Tickle His Fancy: Trident Security Book 6 (Trident Security Series) (23 page)

Shelia and Brett’s eyes widened as they realized what she’d
said. All of them stared at where the two hands were joined. Slowly but surely,
Brody’s fingers closed around hers again. His mouth had opened seconds before
his eyes did, and his tongue tried to moisten his dry lips. His sleep-filled
gaze met Fancy’s, and in a soft, raspy voice, he said, “You smell like pecan
rolls, sweetness.”

Bursting into tears of joy, she carefully leaned forward to
kiss him. Neither of them noticed when Brett and Sheila left the room to tell
the others Brody was awake and going to be okay.

“You look beautiful, Angie,” Brody told the bride as her maid
of honor, Kristen, gave a last second adjustment to the veil. He was in his
dress whites, trying to ignore the phantom pain from the amputated small toe of
his right foot. If that was all he’d lost after being electrocuted to death
before being brought back to life, he’d take it. The alternative would have
been much worse.

After being released from his ten-day stay at the hospital,
the first thing he’d done was have Fancy drive him to the Healing Heroes Ranch.
He’d wanted to thank Russell for his part in the rescue and to see how he was
doing. The man had recovered from his stab wound and had found a niche for
himself at the ranch with two other veterans staying there. Brody couldn’t get
over the difference in the man. Russell’s eyes were full of hope and happiness
with Jagger by his side, and Brody was glad the man now had a positive future.

As Kristen left the room at the back of the church to join
the other bridesmaids, Brody scratched an itch on his chest. The portable
cardiac monitor had come off yesterday, but where the patches had been still irritated
him like crazy. The doctors had made him wear the device for a few weeks to
make sure there weren’t any lasting issues from the trauma his heart had
received. While everything seemed fine, he was banned from any overly strenuous
activity until he had a stress test next week. Thankfully the doctors hadn’t
put sex on the not-allowed list as long as there were no sexual acrobatics
involved.

The worst part of the ordeal had been sitting down with
Fancy, after being interviewed by the police, and telling her the details of
why Corey had kidnapped and tried to kill him. As a Dom and her lover, he’d
instinctively wanted to gloss things over and not reveal that Corey had been
responsible for Patrick’s death and was behind the vandalism at her shop. But she
deserved to know, and he couldn’t risk her finding out when someone from the
press uncovered the truth. From what Detective Webb had told him, the Maguires
were refusing to believe that their youngest son had killed his older brother.
Grief would do that to people, and Brody wasn’t sure he would be any different
if he were in their shoes. When the police had executed a search warrant on
Corey’s apartment, they’d found evidence of the long-time obsession the man had
with his sister-in-law. He’d been stalking her for years without her knowledge.
His dating Nora had apparently been a ruse, and Brody felt sorry for the woman
for having been used that way. He couldn’t imagine the shock and horror she’d
gone through when Webb had interviewed her after Brody’s rescue. At least, the
boyfriend she’d thought she had was never going to hurt anyone ever again.

Brody’s folks had returned to Texas with Brett with the
promise that both Fancy and Brody would be at the hoedown in two weeks. When
his mom and he had had some alone time in the hospital, she’d asked him when he
was putting a ring on Fancy’s finger. He’d laughed knowing that was her
not-so-subtle way of telling him she approved of her future daughter-in-law.
After Fancy had finally returned to work on a daily basis, he’d run out and
purchased her engagement ring along with a permanent collar. At Angie, Kat, and
Kristen’s insistence, the collaring ceremony had taken place three nights ago
at The Covenant, instead of waiting until after today’s wedding. The ring he was
holding onto for a little longer until he was certain she was ready for that
next step.

As Brody escorted Angie to the vestibule at the back of the
church where they would start their long walk down the aisle, a late arrival
dressed in a custom-made, gray suit came rushing in the door. The man skidded
to a halt when he saw them. Grinning broadly, US government spy T. Carter
stepped toward the bride and brought her manicured hand to his lips for a kiss.
“Don’t want to get yelled at for messing up your makeup, little one. You look
stunning. I’m almost tempted to whisk you away for myself, but I know better
than to piss in Boss-man’s cornflakes.”

Angie grinned at him. “I’m so glad you made it.”

