Page 95 of Waiting For A Girl Like You (Haven House #4)

“ T hey really stole the journals?”

“It’s more like they borrowed them, made copies, and ran.”

Lying on her side, with him wrapped tightly around her, Annabeth sighed. “So, they should be here soon?”

Rowan’s phone buzzed—a motion alert triggered from the highway turnoff leading to Haven House. There were still a few local and federal agents stationed along the gravel drive and at the gate, but not many. Most of the official security presence had pulled out once Anderson gave the all-clear.

“Liam wanted to surprise Jamison, and I think this is them.” Rowan angled the phone so she could see the live feed. “Yep. Look.”

Will was behind the wheel of the car Liam had stolen from the hospital. The cops had found it, and the Cohens had promised to return it to the distraught woman, even though Ben had thrown enough money at her she could have bought two cars by now.

Talking on his phone, a tired Liam sat in the passenger seat, and Holden appeared to be half asleep in the back. The three of them had taken turns driving, with both Will and Liam in a rush to return.

They would need to finalize which Fairweather guards would be assigned to which areas in the morning.

With Anderson giving the signal that there was no longer a great enough threat to merit a federal detail, the local PD agreed.

But needing extra support, for the time being, Rowan had borrowed a few temporary security personnel from his brother.

McIntyre Industries had plenty to spare, and Killian offered his best. Men who had been with their family for over two decades.

Rowan sent the McIntyre men to watch over Emily, Claudia, and Damon until suitable Fairweather security people could be found to fill the permanent position.

And it would be permanent.

Carter was with Evie and Samuel until Holden returned. Even though he was new, Carter was getting along with the family—including Samuel—but the girls missed “Holden the Hero.”

Izzy had stuck close to Jamison. She and Abe moved into one of the downstairs bedrooms to stay nearby. Judging by how things were progressing in that relationship, it would seem that Haven House might be Izzy’s permanent spot.

During one of his late-night chats with Simone, she confessed how much she liked Izzy.

And yes, Rowan was proud to say he had moved up in the world and was now having nightly chats with Simone.

They would sit in the kitchen alone while she sipped tea before bed.

She claimed the chamomile and conversation soothed her nerves, and he’d been more than happy to have the chance to get to know her better.

They talked about his life and growing up at Adare Hall.

She wanted to know every detail regarding his parents and siblings.

“From what I’ve surmised, your brother is the muscle, you are the brains, and your sister is the fire that keeps both you boys in line,” she had said just last night. “Am I correct?”

He’d never considered it, but the description was accurate.

Sipping at his lemon and ginger tea, the flavor he’d learned he enjoyed the most, Rowan had nodded.

“Killian is both brains and brawn, technically. But yeah. I’m smarter.

And if you love me like I know you do, you’ll tell him as much when he comes to visit next week. ”

Rowan yawned and closed out the security app once Liam and the rest of them were inside Haven House. “Let’s get some sleep. The sun will be up soon.”

Annabeth wiggled her naked butt against him. “Or we could do something else.”

“Sweetheart, you have to let me rest.” He pulled her around to face him, willing his gaze not to drop to her breasts. Their power held no limits, and he did actually need sleep. “Just for an hour. Tops. ”

Running her hands along his chest, she kissed him, her tongue teasing his lips. “Fine, but I want three more orgasms before sunrise.”

“You’ve had seven since we came upstairs.”

“Eight, actually.” She sucked his bottom lip between her teeth. “You were too busy having your own in the shower to notice.”

He couldn’t stop his grin. “I think we have a problem. This can’t be normal.”

“Who the hell wants normal?”

Not him. Not ever. Not with her.

He pulled her across his chest, content to feel her heartbeat against his ribs. “I was looking at some dog rescue sites today.”

From the cat bed in the corner, curled around his own female companion for the night, Colonel Brandon let off an offended growl.

“You have no say in this,” Rowan told the cat. “And frankly, I think you need a new room to sleep in. It creeps me out that you watch me fuck your mom.”

Annabeth giggled into his neck, laying kisses there as he continued to have a glaring contest with The Colonel. “And did you see any dogs that interested you?” she asked.

“As a matter of fact, I did. A golden retriever mix was surrendered yesterday when its elderly owner died. She’s about two years old and trained.”

“Let me see her.”

His glare at Colonel Brandon morphed into an evil smirk, and Rowan grabbed the phone again to show Annabeth the website. The kennel staff had placed pink bows on the dog’s ears, and he knew that alone would convince her.

