Wrong Question, Right Answer (The Bourbon Street Boys #3) - Elle Casey Page 0,117

ceiling as he scrubs his scalp. “I love that girl so much.”

“I know you do. You guys are meant for each other. I promise I won’t screw this up. I’ll be at the wedding.”

Ozzie tilts his head up to look at me. “I’m sorry I was hard on you the other day at work. You didn’t deserve that. I was just worried about you. You caught me on a bad day. This case has been driving the chief nuts, and shit rolls downhill right into my lap.”

“I get it. Really. Don’t apologize. It’s weird.”

He smiles, and this time it’s genuine. “See you on Thursday?” The wedding was delayed for a day in deference to my cracked ribs. I would have preferred longer, but something with the florist made that impossible.

He nods. “See you Thursday.” He stands and looks toward the kitchen before turning back to me, his right hand splayed on his chest. “Can I get you anything before I go?”

I point at the doorway as Lucky comes in carrying a tray. “Nope. I think I’m all set.”

“Hot tea, homemade cookies, toast, and jam from the farmers’ market,” Lucky says, walking carefully so he doesn’t dump the items on the silver tray.

I smile at my guy. He winks at me and places the food and drinks on the table.

“You want to stay for some tea, man?” Lucky asks Ozzie.

Ozzie answers from the front doorway. “A tea party? No, thanks. I don’t want to have to hand in my man-card.”

I grab Lucky’s hand and pull him down onto the couch with me, trying to cover up the wince of pain that follows. “Don’t listen to him. You’re so manly you have two man-cards in your wallet.”

“You know it, babe. Got your twin-making super-sperm right here.” He leans in and kisses my lips and then my belly, and I let myself drown in the happiness. The front door opens and shuts as Ozzie lets himself out.

CHAPTER FORTY

May’s big day is here. I’ve applied half a bottle of foundation to my face, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. The swelling by my cheek is still bad, but the weird blue and green marks around my left eye are almost completely hidden. My hair covers the stitches in my scalp.

Unfortunately, the dress I’m supposed to wear is mostly sleeveless, but I find a black sweater in the back of my closet that’s lightweight enough to manage the hot weather. I slide it on, covering the bruises on my arms. Dark hose do a pretty decent job of masking the marks on my legs. When I stand in front of the full-length mirror, I smile. I look almost normal.

Lucky walks up behind me, cinching his tie.

“Damn.” I stare at his reflection. “Could you be any more gorgeous?”

“You like?” He smiles, holding his arms out. His beard has been brushed and shaped into a point under his chin.

I ignore the beard part. “Definitely. When my ribs are better, we’re totally having sex.”

He leans closer, talking earnestly. “We could do it right now. I’d be very gentle.”

I push him away with a finger and laugh. “Go away. I have cracked ribs.” It’s still hard to take a deep breath, but I have them wrapped so tightly in bandages, it gives them the support they need. The bandages and my Tylenol are going to carry me through the night.

Now I just have to survive the tongue-lashing I’m sure to get from May and Jenny, and I’ll be golden. I don’t expect Eunice to show up at my door looking for another helping of my ass, so I’m good there. She got in some decent licks, but she only did it because I came to her being a dumbass, serving myself up on a silver platter. I definitely won’t be doing that ever again.

I still haven’t seen Jenny or May. Every time they’ve come over I’ve been asleep, and Lucky is a tough caregiver. He won’t let anybody disturb my sleep. Whenever they tried to argue, he brought out the big guns, otherwise known as Milli and Vanilli. He’s not too proud to use our children as weapons, but I’m thankful for it. I’ve been sleeping about eighteen hours a day, and I’m pretty sure my body has needed it.

Jenny’s backyard is in full bloom. It looks like an entire truckload of extra flowers has been brought in. There’s an arbor set up in a far corner and chairs are lined up in front of it