Even Villains Have Interns (20 page)

“You like him.”

Her sister glared. “So what? At least I’m not
engaged to a boy scout! He’s so squeaky clean he makes my teeth
hurt.”

Delilah watched Alan who was talking with Ty
about something involving hand gestures. He noticed her staring and
smiled. “I like him. And we’re not engaged. We’re dating.”

“You brought him home,” Maria said bluntly. “Let
me list the guys who have been introduced to the family: Noah,
Tyler, and Alan.”

“And Travys and Aaron,” she said, adding in
their adopted sibling and Tyler’s little brother. She sipped her
hot cider. “And Martin.”

“Dad only met Martin because he had to come post
bail for us,” Maria said tartly. “It’s not the same.”

“You would have brought him home
eventually.”

Maria rolled her eyes and sat up. “Maybe. But I
was young and stupid then.” She glared at Alan. “Do you really
think he’s good enough for you?”

“Do you really think he’s not?” Delilah
challenged her.

Alan stood up and walked over to them, folding
his arms over his chest. “Do you really think his hearing’s that
bad?”

Maria’s eyes narrowed. “If you hurt my
sister...”

“They’ll never find my body,” Alan finished for
her. “Yes. I think I caught the gist of that threat the first
time.” He reached down and twined his fingers with Delilah’s. “Do
you know, you have a very over-protective family, Love. I swear the
only person who was excited to see me was your mother.”

“He’s cute! We should keep him!” Mom chimed from
across the room.

Delilah put her cup to the side. “Let’s go for a
walk.”

She pulled Alan away from the festivities and
out into the winter darkness. Starlight glittered on the diamond
and topaz necklace he’d had given her. For him, she’d bought a pair
of season tickets to the Bulls games. It didn’t meet the
twenty-dollar limit the family had agreed on, but then again,
neither had his. And it wasn’t her only present for him,
either.

The snow crunched under their boots as they
walked away from the house. “It’s beautiful out here.” Alan sounded
wistful, as if he still wasn’t convinced that it was real.

“I thought so.” Vermont was picturesque. Not a
place she’d want to live permanently, but worth visiting from time
to time.

He laced his fingers with hers. “We’re not
planning on retiring here, are we?”

Delilah laughed. “We?”

“Family Christmas, exchanging gifts, I don’t
know. I’m feeling a bit we-ish.” He looked sideways at her with a
smile. “I like being part of a We.”

His joy was radiant. She leaned against his
shoulder and he moved so she was in front of him, his arms wrapped
her waist, chin resting on her head. After a moment, she reached
into her coat pocket and pulled out the thick white gold ring she’d
bought several days before. “What do you think about making the We
a permanent thing?”

There was a stillness behind her and she gripped
his hands to keep him from running away. A barn owl’s distinctive
call shattered the deathly silence around them.

“Do I need to get down on one knee?” she added,
laughing because it was the only way to keep from crying. If he
said no... Well, she wouldn’t be a Smith if she didn’t have a
contingency plan for that kind of disaster. But she’d like not to
need it.

Alan took the ring from her hand. “I don’t have
one for you.”

“We can go shopping when we get home.” He was
playing with it. Turning the ring around so it caught the
moonlight. But he wasn’t saying yes.

Delilah’s heart pounded.

“Where will we live?”

She shrugged, keeping her voice utterly neutral.
“Your house. Mine. Neither. Both. Somewhere in Chicago, but I’m not
picky.” But she’d appreciate it if he would hurry up and answer,
because in a second she’d forget how to breathe.

His gaze flicked up and met hers, and he
softened into something much gentler than a smile. “Yes,” he said.
“I love you.”

He slipped the ring on, and Delilah remembered
how to breathe. Everything was perfect. She stretched up and kissed
him under the winter stars. After all, even villains could have
happy endings.

Sharp-eyed viewers spotted some shiny swag on
Chicago’s newly elected mayor. During the city council press
conference, several people noticed that Mayor Adale was sporting a
swanky new ring on his left hand. The new mayor later confirmed
that he and Delilah Samson of Subrosa Securities had gotten engaged
over the winter holidays. Although Chicago’s infamous gossip mill
has long had the two paired together, this is the first public
confirmation of their relationship. The couple plans to marry this
spring and hold a public reception for family, friends, and
well-wishers at the Chicago Field Museum.

If you enjoyed reading
Even Villains Have
Interns,
you may enjoy these other Breathless Press titles:

Even Villains Fall In Love

Even Villains Go To The Movies

Catch A Scoundrel By The Tail

A Taste For Killing

All For Spilled Blood

Eyes Only

Available at Breathless Press

www.breathlesspress.com

Liana Brooks would like to SCUBA dive Europa
(that moon around Jupiter), but with the NASA shuttle program shut
down she’s resorted to writing science fiction instead. She likes
southern beaches, warm weather, sharks, and striped socks.

Her superhero romance series started with
Even Villains Fall in Love
and continues with
Even
Villains Go to the Movies
and
Even Villains Have
Interns
. For those who prefer their romance without a side
order of spandex she’s written
Prime Sensations
(part of the
Tales From the SFR Brigades anthology) and
Fey Lights
.

You can find Liana on the web at
www.lianabrooks.com, on Twitter as @LianaBrooks, or on Face Book
under the same name.