Bedding the Wrong Brother(67)

Rhys groaned. “Can it wait? I'm right in the middle of a performance here.”

She giggled and stroked him through his pants, delighting in his groan of pleasure. “It'll just take a second, I promise.”

He took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“I'm ready to answer the pop quiz now,” she said.

Rhys laughed. “Okay,” he repeated.

“What would I do to have you?” she reminded him. “That's what you asked me.”

“I haven't forgotten. So what's your answer?”

Reaching into her bikini top, she pulled out the small booklet she'd tucked against her breast.

He stared at it. “It's your passport.”

“That's right. Now open it.”

He did. Stuck in between the blank pages was the paper lizard he'd given her so long ago. “You kept it.”

“I didn't answer you before, and I'm so sorry about that. I love you. If you still want me to, I want to be part of your life. I can't travel all the time because I know that won't make me happy. But I don't think that's what will make you happy either.”

“So what are you proposing?”

“I propose that we put our heads together and do what we do best.”

“Tell me,” he whispered.

“What else? We're going to make magic,” she whispered back.





Epilogue





Dalton's Rule of Magic #15: The show must go on.



Melina looked up as Rhys walked into the house. He sighed as he put down his briefcase and loosened his tie, everything about him radiating exhaustion. Concerned, she strode toward him. He smiled when he saw her. “Hey, Ladybug.”

“Hi, yourself,” she said, giving him a hug and a light kiss.

He growled when she pulled away, cupping her head and pressing her close for a longer, deeper set of kisses. Before she knew it, he was backing her into their bedroom and going at her clothes with a determination that made her laugh.

“And here I thought you were tired.”

He tsked. “I'm never too tired for this.”

Once he had her naked, he laid her back on the bed, smoothed his hand over her stomach, then froze. He leaned in closer, pressing her thighs apart to get a better view. With the lightest of touches, he ruffled the dainty curls that had been shaped into a heart.

“Wow.”

She pursed her lips. “That's it? Wow? Do you have any idea how traumatic it is for a woman to get waxed?”

“No.” He rubbed her lower stomach in soft, soothing circles. “If it's uncomfortable, then stop doing it.” Kissing her stomach, he slowly skimmed his way down to her core and nuzzled her. “But I have to say, this heart's damn sexy.”

“Then it's worth a little embarrassment to have it done.”

He raised a questioning brow. “Just what happens at these wax places?“

She pushed his head down. “Would you stop talking and get back to what you were doing?”

“Yes, ma'am,” he said. As always, he put his best effort forward with magical results.

An hour later, they were lying content in each other's arms when Melina remembered. “Lucy called.”

“And?” There was no mistaking the wariness in Rhys's tone.

“She said the dean is bugging her about doing another presentation with Jamie. Apparently, they made quite an impression the first time.”

“How fast did she say no?”

“Actually, I was surprised. She said yes. She grumbled about it the whole time, though. She said she's trying to soften the dean up so she'll get some extra grant money.”

Rhys snorted. “Soft isn't really Lucy's thing. She's got the hots for the professor.”

Melina gasped. “Are you kidding? Lucy and Jamie? No way. That's like…like putting together—”

“What?” Rhys questioned. “A footloose professional magician and a small-town entomologist?”

He tugged on her arm, and she curled back into him. “I suppose anything's possible, but that would be truly shocking.”

“As shocking as Max having the hots for Grace?”

“What?” she shrieked. She shoved him away, stood, and slipped into her robe. After tying her belt, she propped her hands on her hips. “Okay, now you're just playing with me.”