“Wouldn’t miss this for the world. The ‘I’m never giving my
heart to a woman’ big guy is going down in a grand and spectacular way.” He
punched Brody lightly in the right shoulder. The spy had made a 3:00 a.m.
covert visit to see him in the hospital before heading back to complete an
assignment he’d been on. “Nice to see you up and walking on your remaining nine
toes.” When Brody opened his mouth to call him the usual “jackass” to which the
response would be “asshole,” Carter cut him off. “
Ah, ah, ah
…not in
church, my friend. See you after the show.”

He hurried to take a seat as the bridesmaids started down the
aisle to their music. When Angie and Brody were in position, she squeezed his
arm. “You know I would have killed you if you missed walking me down the aisle.
I swear, I was starting to think I was cursed.”

Hearing the nervousness in her tone, he smiled as he spotted
Fancy sitting next to Kristen’s cousin, Will, in one of the pews near the front
of the church. “You wouldn’t have had to kill me because that’s the only way I
would have missed this honor. Consider your curse broken, Angie. Now, let’s get
you down that aisle before Ian passes out or pops a blood vessel.”

* * *

Two weeks later, Fancy sat in the passenger seat of the truck
Brody had rented at the airport. As he turned off the main road, there was an
overhead, rustic sign announcing their arrival at Paradise Pastures, the horse
ranch his family owned. The two-hundred-acre spread was home to a decent sized
Quarter Horse breeding operation.

Fancy twisted her hands together as the butterflies in her
stomach took flight. While she was looking forward to seeing Elise, Gerard, and
Brett again, she was nervous about meeting the rest of the family. Her
anxiousness increased as she took in the long line of trucks and cars parked along
the three-quarter-mile long, dirt driveway. There had to be close to fifty of
them and more parked in a sizable lot the driveway opened into, in front of the
beautiful blue and white, two story home.

She jumped when Brody reached over, took her hand in his, and
squeezed. “Easy, sweetness. My sisters aren’t going to attack you like a pack
of wolves—at least not until they let you get used to them first.”

“Oh, jeez. I’m just glad I’ve already met your folks.”

Parking next to a big, white pickup with the logo for
Paradise Pastures on the side, he turned off the engine. Leaning across the
console, his hand went to the nape of her neck and pulled her close for a
kiss—one she felt all the way to her toes. She could stay in the truck all day
if he kissed her like that. But it ended all too soon. He looked her straight
in the eyes. “Sweetness, my entire family will love you as much as my parents
already do. And I’ll be right by your side whenever you need me, just like you
were there for me. I love you.”

Giving him another peck on the lips, she replied, “I love
you, too. All right. Let’s get this over with so my stomach will settle.”

He laughed as he exited the truck and walked around to open
her door for her. She took his offered hand and let him help her down from the
high seat. Leaving their luggage in the bed of the truck, Fancy and Brody
grabbed several boxes she’d packed at the bakery before they left. Cain Foster
and Val Mancini had been scheduled to fly to Mexico in the Trident jet for a
four-day fact-finding mission, so Ian had approved the pilot dropping Fancy and
Brody in Texas on the way. She’d been grateful since she was able to bring lots
of pastries for the big hoedown that they wouldn’t have been able to get on a
regular flight without paying extra for multiple bags. She and Sal had been
busy yesterday making all sorts of pies, tarts, cookies, and cupcakes for
everyone.

Fancy could hear the music and party guests in the yard
behind the house, but Brody said it was easier to bring the baked goods in
through the front door and leave them in the dining room for later. As they
climbed the three stairs to the wrap-around porch, the front door swung open,
and Elise and Brett were waiting for them. Standing with them was a woman who
had to be Brody’s sister because she had the same eyes, nose, and hair color.

Brett held out both hands to Fancy. “Hey, there. Let me take
all of those from you.”

“Just make sure they don’t disappear,” his sister teased.
“Save some of Fancy’s goodies for the rest of us since all you did was rave
about them when you got home.”

When Fancy’s hands were free, Elise pulled her into the foyer
and hugged her warmly. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Releasing her, she indicated
the woman standing next to them. “This is my eldest daughter, Doreen.”

