Page 48 of Pretend Wife (Angels of the Secret Order #4)

Danielle

Three Months Later

My breath caught as the music started and Allison appeared at the end of the makeshift aisle.

She was radiant. The dress she’d asked me to make for her had turned out perfectly—a sparkly off-the-shoulder number that glinted in the afternoon sunlight.

But the dress had nothing on the happiness that emanated from her.

I could see it in her smile, in her eyes, in the way it overtook her aura and left no room for any other emotions.

I glanced back at the wooden archway where Zeb stood, his eyes locked on his bride.

It was still a little strange to see him looking like a man in his fifties rather than the twenty-year-old I’d met in the hospital the day Hayden almost died.

As angels, we could look any age we wanted to as long as we’d actually matured to that point already.

As soon as the deal had been made with my brothers, Zeb had switched his appearance to look like he was Allison’s age.

In a way, the change in his appearance made it easier for me.

He no longer looked like the Fallen who’d blackmailed me.

It was almost possible to believe he was a completely different person.

Once he believed that I loved Hayden and wasn’t using him for some scheme, Zeb had worked hard to earn Hayden’s and my forgiveness, sharing his side of the story and making every effort to get to know us better.

Hayden said I forgave him too easily, but I couldn’t hold a grudge against Zeb when I was so damn grateful to him for saving Hayden the night he blackmailed me.

Hayden stayed mad for longer, but eventually even he’d let go of the resentment and anger.

Zeb had become an integral part of all our lives in the past months, being there for Allison in the wake of Robert’s death but also stepping up whenever any of Allison’s children needed anything.

It didn’t matter to him that Maggie was the only one biologically related to him.

They were all Allison’s, and he treated them all with the love a father should have for his children.

He offered advice, trained us all in combat and anything else we asked to learn, and most of all, he cared.

I didn’t need to be able to read his emotions to know he loved all of Allison’s children and their significant others.

He would do anything for us, just like he’d promised in the hospital years ago, only now I was on that list of people.

Slowly he’d become family, and as I watched Allison walk toward him, I couldn’t be happier for them.

Hayden’s fingers brushed along my bare shoulder as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. “This brings back memories.”

“Good ones or bad ones?” I replied under my breath.

He chuckled. “Marrying you was the best thing I ever did. My only regret is that I didn’t get to be the one to take your dress off that night.”

“You can take this one off,” I offered.

“Oh, I intend to.”

I felt a shiver slide down my spine at the dark promise in his words.

His hand slid up the back of my neck and into my loose hair, twirling the strands around his fingers idly as we watched the ceremony unfold before us.

Zeb and Allison exchanged vows and rings, and then Zeb bent Allison back in a deep kiss that had Hayden burying his face in my neck with a tormented groan.

“There’s a reason children are not supposed to attend their parents’ weddings.”

I laughed. “Stop being a baby. They’re in love.”

“Ugh. Stop reminding me.”

“Are you saying you don’t want your mom to be happy?” I challenged him.

“Of course I want her to be happy. I just don’t want to see it.”

After the ceremony, we took a bunch of pictures and then headed back to Zeb’s mansion of a house for the reception. It was where Zeb and Allison had first met, her freshman year of college.

We ate dinner, watched the newlyweds’ first dance, and listened to speeches from a couple Hayden referred to as Aunt Julie and Uncle Chad .

There was no official wedding party, but these two were close.

Chad talked about the night Zeb met Allison and grilled him for information on her.

Julie told us how they were the couple everyone else was jealous of and how obviously they’d adored each other.

Both speeches glossed over the fact that Allison had married someone else between their college days and now.

When all the formalities were over, the DJ started up the music and people trickled onto the dance floor.

Miles took Jessica’s hand and led her out there, followed closely by Maggie and Scott.

I looked to Hayden, but before he could ask if I wanted to dance, Zeb was there, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Hayden, your mother would like to dance with you.”

