Page 95 of Saint of the Shadows

He kissed the inside of her wrist. “A little bit is okay.”

“How can I not hope with you, my saint?”

His eyes lit up. Actually lit up like his suit. “Saint? Isn’t that what they call me?”

“It’s what I call you.”

“And you? My spirit?” He held out her necklace and smoothed his thumb over her cross pendant, offering it back to her.

Marisol cupped her hand over his and closed his fingers around it. Her necklace belonged to him now. “Something like that.”

“You’ll need something more fitting to wear.” Reaching out his hands, the necklace dangling between his fingers, he closed his eyes in obvious mockery. “I can see it now. Something shining. Shimmering. Silver.”

Massive eye roll.

“A knight,” he added, opening his eyes.

She smiled with her mouth closed, holding in the stinging sensation of tears. Somehow, he always saw the real her—the fighter, the caregiver, the woman.

She curled her finger to direct him to come closer, so her lips met his. His arms hugged around her waist.Bam!Her knees buckled, and she swooned. Bent over her, he broke away from the kiss. “I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too, sidekick.”

He definitely was getting a spanking tonight.

Vincent’s private jet rolled to a stop on the tarmac. Even from the small window in the cabin, Marisol watched as paparazzi and reporters jogged in from behind the hangar. They circled around a parked town car, holding cameras and voice recorders in stiff anticipation.

Tobias stepped out of the car. Over the week, his stubble had grown into a lush beard. He wiggled his shoulders in his new charcoal suit jacket. But Marisol took one look at his tieless throat and shook her head. Tobias needed a tie, though he did look remarkably dapper without one.

Though Vincent offered her a new outfit for the occasion, Marisol insisted on wearing the navy sweater and the black trousers she wore during her first day of med school. That was when she met Annie because Park came right after Novotny during the white coat ceremony. Now, all that was missing was her white coat. And Annie, of course.

Outside, a photographer with an open mouth that could catch flies looked especially goofy waiting for the couple to deboard. Nikon Mouthbreather, Marisol named him.

Her mind drifted back to the ceremony when Annie had asked, “What do you think their names are?” Those were the first-ever words she spoke to Marisol. With a flick of her sloppy topknot, Annie pointed out the med students seated behind them, the R to Z last names.

“I don’t know,” Marisol answered.

Annie pointed at the guy with the polka-dotted bow tie. “Bowtie McTrustfund.”

Marisol chuckled softly. “The Ms are ahead of us.” The J-last names were in the midst of receiving white coats and applause.

“Mac’s his middle name then. What do you think her name is?” Annie nodded toward the woman with short, choppy hair.

“Pixie O’Cutiecutt,” Marisol said.

Annie snorted loud enough to earn a pointed “Sh!” from the M-section. “And her? Librarian Magoo.”

“I’m Marisol Novotny,” she said, holding out her hand.

“Annie Park,” Annie replied, shaking it. “What did you think my name was?”

The messy topknot screamed Sprout, but when My New Best Friend seemed more fitting, Marisol wanted to flatter her line neighbor. Annie’s thick-rimmed, cat-eye glasses combined with the updo had reminded Marisol of something retro and chic. All that was missing was a pearl necklace and a refined pose. “Holly.”

Annie shrugged. “I’d answer to that.” She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I thought you’d be a Joan.”

“Sh!” Librarian Magoo repeated.

They had behaved the rest of the ceremony.

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