Annabeth squealed. “Look at her! She is so ours. Can we go tomorrow? Wait—what if someone beats us there?” She hugged the phone to her chest. “Should we call and leave a message so when they open, they’ll know we’re her parents?”

Dog parents.

Yeah, he could go with that.

“The staff said she loves playing dress up.”

Annabeth’s eyes went wide. “Shut. Up.”

“Her name is Beatrice, but they call her Bea. ”

“Beatrice McIntyre sounds very distinguished.” She held the phone in the air so they could both see her picture. “We can call her our little Busy Bea.”

“I’ve got a bigger Harley in storage down in Texas and was planning on bringing it here once things quieted.” He took the phone from her to sit on the nightstand once more, sneaking himself a kiss in the process. “We can buy one of those sidecars specifically made for dogs to take her riding.”

“That sounds perfect,” she sighed, placing a hand on his cheek as their kiss deepened. “And you will eventually have to marry her mother.”

“Her mother isn’t interested in marriage.” He smiled against her lips. “She’s told me so. In many ways, and on multiple occasions.”

The hand on his cheek slid down, diving beneath the blanket until she literally held him by the balls. “I said I’m allowed to change my mind.”

“Are you?” Risking the lives of their possible future children, he arched an eyebrow. “That nonsense sounded pretty convincing out there in the cottage, and I could chalk up your quick change of heart to the excitement and stress brought on by the rescue.”

“I will hurt you, Randall.”

“Randall?” He rolled on top of her as she squealed. “Oh, now you’ve done it.”

“That was easy.” Opening her legs, Annabeth smirked in victory. “You may give me my orgasms now.” She clapped her hands twice. “Post haste.”

He had never seen anything more beautiful.

Staring down at her, he knew without a doubt that the end of his line was here.

Until his dying day, he would never know a moment without this woman in his heart, and it made him believe that perhaps there was a higher power, a cosmic force linking them together in some grand scheme.

“I’m going to make you so happy, Annabeth Howard.”

“You better,” she whispered, rubbing her nose against his. “Or I’ll sic my mama on you.”

“That’s actually fucking terrifying.”

Lowering his head, they kissed with laughter and the promise of happiness in their future. But the longer they lingered, the more fevered the strokes of their tongues became until—

“Annabeth?” A loud knock rattled the door, followed by Liam’s voice: “Get out here. Jamison needs her bridesmaid.”

Disentangling himself from Annabeth’s arms, Rowan marched across the room butt ass naked, thinking he might just swing the door open wide to teach Liam a lesson about knocking on doors in the middle of the night.

But he held the urge back, cracking the door open to see a shirtless, grinning Liam with Jamison slung over his shoulder and wearing a wedding gown so short, Rowan could see all the way up to the backs of her upper thighs.

“We need Annabeth.”

Already up and in her closet, Annabeth hustled into some clothes. “What’s going on?”

“We’re getting married.” Jamison lifted her upper body to wave at Annabeth. “Can you help me find a few things?”

Running over, Annabeth frowned. “What are you going on about?”

She opened the door further, and Rowan had just enough time to step aside and grab a giant stuffed bear propped in a corner to cover his crotch. Colonel Brandon watched him struggle with evil glee, his tail waving when Rowan flipped the beast off.

“We’re getting married,” Liam told Annabeth. “Abe is meeting us under the oak in a few minutes, and Samuel is on his way with his brood.”

“I need my lanterns,” Jamison said, tapping Liam’s shoulder. “Let me down?”

“Sure thing.” Liam lowered her to stand. “I should probably put on a shirt.”

Jamison smacked a kiss on his mouth. “Or don’t. I’m cool with marrying a hot, shirtless man.”

“Whatever the lady wants, she gets. I need to go wake everyone up.” Liam planted another kiss on Jamison’s lips before backing away. “I’ll meet you under the oak.”

He disappeared down the stairs, eyes on Jamison the whole time, who was watching him go with a sigh. “I’m so ready for this.”

“Could you be ready during—oh, I don’t know—the daylight hours?” Annabeth asked, pulling Jamison into the room. “Are you serious about this?”

“One hundred percent. ”

Annabeth huffed in disapproval and straightened the lopsided veil hanging precariously from Jamison's hair. “Fine. But you’re letting me fix your hair, and we’re doing the ceremony like we planned, or you’ll regret it.”

“I knew I could count on you.” Jamison hugged her while Annabeth continued to work. “I love you.”