Hayden glanced at me, and I gave him a smile.

“Go on, it’s her day.”

Once Hayden was gone, Zeb offered me a hand. “Will you dance with me, Danielle?”

“Of course.” I let him pull me up and into the throng of couples swaying to the song currently playing.

He slipped easily into the traditional dance frame we’d both learned as children in Heaven, and I couldn’t help the grin that stole over my lips.

I didn’t have many opportunities to dance with angels these days, and it was kind of fun.

“I want you to know how incredibly thankful I am to you, Dani,” Zeb said as he effortlessly led me through the steps of our dance.

“For what?”

He chuckled. “Where do I even start? You saved my stepson’s life, and you make him so happy.

I’ve been watching him his whole life, and I’ve never seen his aura as bright as it is when he’s with you.

But even more, you forgave me and gave me another chance.

I’m under no delusions that the deal between me and your brothers would have happened without you. ”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You loved my family. That was enough.”

“ You loved your family. That’s what my brothers see in you. They trust your love for Allison and her kids.”

Zeb shook his head. “Can you just stop arguing with me and accept my thanks?”

I laughed. “Sure.”

“And I do hope you know I never would have touched your family—especially the children. I panicked, thinking you might refuse to help me, and said things I didn’t mean.” His blue eyes were earnest, and I could see the flicker of regret in them.

“I understand.” And I did. I would never like how Zeb treated me that day in the hospital, but I understood loving so fiercely you’d do almost anything to protect those you cared about.

“I owe you, Danielle Blake, for making this day possible.”

I smiled. “Just don’t screw up with Allison and we’ll call it even.”

He grinned as he spun me under his arm. “I’ll do my best. You have my word.”

Hayden appeared at my side almost the second the song ended and took me away from Zeb. He wrapped an arm around my waist and took my hand in his, pulling me close while I grasped his shoulder. My cheek brushed against the scruff of his beard as we moved in time with the rhythm of the next song.

“What did Zeb want?”

“He told me he owed me.”

“No shit, he owes you.” Hayden’s hold on my waist tightened.

“Hey, that part of our lives is over. Let it go.”

He sighed, and for a minute we just danced without a word.

“I should have given you this,” Hayden said, turning his head to press a kiss to my temple.

“Given me what?”

“A reception, a first dance, a real celebration.”

“I didn’t need any of that.”

“But you deserved it, and I should have wanted it. I was marrying the only woman I’ve ever loved, and I didn’t even invite my family to celebrate with me. I should have screamed it from the rooftops that you were my wife. Mine.”

I laughed. “You got me a rock the size of a small planet. I think you got the point across.”

“That’s not good enough. I should have danced with you, shown you off. Proved to the world and both our families that I’m yours. You own me heart and soul, Danielle.”

“And you own mine.”

He dropped my hand and tipped my chin up before lowering his mouth to mine. He kissed me deep, his tongue slipping past my lips and tangling with mine in a slow, sensual dance. It was a promise of more to come when we were back home.

Someone—probably Miles—whooped and whistled, and I laughed into the kiss.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Hayden flip his brother off without breaking our kiss.

“Fuck, I need to get you out of this dress,” he said when he finally pulled back.

“Behave,” I ordered. “Patience is a virtue.”

“Patience is a pain in the ass.”

“If you behave, I’ll make it worth it.”

His brows climbed up his forehead. “Oh?”

“Mm-hm. I’ll even let you use ropes.”

Red lust exploded in his aura, mixing with the softer love and joy that were already there. “You enjoy torturing me, don’t you?”

“Maybe,” I said with a coy smile.

“You know, for an angel, you’re awfully mean.”

“You love me anyway.”

“I do,” he murmured. “So much.”

He pulled me closer, tucking my head under his chin, and I melted into his embrace. I was home, the place I’d been searching for my whole life. I’d just never expected to find it in the arms of a human man. The stepson of a prince of Hell. My mate.

THE END