Page 24 of Married to Mischief

This is said the second the door opens and Caleb walks in.

I turn to him with a grin. “Terrible timing as always, Harris.”

“What have you done?” he grunts.

“Oh, Amelia and Serena were helping me pack up this stuff to take it to the museum. By the time we get there, it might be worth nothing, but hey, they wanted to help.”

“You’re making them do your dirty work.” He glowers at me.

“Are you jealous? You seem jealous.” He nearly growls, and I step back, my hands raised in a peaceful approach. “I get it. I didn’t give you any of the credit, and that was wrong. So let’s just tell your boss that you found it. Deal?”

“I’m going to kill you.”

The words are barely out of his mouth before I take off. But he doesn’t follow me, so I stop just outside the door in time to hear him laugh. “Working with him is going to be fun.”

It really is.

Epilogue 2:

Serena

Eighteenmonthslater

I’m exhausted. It’s been a long shift and I just want to get in the hot tub and relax.

I stow my gun and badge in the safe in the wall and go in search of the man who will be giving me a massage.

“Liam?” I call through the mansion he insisted on buying this month. I told him quaint and homey. He got that, in a size XXL.

“In the living room.”

“Which one?” This house is so stinking big, I’ve gotten lost ten times in the two days we’ve lived here.

“Your favorite.”

So not helpful. I wander a few more halls and then stop short at the unfamiliar and dangerous sight in front of me.

“Liam, put the baby down.”

Liam looks up from the chunk of chub he’s cuddling on our living room couch—the chunk of chub that doesnotbelong to us.

“Whose child did you steal?” I approach the couch slowly, artfully, like I’m negotiating with a terrorist. This might be more dangerous.

“Amelia said I could take him for a bit. She was tired. I was doing her and little Alec here a favor.”

I slap a hand to my forehead. “Caleb is going to have you arrested!” Amelia and Caleb got married one year ago and proceeded to have a honeymoon baby. And Liam hasn’t shut up since about wanting one himself. The man is scary baby hungry.

“I promise I’ll give him back.” Liam hugs the baby closer. “Come on, you know you want to cuddle him.”

“Put. The. Baby. Down.”

“Where’s my wife and child?” Caleb comes running into the house, without knocking, though I feel he has a right to with what’s at play.

His eyes go wide when he sees his infant in Liam’s arms. “Give me back my baby.” He reaches for him, but Liam gently maneuvers away.

“Now, now, you’re supposed to say please.”

I step in between the two of them and take the baby from Liam. I turn toward Caleb, but he backs up and crosses his arms, in no hurry to take his son from me, it seems. Probably because I haven’t held this little bundle of joy yet, no matter how many times I’ve been told to. Because I knew exactly what would happen when I did—what Liam is hoping will happen. I brush my thumb over the little one’s chunky cheeks and adorable little nose. He’s heavenly. Dang it, now I want one.

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