Their Virgin Mate [Panther Cove 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (22 page)

Two smiling people, who she swore didn’t look older than fifty, drew her into a joint hug.

“It’s so nice to meet you, dear.” His mom kissed her on the cheek.

To her surprise, their dad was only six feet tall. She’d expected another giant. “Come here and let me give you a hug.”

She thought for a moment he might squish her, but he eventually let go.

“You are a real beauty,” the father said. “I have waited a long time for my children to find their mate. I see they’ve done well.”

“Thank you.” She was so happy they approved.

“So where are you three going on your honeymoon?”

She’d wanted to know that, too, since they wouldn’t tell her. They’d had her sign a piece of paper but covered up every part but the place for her signature. “Yeah, where are we going?”

They grinned. Hercules looked over at Casius. “Think we should tell her?”

“Well, I guess we’ll have to at some point. She’s going to have to pack soon as we’re leaving in five days.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Where?”

Casius tilted back his head. “Remember you said you’d never been anywhere?”

“Yes.”

“We’re going take you on a two-week tour of Europe.”

Her heart stopped. She had to inhale to get it started again. “You’re kidding.” She jumped up and down.

“Nope. We’re going to show you everything.”

This was a dream come true. “But what about my store?”

“Since you’ve been so reluctant to hire someone, we got someone to help out.”

“Who?”

“You don’t know her, but she’s a business major from the university. We figured there will be times in the future when you won’t be up for working.” He winked.

They hadn’t told their parents about their upcoming grandchild. “I think it’s a stellar idea.”

“Really? We thought you might be mad.”

“I guess you don’t know me very well.”

Casius wrapped an arm around her waist. “Then come with me so I can learn more.”

Dance music piped up. When she looked, the chairs had been moved to the side. That was fast.

Mr. Drake moved her out of his son’s grasp. “This first dance is a father-daughter dance, and I’d be honored if you’d dance with me.”

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Tears brimmed on her lashes at the thought. “I would so love to dance with you.”

As he escorted her on to the dance floor, the brimming tear fell. She wiped it away. “It’s a tear of joy.”

“As well it should be.”

As he led her around the floor, peace seeped into her soul. Never had she imagined she’d find two perfect men. They loved her for who she was and for what their life could be in the future. Images of kids racing around the house and in the forest brought more joy. She sniffled and glanced over Mr. Drake’s shoulder at her two beaming husbands.

Life is good.

THE END

Unlike most other authors, I started writing late in life. Writing stories in high school and college was not for me. Only after I graduated did I fall in love with romance novels. For the next twenty years, I read voraciously. It got to a point where my book-buying habits cost as much as my groceries. At that point, my husband suggested I write a book. Hey, it looked easy, right? All the stories started in the same spot (hero and heroine at odds) and ended the same way (happily ever after). Only it was anything but easy. Eleven years and fifteen completed romantic suspenses later, I finally published. I never would have gotten that far had it not been for two local chapters whose generous members shared their amazing wealth of knowledge
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