The sizzle of steaks came from the grill where Raoul and Kim had joined Vance.
As Galen stopped here and there to talk with various clusters of guests, he noticed Sally watching him with concern. The little mother. The surgery on his knee was long over, the incision healed. Despite Sally’s annoyance, he’d abandoned his cane a few days ago.
Odd how irritating—and amazing—it was to be so loved.
But he didn’t want her fretting at her engagement party—although she had no idea that was what the celebration was for—so he picked up a beer and sat down with Z and Nolan.
“Has the new business started?” Z asked, idly stroking Glock. After rejecting several guests, the cat had apparently decided that Z’s lap was up to feline standards.
“On the record no, although I negotiated an early contract for Sally where someone had embezzled a fortune from a credit union. She’s been going stir-crazy since she quit the police station.” And she was thrilled to be working. Completely, thoroughly happy with hunting through lines of software code. The imp was insane.
“But the company officially opens in a month,” Galen continued with a smile. “It will be a pleasure to turn in a report and not have to arrest anyone.” Even more of a relief that his work wouldn’t follow him home with knives or firearms.
“I bet.” Nolan leaned back, stretched out his long legs, and rested his beer on his stomach. “Any problems with the Harvest Association?”
“Paperwork is done. Court cases will continue”—he sighed—“probably forever. Ellis Somerfeld died last month.”
Nolan grunted. “I’d call that a mercy.”
Considering the percentage of burns, his prognosis had been poor. And he’d been quite insane. All Galen felt was relief mingling with pity. “Ayuh.”
Jake dropped down in a chair next to Nolan, having scored a bowl of nacho chips.
With a sigh of exhaustion, Dan pulled over another chair.
“You okay?” Galen asked him.
“Been babyproofing the house. Did you know how many cupboards and shelves are in reach of a crawling rug rat?”
“I do know. Wait until he’s a teenager and sneaking out windows,” Z said.
“Shit,” Dan muttered. “And Kari wants another one.”
Sam obviously heard as he grabbed a chair and joined them. He gave a raspy laugh. “Enjoy life while you can. Once they’re in college, they stay up late—and you’ll find out how difficult it is to fuck quietly.”
“Hell.” Dan frowned before turning to Galen. “You mentioned your dungeon’s available. You okay if I drag Kari down there? So we can enjoy life a little before we have two kids?”
The detective was fast on the uptake, wasn’t he? Galen grinned. “Wait until Vance and I make an announcement, then escape during the confusion. Use the cabana for as long as you want.”
“Thanks.” Dan turned. His wife was by the pool, chatting with Jessica. As if she felt his gaze, she glanced over her shoulder…and the look they exchanged scorched the air.
Nice. With that as a spur, Galen rose to gather his own family.
Over with Marcus and Raoul, Vance saw him move. He excused himself and headed toward Galen.
Near the dock, surrounded by the trainees, Sally was flushed with laughter. By God, she was lovely. And with one of the most beautiful habits of a submissive, she was always visually checking on her Doms to see if they needed anything.
When her eyes met Galen’s, the love he saw made his heart glow.
Pull it together, Kouros. Crooking a finger, he beckoned for her to join him.
With instant obedience—not a given with Sally—she hurried over. He grasped her hand.
On her other side, Vance did the same and grinned at Galen over her head.
VANCE TOOK OVER as he usually did if a situation required a voice loud enough to be heard over shouting or gunfire. This was a hell of a lot more fun. He sucked in a breath and called, “People, may I have your attention?”
Conversations stuttered to a halt.
Looking down, Vance caught Sally’s puzzled expression, and unable to resist, he ran his fingers along her jawline. Fine bones under the smooth skin. Stubborn little chin.
Stay on task, Buchanan. “I’d like to announce the engagement of Sally Hart to Galen Kouros. And Vance Buchanan.” He added with a grin, “That would be me.”
Sally’s gasp was drowned out in the laughter and cheering and congratulations. The enthusiasm filled his heart. He liked having friends outside the small FBI community, ones he’d have around after he quit. Ones who’d be there for their marriage, children, maybe even old age.
