Page 72 of The Fearless Warrior

“Some of us don’t like to wait,” Blaine said. “Maddox didn’t waste a lot of time either.”

“Let’s be honest,” Maddox said, “we hadallwaited long enough. Logan and Creed didn’t exactly have long engagements either.”

“Hey, it worked for us,” Logan’s wife, Weslee, said, coming up behind his shoulder and waving at them.

Amy had already met Weslee when the pair had gone on a double date with them during their visit to Colorado last week. She couldn’t wait to get to know the other couples as well.

“I say we leave our boy Jace here with a few words of wisdom,” Baron said. “What do you say, men?”

“Very well,” Sutton said. “Make plenty of time for each other. It’s what matters most.”

Jace and Amy nodded in agreement. No problem there.

Maddox spoke up next. “If the world seems cold, kindle a fire to warm it.”

“Okay, that’s um, philosophical,” Jace said.

Maddox laughed. “Nah, it’s just some advice I got today in a fortune cookie at lunch.”

“Thanks man,” Jace said. “I think.”

“Don’t use her night cream,” Baron mumbled. “It will make your face all tight.”

“I’ve got some words for you, Jace,” Blaine said. “You finally know what it’s like to read the Shakespeare. Congratulations, man.”

“Right,” Jace said with a nod. “I believe I do.”

Amy grinned, knowing Jace would fill her in on all the inside jokes on the drive home.

Logan piped up next. “Just remember that nothing is ever classified with your wife. She always finds out.”

Weslee kissed him on the cheek. “Always.”

Amy giggled. She’d alreadyheardthe story behind that one.

“All I can say,” Creed said, “is welcome. It’s okay that you’re slow, son, at least you finally got to the party.”

“Thanks,” Jace said with a laugh.

“That leaves me,” Baron said. “Let’s see… where do I begin?” Suddenly his wife, Nessa, came up from behind him. “If you get him started, we’ll all be here for hours. Just trust each other.”

“Well said,” Blaine cheered mumbled.

Sutton lifted a glass. “Here, here.”

“Here, here,” Jace said in return. As they brought the call to an end, the group offered another round of congratulations before Jace tucked the phone back in his pocket.

“They’re a pretty incredible group, aren’t they?” Amy said, still swimming in gratitude from the way they’d come together to protect Amy and Jace.

“You can say that again. They’d be better if they learned how to shower more often, but what can you do?”

Amy giggled, the heart-warming sound of their families chatting and laughing and having a good time.

“Guess we should get back over there,” Jace said. “But first…” He came in, nudged his face against her cheek. “You make me so happy,” he mumbled against her skin. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life,ourlives, being happy like this, together.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. And then another.

“And have you applied your analysis technique to the probability of that outcome?” Amy asked between kisses.

“Yes,” he mumbled.

“And?” she asked.

“Keeping in mind that we’ll come up against the usual challenges in life…” He tipped his head from one side to the next. “I’d say our chance of success is one-hundred percent.”

Amy grinned and kissed him once more. “That’s what I thought.”