Page 28 of Getting Hitched

“And I haven’t found Elizabeth yet,” Mason said.

Gray frowned. “We’re never going to get out of here.”

“It’s simple,” Jack explained. “Find your target. Speak to them. Find the car.”

Mason laughed. “I don’t think Gray believes we can make it that simple.”

“How about this?” Gray said. “First one to the car is the first one to come.”

Jack’s lips curled into an evil grin, and he nodded to Mason. “Let’s go.”

They took off, holding hands as they ran, their laughter echoing across the lawn.

Gray watched as people turned and smiled. Some gave him sympathetic looks; others, looks of envy. He had his hands full, that was for sure, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He found Thornton quickly and held out his hand to shake. “I wanted to thank you for coming, sir.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it.”

“Your support has meant a lot to me, to all three of us.”

Thornton smiled. “You’re a damn fine cop, and anyone with a brain can see you love those two.”

Heat crept up Gray’s neck. He didn’t know what else to say, but Thornton saved him by speaking first.

“I probably shouldn’t bring up work here, but I have to tell you that with Jeremiah’s testimony and the evidence from the Ark Ministries shelter, we’re ready to charge Williams.”

“That’s great news.” Gray was thrilled to hear that Jeremiah had been able to give them something useful.

“Of course we don’t know if it’ll stick.”

Gray doubted it would. “At least we finally have something concrete on him.”

Thornton nodded.

“I’m about to take off,” Gray said. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Enjoy your weekend.” Thornton’s grin said he knew exactly why Gray was ready to go.

“I will.”

Gray glanced around. Mason and Jack were still involved in conversations. He was easily going to make it to the car first, just as he’d known he would.

6

Gray pulled into their driveway about an hour later. Mason and Jack jumped from the car before he’d even put it in Park. It was all he could do not to run to the door like they were.

When he stepped into the house, they were both in the kitchen. Jack was trying to make room in the freezer for the top tier of their cake.

Gray didn’t have the patience for him to finish. “That can wait. Both of you strip and kneel on the mat in the playroom.”

Mason’s eyes widened, but Jack grinned as he set the cake on the counter.

“Now!”

“Yes, sir,” they chorused.

The ceremony had touched him more deeply than he’d expected, and he’d not regretted the presence of their friends once. But now he needed this time with just the three of them. They all needed to remember what they meant to each other in this private way. The games they played were about fun and pleasure, but they were also about showing how much they cared, how deeply they trusted, and how they wanted to please each other.

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