace the week after, though. Don’t worry. It’s not far. We’re saying in Michigan.”

Mandy stilled. “Where are we going?”

James’ grin was mischievous. “It’s a surprise.”

“You know I hate surprises.” James and Mandy spoke the exact same words at the same time, James mimicking his wife’s tone and causing her to smack his arm.

“Tell me what it is,” Mandy prodded.

James shook his head. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Mandy shifted her eyes to the water. It was hot, probably too hot for an outdoor wedding, but with the sun setting the temperature didn’t feel too bad. “I’ll make you a deal,” she offered. “I’ll do something with you now that we didn’t get to do on our honeymoon if you tell me.”

Despite himself, James was intrigued. “And what is that?”

Mandy flashed a winning smile and then took James by surprise when she stripped out of her dress. The wedding was breaking up and there were very few people around. She left her strapless bra and panties on before kicking off her shoes and wading into the lake. She didn’t bother glancing behind her. She knew James was watching.

James followed suit, stripping off his clothes and leaving them in a heap next to her dress. He had no intention of telling her what he planned for her surprise, but he wasn’t going to give up a chance to go skinny-dipping with his wife. Mandy was hardly a prude, but she tended to have puritan flashes at times. He didn’t want to miss this moment. Heck, he didn’t want to miss any moment with her … ever.

James stroked through the water and widened his eyes when Mandy reached under the surface and removed her bra. She held it up for his benefit, as if she was trying to tempt him into confiding his secret.

“Tell me,” Mandy prodded. “That was the deal.”

“We didn’t make a deal,” James said, grabbing her around the waist and tugging her to him. He relished the way her skin pressed against his, the way she melded to him even though she was playing a game. “You took off your clothes before the deal was struck. It doesn’t count.”

“But … .”

“Baby, did I go wrong with the prom surprise?”

Mandy shook her head. “No. It was the perfect night.”

“I didn’t go wrong with this surprise either,” James said. “I’m not going to let you weasel it out of me, though.” He kissed her cheek. “There’s nothing you can do to make me tell you.”

“Fine,” Mandy grumbled, resigned. “You win.”

“Oh, wife, we’re both going to win.”

Mandy giggled as James swirled her through the water, his nose rubbing against her cheek. She could feel his excitement pressing against her thigh.

“Do you know what I can tell you, though?” James asked, pulling back far enough that he could search her face with his eyes.

“What?”

“My new vows,” James said. “I’ve been thinking about them all week.”

Mandy lifted an eyebrow, intrigued. “I have, too. Do you really want to do it now?”

“We’re alone.”