“You didn’t tell me. Just announced it.” Eyes sparkling with outrage, Sally punched him in the stomach.
Fuck. Then again, he might not reach old age. That tiny fist had a concentrated impact. When his partner laughed, Vance tossed him to the wolves. “This was Galen’s idea.”
She spun around.
Warned, Galen caught her fist in one hand. “You want a public spanking to go with your engagement, pet?”
“You should have told me!”
“Seemed like we owed you something for the lights going off during our last scene,” Vance said. Next time he heard please, please, please, he’d gag her before she got the third one out.
Galen huffed a laugh. “Vance voted for mercy; I wanted you naked and gagged for the announcement.”
Vance could almost see her blood starting to boil.
Galen put an arm around her waist, pried her fist open, and held her hand out to Vance.
He pulled out the ring he and Galen had chosen and slid it on her finger. “You’re ours, sweetheart,” he said softly.
Stunned to silence, she stared down at her hand, and with the quicksilver changes of mood he loved, she burst into her enchanting giggles. She threw herself at Galen, bestowing kisses and hugs and love-you’s before doing the same for Vance.
He lifted her over his head and treated himself to a long kiss.
Once back on her feet, she announced to the crowd, “Just wait. I am so going to make them pay for their sneaky ways.”
Under the wave of laughter, Z walked over and hugged her. “Felicitations, little one. I’m happy for you.”
She had tears in her eyes and a quivering chin when he released her. Z turned to shake hands with Galen and Vance. “Congratulations, gentlemen. She’ll keep your home lively—and filled with love.”
“Thank you.” Vance smiled. “We know.”
The stream of people continued.
Cullen slapped Vance’s shoulder. “Glad it worked out.”
“So am I.” Vance rubbed his jaw with painful recollection. The bastard had a wicked right hook.
Cullen gave a bark of laughter. “Heard you’re doing supervision rather than fieldwork. How’s that going?”
Vance stroked his hand down Sally’s mink-brown, mink-soft hair. “Safer. But it’s harder to send people into danger than to handle the trouble myself.”
Cullen nodded. “Know that feeling.” He put his arm around his Andrea. “Having someone to talk with helps.”
“So I’m finding. And I have two someones. Galen understands; Sally comforts.”
Hearing her name, Sally stood on tiptoe to kiss his chin, her brown eyes warm with love.
As planned, the next one up was Marcus, with Gabi a step behind. Marcus was already grinning.
Vance swept his arm in a welcoming motion, giving Marcus the stage. “Your turn.”
“I do look forward to the sound of an outraged pup.” Marcus gripped Gabi’s shoulder, pulling her closer, and raised a voice trained to reach the farthest corner of a courtroom. “Ladies and gentlemen, to add to yo’ah pleasure, I’d like to announce the engagement of Gabrielle Renard to Marcus Atherton.” He shot Vance a smile. “That would be me.”
The welling of laughter and outpouring of renewed congratulations didn’t come close to smothering Gabi’s shriek.
Marcus’s little redhead whipped around so quickly she almost fell. “You…you douche bag. We were going to wait until winter. You said.”
“I lied, darlin’.”
Galen muttered to Vance, “Better warn him to keep Sally away from his computer.”
“No shit.” Last Friday night, when he’d logged on to finish some work, the screen had frozen while the speakers blasted out Alan Jackson’s “Good Time”—an unsubtle hint his workweek was over. At least the tune had been country western, unlike what she’d done to his partner.
Postsurgery, Galen had given her trouble over taking his pills, and she’d booby-trapped the poor bastard’s laptop with “A Spoonful of Sugar” from the Disney Mary Poppins movie. She’d set it off every time he refused his meds…which had been often.
Unable to resist, Vance hummed a bit of the song.
Sally snickered.
Galen’s look was deadly.
As everyone clustered near, the noise levels continued to increase, but the mere clearing of Z’s throat silenced the group. He pulled Jessica in front of him and wrapped his arms around her from the back. “Since announcements are the order of the day, I’d like to announce that Jessica Randall Grayson is expecting her first child. The father is delighted.” He gave Vance an amused glance. “That would be me.”