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He saw the cloud coming over her face and felt a spurt of annoyance.
“We could live together…” She grabbed onto him when he started to leave and held on tight.
“Dammit!” She glowered at him. “Okay fine. If you want to take me on as a wife, then that is your damn problem. I am warning you what you are up against. I hate attending functions and I am not bloody well giving up my job. I will forget your birthday and important milestones because I will not care about any of it.”
“Anything else?” He asked coolly.
“Yes, damn you. This is…” She was about to say a mistake, but she stopped and realized that being without him was going to be the end of her. “I love you.” She whispered.
“These past couple of months without you has been hell on earth. I was unable to eat and sleep. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can face whatever it is as long as you are with me.”
Emotions stormed through him and for a moment, he could not speak. Gathering her against him, he breathed her in, his face buried in her hair. When he lifted his head, his eyes were suspiciously bright.
“We get married next week.”
She opened her mouth to protest and then closed it. Sliding on top of him, she sheathed him and watched as his eyes darkened.
Minutes later, they vaguely heard the persistent knocking on the door but were too busy exploring each other’s mouth. When the knocks did not yield a response, the door was pushed open slightly.
“I have been tasked with coming to find out if you two have killed each other. Margo, your partner said that you are carrying.”
Lifting his mouth from hers reluctantly, Merrick arched a brow at her. “Are you?”
“Always.” She was breathless and hot from his ardent attention.
“Where?”
“In my ridiculous excuse for a purse.”
“Uncle Merrick?”
“Come on in, Michael.” When the young man stepped in, he tried to ignore the clothing strewn on the floor and the couple, obviously naked, wrapped around each other.
“Is the reception over?” He kept a firm arm around her, even though she wasn’t trying to break free.
“Just about. Julia and I are ready to leave.” His gray eyes twinkled in amusement. “Jennifer is making noises and threatening to come and find you.” He glanced at Margo. “Detective Michaelson wanted to know if you’re ready to leave.”
He nudged his chin down to look at her. “It seems we have an awkward situation on our hands.”
“Not me!” She told him airily. “Brad is just my partner, you on the other hand came with a date.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely.” She grinned at him. “You might want to put some clothes on before facing her and the rest of the guests.”
To shut her up, he seized her lips and had her sighing into his mouth.
Michael cleared his throat loudly. “I will - uhm – just be on my way.”
“Wait outside for a bit, I would like to talk to you.”
When his nephew closed the doors behind him, he continued kissing her.
“Merrick…”
“Hmm.” He loved the taste of her.
“Michael is waiting.” She did not want him to leave.