Page 132 of To the Chase

Talon squinted at Bea. “Your hair is very swirly. I like that a lot.”

“Thanks so much, Tally.” Bea patted her hair, which was, indeed, swirly. “I appreciate you noticing. It took me a long time to get it right. And Benji-bear’s inside. You’re welcome to go see—”

Talon was at the door before Bea finished, going to see his dog.

I kissed her temple. “I like your swirls too. And everything else about you.”

She tipped her face back, her moon-lit eyes sweeping over me. “I like everything about you too.” Then she whispered, “I can’t wait to spend the evening with you.”

My father clapped his hands. “Not so fast. I said I wanted pictures, and I mean it. Lace, you gotta scoot. I want pics of the lovebirds.”

Lacey groaned, peeling herself away from Bea with a dramatic sigh. “I want some with me in them too, Grandpa.”

“You’ll get your turn,” he promised, already lifting his phone. “All right, you two. Smile like you like each other.”

Bea leaned into me, her smile warm against my cheek. I let myself relax, wrapping my arm fully around her waist, hand splayed across the silk at her hip.

“Now, one where you look at each other,” Tony coached. “Tender. Like you’re in a black-and-white flick.”

Bea’s eyes twinkled. “Are you a director now, Tony?”

“Damn straight I am,” he said. “It’s a grandpa’s right.”

I looked at Bea, and just like that, the rest of the world blurred. My father might have taken a thousand pictures, but all I saw was her.

“Ohhh, that one’s cute,” Scarlet said. “Send that to me. I’m posting it.”

“You will not,” I said instinctively.

“Too late. It’s already in my camera roll,” she quipped.

“I don’t mind,” Bea replied. “Just tag me in it.”

“Let’s get one with everyone,” my dad ordered.

Lacey scurried to Bea’s other side. “All the Gallos and the orange blossom princess!”

“Wait for me and Benjamin,” Talon called. Benjamin barked once then happily squirmed into the group as everyone bunched around us.

My father stood in front, holding his phone out so we all fit into the shot. “Three…two…one—say ‘wedding cake’!”

“Wedding cake!” we all shouted.

“Perfect,” Tony said. “Now, off with you two. You’ve got a party to get to, and we’ve got a movie night to start.”

Scarlet nudged Talon. “Tell them to have fun.”

He blinked. “Why do I need to tell them? They’re going to a party. Parties are fun. If they don’t have fun, that’s their problem.”

Bea laughed and slipped her arm through mine. “Tally has a very valid point.”

We headed for my car as my father called after us, “Don’t forget to dance, Sal!”

I looked at Bea as I opened the passenger door for her. “Are we going to dance, Beatrice?”

She slid inside with a teasing smile. “Only if you promise to hold me close.”

My chest tightened in that good, magic and shiny way she had a habit of causing, and I closed the door carefully behind her.