Page 83 of Deadly Forever

“Yes, but we’re naked in a lake. This isn’t exactly how I envisioned us doing it.”

“As long as I have you, I have everything,” James said. “Lay your first one on me, wife.”

“Why do I have to go first?”

“Because I said so.”

“Fine. You’re so bossy.” Mandy rubbed her thumb over his chin. “I vow to never try to cook for you.”

James barked out a laugh. “That’s a good one, baby. I vow to do my best to refrain from bossing you around, even when you’re in danger.”

“I vow to do my best to look before I leap,” Mandy said. “Hopefully that will keep me out of danger … er, at least some of the time.”

“That would be great,” James said, grinning. “I vow to massage you at least three times a week.”

“I vow to let you pick the movie at least once a week.”

James couldn’t stop smiling. He loved the woman in his arms so much it threatened to overwhelm him. “I vow to love you forever. I vow to be with you forever. I vow to sleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning.

“I vow to watch whatever horror schlock you want me to watch,” he continued. “I vow to keep you warm and fed. I vow to keep you as safe as possible. And, most importantly, I vow never to leave your side.”

A tear slid down Mandy’s cheek as she regarded him. “That was pretty good. Now it’s my turn.”

“Okay.” James kissed the tip of her nose. “Lay it on me.”

“I’ve never loved anyone but you, and I vow to keep it that way. I vow to listen to your heart even when your head is busy. I vow to hold you in my soul, because that’s where you belong. I vow to laugh as much as possible and love even more than that.

“I vow to spend every waking minute loving you,” she continued. “I vow to hold your hand when you’re tired and your heart when you’re sad. And, most importantly, I vow to remain by your side forever.”

“That was good, my baby,” James said, exchanging a sweet kiss with her. “You’re always good, though.”

The couple snuggled closer, pure love washing over them. They only bothered to break apart when the unmistakable sound of a man clearing his throat on the shore assailed their ears.

“What the … ?” James made a face when he found Grady, Finn, Jake, Ally, Sophie, and Emma staring at them from the shoreline. He tugged Mandy against him to make sure she was covered. “I thought you guys left for your honeymoons. The plane isn’t going to wait for you.”

“We’re going,” Jake said, shaking his head. “Ally didn’t want to leave without seeing Mandy one last time.”

“Geez, Ally,” James complained. “You’re going on vacation. You’re not going to war.”

“I don’t care,” Ally said, her eyes filling with tears as she stared at Mandy. The water served as a physical barrier but not an emotional one. “I had to see you before I go.”

Mandy was conflicted. Ally was obviously upset, but she couldn’t leave the water. “You can call me whenever you want, Ally.”

“No, you can’t,” Jake said. “You guys can spend two weeks without each other and still live. I have plans for you, angel. Those plans don’t revolve around phone calls with Mandy.”

“Let it be,” James instructed. “If they want to talk once or twice, it’s not going to hurt anybody.”

Jake held his hands palms-up. “I guess,” he conceded. “We need to go, though, Ally. You’ve seen Mandy. We’re going to be late.”

“Just a second,” Ally said, gripping his hand and stepping forward. Her eyes never left Mandy’s face. “I love you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. You were my family before you officially married my brother. You know that, right?”

Mandy nodded, her heart constricting. “You’ve always been my family, too.”

“I need you to know that you’re more than a friend to me,” Ally said. “You’re my sister.”

“I think that means it’s illegal for her and James to be married,” Grady pointed out, his eyes landing on the clothing heaped along the shoreline. “Oh, geez. Are you two naked?”

“Don’t worry about it,” James barked.