Midnight Sacrifice (40 page)

“Danny.” His tall, redheaded sister bolted out the back door and across the grass. She grabbed him in a fierce hug. “Happy birthday, baby brother.”

Danny laughed and hugged her back. Jayne let go of him and moved on to Mandy with the same enthusiasm, then she wrapped an arm around Mandy’s shoulders and steered her toward the house. Happiness vibrated through Danny’s sister.

Reed stood on the back porch, his posture more relaxed now that Nathan’s threat to Jayne was eliminated. “Jayne was dying to see the puppies.”

They went into the kitchen. Bear nosed into the laundry room and trotted to Honey’s box. Six chubby furballs, two yellow and four chocolate, wiggled and yawned. Under Honey’s watchful eye, Bear sniffed his pups and wagged his tail.

“So, we’re making wedding plans.” Jayne peered around the doorframe. “Nothing huge, just a simple ceremony. Are you two going to be able to come or should we have it up here?”

“I don’t know,” Mandy said. “Bill’s pretty good as long as Honey is with him, but we have another four to six weeks before the puppies are ready to leave.”

“We can wait. God, they’re so cute,” Jayne said.
Can you squeal and whisper at the same time?
“Which one is ours?”

Mandy laughed. “Whichever one you want.”

Jayne leaned over the box and held her iPhone out. She snapped a couple of pictures. “Now for some video.”

“Where’s Pat and the gang?” Danny asked.

“On the way. They have to stop every hour. Someone always needs a pit stop.” The smallest pup, a yellow blob of fat and fur, climbed over her siblings, stood, and hooked her paws over the top of the box. Jayne lowered her phone. “Is the littlest one a boy or a girl?”

Mandy lifted the pup and cuddled her against her cheek for a minute. She set her behind her brothers and sisters. Undaunted, she beelined for the prison walls. “The escape artist is a girl.”

Bill shouldered his way into the fray. “I wanted to keep them all, but Mandy said that was way too many dogs.” He sat on the floor next to the box and stroked Honey’s head. The dog’s tail slapped on the floor. “We get to keep Bear and Honey and maybe one puppy.”

Reed looked over Jayne’s shoulder. “These dogs are purebreds. Honey’s a champ. Why don’t you sell them?”

“’Cause we want to pick where they go to live.” Bill’s voice held a smidgen of
duh
.

Reed put a hand on Bill’s shoulder. “Are you coming to my wedding?”

Bill hesitated. He looked at the dogs. “If Honey can come with me.”

Lots of new possibilities for Bill.

“Oh my God! That’s a diamond.” Jayne grabbed Mandy’s hand and held it up. “Danny, you didn’t say a word.”

“Well, no one in this family can keep a secret.”

Jayne released Mandy’s hand and hugged her again. “Have you set a date yet?”

“No. We’re taking things slow.”

“A date for what?” Bill asked.

“Danny and I are going to get married.” Mandy tensed.

Danny pulled her backward until her back was against his chest. Warmth spread through his body as she leaned on him.

She needn’t have worried.

Bill smiled. “Does that mean you’re staying forever?”

“Yup. It sure does.” Danny nodded.

“Yay!” Bill rubbed Honey’s head. “Did you hear that, girl? Danny’s staying.”

Mandy turned. Sheesh. More tears. “I love you,” she whispered.

“Back atcha.” He kissed the top of her head. There were lots of new possibilities for everyone.

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, thanks go to my fabulous agent Jill Marsal for her help on this manuscript, and for all the other countless things she does for me. Another great big thanks goes to my editor at Montlake Romance, Kelli Martin, and everyone else at Amazon Publishing who strives to make a writer feel valued. I consider myself very lucky to be included among their author ranks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Tannock Photography, 2012

Melinda Leigh abandoned her career in banking to raise her kids and never looked back. She started writing as a hobby and became addicted to creating characters and stories. Since then, she has won numerous writing awards for her paranormal romance and romantic-suspense fiction. Her debut novel,
She Can Run
, was a number one bestseller in Kindle Romantic Suspense, a 2011 Best Book Finalist (The Romance Reviews), and a nominee for the 2012 International Thriller Award for Best First Book. When she isn’t writing, Melinda is an avid martial artist: she holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs, and two rescue cats.