Page 95 of Tangled Memories

“Beach Coast brought charges against Foley for theft. He’s copping a plea, so he’ll probably get probation, plus he’ll have to make restitution. Nothing’s going down with Cheryl as far as any charges. They’re selling their house and extra car to show good faith in restitution. No more cruises or holidays in Vegas.” He put his hands on her hips. “Satisfied?”

“Well, now that we’re married, don’t take any more jobs like this one. We’ll go broke.”

“Broke?” He laughed. “I collected, sweetheart. My clients are happy as hell. Why, they’re so happy that you might even find a nuisance settlement in our mailbox when we get home.”

“A nuisance settlement? From whom? What for?”

“Why, Beach Coast, of course. After all, Foley was their employee. He stole most of the money and lied about it to your detriment.”

“Will Hadley get a nuisance settlement, too?”

“No,” Tyler said dryly. “He did, after all, rob the bank, even if he didn’t get as much as Foley did. Now, are you going to find a better place to park that pretty body of yours or—”

Wearing nothing but a smile, Stormy slowly began sliding down his body. “You mean here?”

He closed his eyes and arched his hips, forgetting all else as she enveloped him. “Exactly,” he managed.

“How much?” Stormy asked.

“What?”

“That nuisance settlement.”

“A pittance,” he groaned.

She stopped moving, leaned forward, buried her elbows in his chest, and propped her chin in her hands. “How much?”

“Do you promise to love, cherish, and obey?”

“Unfair!”

“Shove off. I need my beauty sleep.”

“All right.” She sat up, put her hands behind her back, and crossed her fingers. “Love, cherish, and obey.”

Tyler lifted his head and looked beyond her into the dresser mirror. “You’re cheating. Five thousand,” he said offhandedly.

“No way! I lost nearly a year of my life. No way they’d settle for only—”

“This is our wedding night. Can’t you think of anything more interesting than money? If I tell you, will you promise not to start thinking about what you’re going to do with the money and think about us?”

“Yes.” She smiled, but she knew exactly what she was going to do if they settled for what she hoped they would.

“Fifty thousand. Exactly what you asked for. You should have asked for more.”

She smiled again. “Do you think your parents liked me?”

Tyler sighed and flicked off the bedside lamp. “All right, that’s it. I’m taking charge.”

Stormy smiled into the dark. “Please do,” she said. And she gave herself up to his loving.

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