"Yeah, I do," he said softly. "I fell in love with a tenacious, bullheaded, tenderhearted dynamo of a woman. I spent months being in such awe over you that I damn near screwed up any chance I had with you."

She swallowed and her shaking grew worse.

"Honey, listen to me. I love every single thing about you. I love your brass and your sass. I love that you don't need me, but you want me. I think the men in your past were brainless pigs, but you know what? I'm glad they were because they saved you for me. And I swear to God, if you ever get any harebrained notion to lose weight again, I'll kick that ass of yours all over Houston. You are . . . delectable. And you're mine. And I love you just the way you are."

"Oh God," she whispered. "You don't play fair, Nathan."

"I sure hope to hell not. Now tell me you love me again. Tell me you're not going to run from me ever again."

"I love you. I won't run anymore."

He cupped her head and pulled her down to meet his kiss. Hot, breathless, with so much love her heart nearly burst.

"What I'm going to do right now is take you into the bedroom, and I'm going to make love to you until you can't see straight. And then? I'm going to love you some more."

"Tell me again," she whispered.

He stroked his hands through her hair and stared at her with such love and warmth in those green eyes. He didn't need to say it. She could see it brimming there. But she wanted to savor those words again. She'd never get tired of hearing them.

"I love you, Julie Stanford."

She settled into his arms with a contented sigh. "And I love you, Nathan Tucker. If you talk sweet enough, I'll let you finally catch me."

Chapter 33

Micah stood in the back of Damon's garden and watched as the newlywed couple laughingly stuffed cake in each others faces. He never could figure out the appeal himself, but they looked ridiculously happy, so he couldn't begrudge them.

Then he smiled as he remembered Hannah on their wedding day, all sweet and shining with happiness. She'd very carefully put the piece of cake on his tongue then daintily wiped the crumbs away with a napkin. She was exacting like that though.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, content to remain where he was and observe the festivities. Faith and Gray danced off to the side, which was amusing since there wasn't a band, and no music was playing, and, well, Gray was a pretty terrible dancer. Faith didn't seem to mind though. She was wrapped all around him, her sweet smile warming the entire garden.

And then there was Nathan and Julie. He grinned. Nathan ... the dude was done. Stick a fork in him. He was never out of touching distance of Julie. He had a hand on her shoulder, or her elbow, sometimes resting on the back of her hair, idly stroking downward. At times he pulled her into his side, his arm around her waist, while other times he linked his fingers through hers.

It was pretty damn funny to see the big, bald guy positively brought to his knees by the tiny package that was Julie. All she had to do was smile up at him, and Nathans entire face lit up with a goofy, shit-eating grin.

A funny sort of wistful note crept through his mind. He missed having a woman look at him like that. He loved women, but only one woman had loved him.

"Hey man, you made it back."

Micah turned to see Connor walk up behind him.

"Hey, yeah, wouldn't miss the big day for Damon and Serena."

"Good vacation?" Connor asked casually.

Micah stilled. "Yeah. Good."

"Missed a lot of excitement."

"Yeah, I heard. I have a feeling Nathan's boring days are over, though."

Connor snickered. "You aren't lying about that. That woman has him tied up in knots."

"She's a great girl," Micah said with a warm smile.

"Yeah," Connor said easily. "She is."

"Pop here?"

Connor shook his head. "Nah. He doesn't really know Damon. I don't either, for that matter. I guess I'm here as a secondary guest."

Just then Nathan looked up and saw Micah. He lifted his head in acknowledgment, and for a moment, Micah wondered if he was going to avoid the first confrontation between the three of them since that last night.

Nathan lowered his head and said something to Julie, who looked his way and waved with a grin. Then she laced her fingers with Nathan's and pulled him toward Micah.

Micah smiled. Leave it to Julie to head off any awkwardness. He knew he wasn't wrong about her.

"Hey, you made it," Julie said as the approached.

Nathan stuck his fist out to Micah and they bumped knuckles.

"Where the hell have you been, man?"

"Vacation," he said shortly.

"Must have been a good one," Julie said.

Startled, he glanced down at her. "Why do you say that?"

She studied him for a moment. "You look different. Good different."

"Thanks. I think."

"It was a compliment," she said with a grin.

Feeling like needling Nathan just a bit, Micah grinned slyly. "So, when do I get to collect on my bet?"

Unflustered, she raised one eyebrow and looked coolly at him. "Hudson, does it look like I've been tamed?"

He threw back his head and laughed. Oh yeah, Nathan was going to have fun with this one. Damn if she didn't have him on this one. Nathan could be with her fifty years and he'd never tame her.

Nathan scowled. "What the hell are you two talking about?"

Julie patted him on the arm. "Your friend here once bet me that I'd be tamed before he ever would. I was merely pointing out that you don't have a prayer of ever accomplishing that feat."

Nathan's lips quirked upward into a grin. "Nope, and furthermore I'd never want to."

They turned as Damon called for attention, Serena standing at his side, glowing like a beacon in the sun. Micah listened as his friend thanked everyone for coming and then announced that he and Serena were leaving for their honeymoon but that everyone was welcome to remain for as long as they liked.

Good food, good friends. The evening held a lot of promise, but Micah had a sudden urge to go home. Lately a feeling of restlessness had settled over him, a relentless sort of ache he was at a loss to describe. Or analyze.

He moved forward to congratulate Damon and Serena again and to bid them good-bye. Then he quietly made his rounds so that he could ease away from the party.

"I'm heading out," he said when he reached Nathan and Julie, the last of his good-byes. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you at work," Nathan said.

As Micah started to walk away, he saw Nathan frown.

"Hey, wait a minute. What did you bet Julie anyway?"

Micah started laughing even as he kept on walking.

"Something I never had a prayer of collecting," he called over his shoulder.