Page 143 of Devil's Claim

“Yeah, I guess I do. Until fucking death do us part.”

I shifted my gaze back and forth before crushing my mouth over hers.

And from somewhere behind us I heard several pairs of hands clapping.

Six weeks later…

The South of France

Christine

The sun was magnificent, not a cloud in the sky.

While the umbrella shaded a good portion of the two of us, Maverick was intent on building sandcastles a few feet away.

“Just a little while longer, little man. I don’t want you to get burned.”

Kruz looked over at me, lifting his sunglasses. “Do you want me to put more lotion on him?”

“You’d do that?” I asked, already reaching into the canvas bag holding everything from snacks to three different SPF protection levels of sunscreen.

When I plopped a bottle into his hand, he laughed. “I guess I will.” As he pulled himself to a standing position, I lifted my shades to gather a long look at his muscular torso. Breathing in, I was content with just looking at him, basking in the moment of peace and quiet.

We’d had almost none up until now.

The flurry of activity after the horrible incident in New York had taken a toll on everyone, but not our growing diamond business. Elegant Embellishments had already made a name in the industry. With the shipments of pink diamonds, our client base was growing daily. We had yet to be able to keep up with demand.

I should be content, although my father’s arrest had put a damper on the excitement. While I wasn’t upset and certainly didn’t feel guilty, my mother was having a difficult time coming to terms with the fact I’d been a part of indicting him.

At least I’d learned the jewelry stores and both Skyler and my father had been under investigation for some time. The information I’d provided had merely tipped the wheels of justice in their direction. Still, my mother blamed me. Maybe one day she’d come around.

At least she was out of the abusive situation.

“Ew. Do I have to, Mommy?” Maverick asked in his sweet voice.

“Yes, you do. You don’t want to ruin getting ice cream later. Do you?” I laughed when he scrunched up his face. Maybe I was laughing at the look Kruz gave him. To think of him as a doting father seemed odd, but that’s what he’d turned into.

He’d even learned to play catch. Maybe Kruz would be able to relax and be a kid for a change.

Hmmm… What was I suggesting? I didn’t need two children in the house, let alone…

Sighing, I sat back doing nothing more than enjoying watching the two. With the chore of lathering Maverick’s sandy body complete, I kept from laughing. The kid needed a bath.

We all did.

My toes were covered in sand, but it was one of the best feelings in the world.

After all, this was my honeymoon.

I closed my eyes and it must have been for longer than I’d thought. When I opened them again, Maverick was trying and almost accomplishing burying Kruz in the sand.

Something prompted me to be mischievous. I crawled off the lounge chair, remaining on my hands and knees as I moved toward them.

Kruz evidently had his eyes closed as well since he didn’t react.

I placed my finger over my lips to keep Maverick from giving me away. After filling a bucket full of sand, I took aim at Kruz’s face, dumping the contents all over.

Kruz jerked up, uttering several loud growls as he struggled to wipe sand from his eyes.