his escape, and Phury, his twin—who was the one who got him out—lost part of his leg in the process. But everything worked out. They’re both mated now, and Z has the cutest damn—er, darn—young on the planet. You’d like Nalla. She’s a peach of a toddler.”
“I think I would like to have young someday.”
Mary turned around once again. “And so you will.”
“But you can’t, right? So what if that happens to me?”
“Well, maybe it could. But I like to believe that if you think positively, positive things happen. So visualize yourself in a happy family, mated to a male who loves you and takes care of you and lets you take care of him. And then see that infant of yours all warm and squirmy in your arms. See her eyes that are like yours, or maybe his hair that’s like his father’s. Visualize it and think positively, and make it happen.”
“And anyway,” Rhage chimed in, “even if you can’t bear your young, you can maybe adopt one. Or work with kids, like Mary does. There are always ways around things.”
“Always,” Mary agreed.
They drove along for a little more, and then Rhage headed back to Safe Place. As he pulled up to the curb and put the GTO in park, he cleared his throat.
“So, Bitty.”
“Yes?”
Rhage cranked his massive shoulders around so he could look back at the girl. “I have to work tomorrow night, but the night after I have off. Will you have dinner with Mary and me? I want to go out to eat.”
“To a restaurant?” Bitty asked.
“Yup. TGI Fridays—ever been?”
“Well, no, actually.”
“So what do you say?”
Annnnnd this is just one more reason to love him, isn’t it, Mary thought.
Getting out, she popped the top half of her seat and held it forward.
Bitty looked up at her. “Is that okay, Ms. Luce?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then yes, please.”
“Great!” Rhage clapped his hands. “Oh, my God, you have to totally get the brownie sundae. It’s amazing.”
Bitty stood at the curb for a moment. Then she lifted her hand in good-bye. “Thank you. For the ice cream.”
“Can’t wait for dinner!”
Mary put the seat back into place, leaned in and planted her palm on the still-warm leather from where she’d been sitting. “I’ll see you back home?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Stretching forward, she kissed him on the mouth. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, my Mary.” Rhage tugged her down for another kiss and lowered his voice. “Baths are fun. Did you know that?”
As a smile hit her face and stayed there, she cocked a brow. “Oh, really?”
“I think I’ll run one and get in it right before Last Meal. Come find me?”
“Does this mean we’re eating in our room again?”
“God, I hope so.”
She laughed as she straightened out of the car. “I’ll be home regular time, okay?”
“And you know where to find me!”
As she stepped away, she found Bitty staring back and forth between them. And then the car was roaring and Rhage skidded the tires, leaving tracks.
Mary laughed. “Such a show-off.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s trying to impress us with his driving.” The pair of them started for the house. “Guys do that. They can’t help it.”
Coming up to the front door, Mary entered the code, and as she opened things wide, the scent of chocolate-chip cookies wafted into her nose.
“Wow. Twice this week with the Toll House.”
She wanted to suggest to Bitty that they follow the sounds of laughter and talking back to the big kitchen and hang out with everyone, but the girl went directly to the stairs. Hoping for some other opening, or chance to talk, Mary followed her up to the second floor, and stopped on the landing in front of her office.
“You’re going to head for the attic?” she said. “I’ll be here doing paperwork if you need anything. Or, you know, if you want to go make cookies?”
Bitty shrugged out of that big, puffy parka. “I think I’ll sit in my room. But thank you.”
“Okay. Well, good-night.”
“Good-night—”
“I’ll be here. Until just before dawn.”
“Thank you.”
Mary stayed where she was, in front of the open door to her office, as Bitty went to the stairs—
It happened so fast. One moment, the girl was walking away. The next, she had turned around and rushed back across the distance.
Her arms went around Mary quick as a breath and held on for no longer than that.
And then Bitty was gone, ascending to the attic without sparing another word or glance.
Mary stood where she was.
For quite some time.
Okay, so then that happened, V thought as his words hung