“Hi, Doreen. It’s nice to meet you.” Fancy held out her hand,
but the woman embraced her instead.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you. Come on back and meet the
gang.” Before leading the way through the house, though, Doreen took the back
off a sticker she was holding and put it on Fancy’s shirt. It was then Fancy
noticed everyone was wearing “Hello, My Name Is…” stickers over their hearts.
While Fancy’s was green like the one Brody was given and the ones Brett and Denise
were wearing, Elise’s was yellow.

Brody leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I told you we
needed name tags. I’ll explain the colors in a minute.”

The group walked down the hall and through a huge kitchen
before exiting the back door. Close to a hundred heads turned their way, and
Fancy’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God. Are they all part of your family?” she
murmured to him.

“Don’t worry. We’ve done this many times before and have a
system.” Taking her hand, he led her to the top step and waved at the band that
was playing. The fiddler saw him, and with a slash of his bow, stopped the
music. Brody cleared his throat. “All right, everyone, you all know the drill.
This is my incredible woman, Fancy Maguire. Fancy, this is the Evans family and
friends. Those of you who are wearing yellow tags, raise your hands.” When
Elise, Gerard, and several others did, he continued. “Fancy, these are my
grandparents, parents, their siblings, and spouses. You’ll find their spouse’s
names under their name on the tags. Next up are the green tags. These are my
brothers and sisters with their spouses or significant others. Red tags are the
kids of said brothers and sisters. Who they belong to is on their tag. Blue tags
are cousins, spouses, and kids. Purple tags are friends of the family, while
not related by blood, they’re related by heart.”

Once she got over her initial shock, Brody formally
introduced her to both his grandmothers, his paternal grandfather—his mother’s
father had passed a few years ago—and his siblings. Everyone else she slowly
met throughout the day. The food was delicious, the yard games were fun, and
the music was lively as Brody taught her how to two-step. Even when his sisters
and sisters-in-law swept her up for a powwow about all things Brody, he was
never far from her. If he wasn’t close enough to touch her, he’d wink and smile
at her from a short distance away. But when he was standing beside or behind
her, he was always finding ways to make contact with her. Her favorite moments
were when his hand would go to the nape of her neck and brush against her
sensitive skin before giving her collar a subtle tug.

She now had two collars to wear. He had allowed her to keep
the first one he’d given her for days like this when she was dressed casually
because she loved it so much and it was the first one he’d picked out for her.
The one he’d presented her with during their collaring ceremony was gorgeous,
though. It was white gold with diamonds and rubies spaced out along its
length—he’d said the rubies reminded him of her fiery red hair. She wore it
when she dressed up or if they were going to the club. But the way Brody liked
it best on her was when she wore nothing else and was on her knees waiting for
him beside their bed.

She’d basically moved in with him after his release from the
hospital to help him recover completely, and neither one of them wanted her to
return to her old condo. Fancy knew all about the engagement ring he had hidden
in his dresser drawer. She’d overheard him on the phone asking her Aunt Denise’s
permission. Apparently, he’d already spoken to her mother and father, but
knowing how close she was with her aunt, he’d asked her as well. While Fancy
had been tempted to sneak a peek at the ring, she fought the urge. She wanted
to be surprised when he gave it to her. He’d mentioned to Aunt Denise he was
waiting until Fancy seemed ready. It was a huge step for her to finally put
Patrick to rest, and Brody was willing to wait. That, of course, made her love
him even more. He wasn’t pushing her deceased husband from her life, just
accepting that Patrick had owned her heart first. Her love for Brody was
different than her love for Patrick had been; she couldn’t exactly put it into
words, and couldn’t say she loved one more than the other. But if it hadn’t been
for her marriage and love for Patrick, she may not have become the woman who
was now madly in love with Brody. She couldn’t play the “what if” game. She
just knew that he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

It was quite late when the last of the hoedown guests had
driven away. Everyone had chipped in to clean up, so all that was left to do
tomorrow was take down the tents, tables, and chairs. As Fancy was helping
Elise put away the last of the leftovers, Brody and his father strode into the
kitchen. The elder Evans grabbed his wife around the waist and hugged her tight
from behind. “As always, my love, it was a wonderful party.”

Fancy smiled at Brody. It was clear his parents had
experienced a long and passionate love affair, and they were still crazy in
love after all these years.

Taking her hand, Brody led her out to the back porch, telling
his folks over his shoulder, “We’re going for a moonlight walk. See you in the
morning.”