Against the Night (41 page)

He and Amy climbed off the Harley. She pulled off the bright red helmet he had bought her, along with a set of black leathers. Damn, she looked sexy.

He opened one of the saddlebags on the back of the bike, took out a blanket and tossed it to Amy. “You pick a spot and I’ll bring the lunch stuff.”

“Don’t forget the wine,” she said, smiling.

He’d brought a bottle of chardonnay, though he’d rather have beer, and didn’t drink much anyway when he was riding. They’d enjoy the wine with lunch, and have time for a nap and a little lovemaking.

Johnnie smiled. They’d gotten married at Ellie’s, out on the deck on a perfect Saturday a week after his hasty proposal. Hannah had changed her flight plans and the women all pitched in to get things ready on such short notice. They did a bang-up job, setting up an arbor, then decorating it with white orchids and roses, and finding Amy the prettiest white lace dress he’d ever seen.

As she’d stood there beside him, he’d felt such a swell of love for her, he almost couldn’t get the “I do” past the lump in his throat.

The guests were a motley crew. Tate Watters and his wife, Linda; and the girls from the Kitty Cat Club. Mrs. Zimmer and little Jimmy. Special Agent Kent Wheeler.

Trace and Maggie Rawlins had flown out from Texas. He’d been surprised when Jake said he was coming, too.

“Are you kidding? This is monumental,” Jake said. “I was hoping you’d wake up and come to your senses.”

Dev and Lark were there, Dev acting as his best man. Madman couldn’t make it. Molly went into labor and Clive was beside himself. Molly had the baby the day after the wedding, a little boy named Clive, Jr. Mother, father and baby were all doing fine.

Ty Brodie was there, grinning like a jackass and giving him an I-told-you-so look.

Rick Vega stayed close to Rachael, who seemed to be loving every minute of having him there. Johnnie had a feeling down the road there’d be a Vega/Brewer wedding.

He and Amy made it through the ceremony, both of them grinning at each other as if they shared some private joke, which they did, since it was a wedding that wasn’t supposed to happen and both of them were as happy as kids that it was. Amy tossed the bouquet. Ellie caught it and all of them whistled and cheered.

A surprise came as they finished opening their gifts when Ellie walked over and pressed an envelope into Johnnie’s hand.

“What is it?” he asked.

“This property is actually divided into two separate parcels. That’s the deed to the guesthouse. Now it belongs to you and Amy.”

“Oh, Ellie,” Amy said. “We couldn’t possibly accept something so valuable.”

Ellie just shrugged. “I left it to Johnnie in my will, so all I’m doing is giving it to him a little early.” She grinned. “Besides, with the two of you around, life will never be dull.” Everyone had laughed and the women exchanged tearful hugs.

“Thanks, Ellie,” Johnnie managed a little gruffly. The lady was really something and he was grateful to call her a friend.

As for Rachael’s abduction case, everything they’d pieced together turned out to be true. In an effort to cut a deal, Lansky admitted to planting a throwaway gun on Dickie Talbot after he’d shot him, and Meeks and Turner were singing like birds. The district attorney was prosecuting the case himself, which meant they were all going down hard.

It came out that Dan Turner had taken Rachael to the Vieux Carre a couple of times for dinner. It was likely Manny Ortega knew about Turner’s connection to his father, but the kid was doing his best to stay out of trouble, and nobody wanted to press charges.

“Where’s that wine?” Amy asked, dragging him from his thoughts. “I’m dry as dust over here.”

Johnnie laughed and started walking, a bottle in one hand, a sack filled with cheese, different kinds of Italian sausage, olives, crackers, a fancy French pâté that Amy picked out, fresh strawberries and chocolate éclairs for dessert, though they looked a little worse for wear after riding in his saddlebags.

Johnnie sat down cross-legged next to his tiny wife and set the food out on the blanket in front of them. He reached for her, dragged her into his lap and kissed her deep and thoroughly.

“Thank God you married me.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’m crazy in love with you and I wouldn’t want to have to go all the way to Michigan to bring you back home.”

She looked up at him. “Would you have done that?”

“Probably. I can’t stand to think of the alternative.”

Amy laughed. It was the sweetest sound.

“I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too, Johnnie Riggs.”

And he kissed her again, and all seemed right with the world.

Author’s Note

I hope you enjoyed Johnnie and Amy in
Against the Night.
I had such fun writing this book! If you haven’t read
Against the Storm,
Trace Rawlins’s story, I hope you’ll look for it, as well as the first three books in the series,
Against the Wind, Against the Fire,
and
Against the Law.

Up next is
Against the Sun,
Jake Cantrell’s story, another tale of adventure, passion and romance. All’s fair in love and war, and when Jake meets Sage Dumont, the beautiful Texas socialite and vice president of Marine Drilling International, the sparks truly fly. I hope you’ll watch for
Against the Sun
and that you enjoy it. Until then, all the very best and happy reading.

Kat

ISBN: 9781459222786

Copyright © 2012 by Kat Martin

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