Page 63 of Entranced
“Thank you, Ana.” Sebastian pulled her against him for a hug.
“My pleasure. You did very well for your first foaling, Mel.”
“It was incredible.”
“Well, I’m going to get cleaned up and head home. I think I’ll sleep till noon.” Ana kissed Sebastian’s cheek, and then, just as casually, kissed Mel’s. “Congratulations.”
“What a way to spend the night,” Mel murmured, and leaned her head against Sebastian’s shoulder.
“I’m glad you were here.”
“So am I. I never saw anything born before. It makes you realize just how fantastic the whole business is.” She yawned hugely, “And exhausting. I wish I could sleep till noon.”
“Why don’t you?” He tilted his head to kiss her. “Why don’t we?”
“I have a business to run. And, since I’m going to be away from it for a couple of weeks, I have a lot of loose ends to tie up.”
“You have one to tie up here.”
“I do?”
“Absolutely.” He swung her up, stained shirt, grubby hands and all. “A few hours ago I was lying in bed thinking about sneaking into one of your dreams with you, or just waking you up.”
“Sneaking into one of my dreams?” She gave him a hand by pushing open the door. “Can you do that?”
“Oh, Sutherland, have some faith. In any case,” he continued, carrying her straight through the kitchen and into the hall. “Before I did either, we were distracted. So, before you go in to work to tie up loose ends, we’ll tie some of our own right here.”
“Interesting thought. You may not have noticed, however, that we’re both a mess.”
“I’ve noticed.” He marched through the master bedroom into the bath. “We’re going to have a shower.”
“Good idea. I think— Sebastian!”
She shrieked with laughter as he stepped into the shower stall, fully dressed, and turned on the water.
“Idiot. I still have my boots on.”
He grinned. “Not for long.”
Chapter 10
Mel wasn’t sure how she felt about being Mrs. Donovan Ryan. It certainly seemed to her that Mary Ellen Ryan—her cover persona—was a singularly boring individual, more interested in fashion and manicures than in anything of real importance.
She had to agree it was a good setup. Damn good, she mused as she stepped out onto the deck of the house and studied the glimmer of Lake Tahoe under the moonlight.
The house itself was nothing to sneeze at. Two sprawling levels of contemporary comfort, it was tastefully furnished, decorated with bold colors to reflect the style of its owners.
Mary Ellen and Donovan Ryan, formerly of Seattle, were a modern couple who knew what they wanted.
What they wanted most, of course, was a child.
She’d been impressed with the house when they’d arrived the day before. Impressed enough to comment on the fact that she hadn’t expected the FBI to be able to provide such cozy digs so quickly. It was then that Sebastian had casually mentioned that it was one of his properties—something he’d had a whim to pick up about six months before.
Coincidence or witchcraft? Mel thought with a grimace. You be the judge.
“Ready for a night on the town, sweetheart?”
Her grimace turned into a scowl as she turned to Sebastian. “You’re not going to start calling me all those dopey names just because we’re supposed to be married.”
