Page 98 of Dangerous Encore

11

Joel

It takes some coaxing,but I manage to convince everyone to meet for dinner. Kit insists on doing it at his place. Piper insists on ordering Vietnamese takeout. No amount of arguing that there are no Vietnamese places near their house can convince them to make alternateplans.

Especially not once Ethan volunteers to pick something up ontheway.

Bella and I head over early. It's close enough, and parking in this neighborhood is annoying enough, that it's easier to walk thandrive.

Bella squeezes my palm as we walk along the beach. The dark sky is already dotted with stars. The air is alreadychilly.

I pull her closer and soak in all the warmth ofherbody.

All the joy in hersmile.

There are nerves in her eyes, but that joy is so fuckingobvious.

Fuck, there are nerves in my stomach too. Asking for help isn't my strong suit. Iknoweveryone will be happy for me, but I'm not exactly jazzed to ask my friends to make sacrificesforus.

We turn and walk the last few blocks on the streets. Kit and Piper's new place is one of those modern houses on the beach. It's all sleek lines and big glass windows that screamI want you to watch me fuck myfiancée.

Bella knocks on the excessively bluefrontdoor.

A moment later, Piper pulls the door open. She's in jeans and a sweater, but she manages to make the outfit look adorably innocent. I don't know how she does it. She's twenty-one now, but she still looks like the fifteen-year-old I met the first day I showed up at Mal and Ethan's place topractice.

She throws her arms around Bella. "It's beenforever."

It's been a week, max, but neither one of us remind herofthat.

She hugs me hello. "How areyou,Joel?"

"Good. You welcome your fiancé home properly?" Itease.

"You know I don't do details." She turns to Bella. "Can I borrowyourwife?"

"You gonna gossip about me?"Iask.

"Maybe." Her smile lights up her blue eyes. "The universe doesn't revolvearoundyou."

"I'm pretty sure it does." I plant a kiss on Bella's lips. "Go.Gossip."

Bella nods. She's still wearing her nerves in her shoulders, but her expression ispurejoy.

She adores Piper and Piperadoresher.

I'm not sure if it's me and Kit being close or if it's Piper being Piper, but I'm eternally grateful that she's done so much to make Bella feelathome.

Piper drags Bella off to the kitchen and starts fixing her a cup of tea. They lean up against the counter, laughing over something. It's probably at my expense, but Idon'tcare.

Seeing Bella happy is fuckingeverything.

Kit pushes himself off the couch. They really have a hell of a living room. It's as sleek and modern andwe have plenty of spots where we can fuckas the exterior of thehouse.

He crosses the room and leans against the wall next to me. "You've gotalook."

"DoI?"

He nods. "And not the usualwhy's my wife wearingclothesone."