Page 5 of Cruel Revenge
He grabbed my chin, making sure the return kiss was deep, and I couldn’t run from it until I was breathless.
“Just for you to think about,” he murmured before releasing me, my cheeks flushed.
“For one small second, I was worried the Tribunal was going to make us too busy for that sort of behavior, but that was foolish of me,” I said as he reached for the door.
He smiled, not opening it immediately.
“Making your toes curl is a highlight of my day. I willalwaysmake time for it.” He started opening the door. “Let’s take some free time now, actually.”
3
CHAPTER THREE
With what I presumed was a dopey smile on my face, I went through the door Heath held open for me, not really seeing what was on the other side. Heath followed me quickly and made a noise which finally snapped me back to the present and not the several adult thoughts about the night once he and I could go to bed.
“What are you three doing here?” Heath asked before I could.
Before us, Carey and Dirk were sitting at my desk, surrounded by multiple binders and papers, and I hadn’t left any of those there. Landon was coming through the door, holding three cans. He didn’t stop, handing out the sodas to Carey and Dirk before cracking open the third for himself.
“We’re getting stuff done while you two go have adventures,” Carey said with a smile. “Jacky, the venue you wanted said they don’t feel comfortable with the security measures Dirk and Landon have to do. You might need to choose a new venue.”
I blinked several times in the silence after Carey’s statement before I realized what was happening.
“I don’t remember putting you in charge of the venue, Carey,” I said carefully.
“Zuri was, but then she and Jabari went to visit Mischa and Hisao, so I agreed to keep working on things, under the strict rules that she was already following. Plus the caterer. I called them yesterday, and they said they might not be able to make the quantity of food needed for the wedding.”
“The guest list isn’t even over a hundred people.” That was more surprising than the venue. The security measures could cause property damage. “I don’t remember, but I don’t think it’s over fifty.”
“It’s a supernatural problem,” Landon said, chuckling. “More food of more variety needed.”
“Why don’t we put all of this aside until tomorrow and let Jacky and me relax?” Heath said, trying to step in, heading for my desk. “We just finished a raid. Twelve witches are in Tribunal custody now. We need showers and sleep.”
“But Dad, if we don’t get the venue booked early enough, someone else will book it. We won’t have enough time. It should have been booked months ago.”
“I don’t know who has been telling you about weddings for you to think you’re an expert?—”
“Zuri.” Carey’s one-word answer said everything.
“Here’s a solution to the venue problem. Offer them double what they asked for?—”
“We would already be paying double,” Carey admitted. “Supernatural things. We don’t want their staff in the building or on the property that day.”
Heath looked back at me.
“We don’t even have a date set yet, do we?”
“No, we don’t,” I admitted, wincing as he groaned. “We’re both really busy. You know I’m not good at this stuff, which is why I enlisted Zuri, but then Mischa and Hisao were finally getting better and could have guests. Zuri and Jabari, being the oldest, could go baby them for a couple of weeks. I’ve been morefocused on training myself to be helpful during the raids and just in general, so the wedding hasn’t been… the main priority of my days.”
“I see… And we can’t hire a human planner and don’t want a supernatural one, who might find it a chance to rub elbows with our guests or sell information…” Heath sighed, but then I saw the shift in him. He was about to snap into action. “Okay. I know you wanted me out of the wedding planning because of the Tribunal, and I’m certainly busy, but?—”
“Please don’t worry yourself—” My attempt to cut in wasn’t effective.
“I’m going to deal with the venue right now. By the time we sit down for dinner, you will have the venue you wanted and a date for the wedding. Everything else should fall into place after that.”
“Heath—”
“Landon, with me,” Heath said as he grabbed the top binder, which was conveniently labeled as venue and decorations. “We’ll get this done over in my office at the pack house.”
