Naughty and Notorious

“Let’s go see if the swans are out,” I suggest, getting down from my horse and then helping her off of Bow.

“There’s swans in this lake?” She can’t hide the excitement in her voice.

“Well, just the one pair,” I say as I keep her hand in mine, and we walk along the wooden dock. “There’s fish here, and a mean old turtle I’ve been trying to run off for years.”

“I love to fish.” She surprises me by saying that.

“Really? Me too. I’ll have to take you out on the boat sometime.”

“Yeah, that sounds great.” She looks down at her feet, and I can see her trying to hide a smile.

I hate that she’s hiding her excitement, but I’m happy to have some further inside information. “Here they come.”

We walk inside the gazebo and to the edge that faces the water. The swans are swimming in the distance, but when they see us, they begin to paddle in our direction.

“Oh my goodness, they’re beautiful!” Kitty bounces on her toes as they come closer and closer.

“I keep food out here for them. Here, lift up the seat.” She reaches down and pulls out a bag of food. I hold it for her while she cups her hands and then tosses some out to them.

“How long have they been here?” She’s throwing by the fistful now as they get closer and closer.

“I’m not sure really, but not long. They showed up a few weeks back and never left.”

“Do they have babies?” She looks around as if babies are going to appear next.

“I think babies are on the way. Little Lady has been nesting on the edge of the trees over there.”

“Will the boy hurt them?” She looks up at me with pleading eyes, and now it’s my turn to tuck my chin to hide a smile.

“Uh, no, swans aren’t like that,” I tell her, pouring more food into her hand. “They mate for life.”

“Really?” She looks so relieved and excited at the same time, and it’s adorable.

“He’ll be there for her when the babies hatch, and he won’t hurt them. Then when they’re older and leave, he’ll still be with her.” I stare at her as she watches the swans, and I think about forever with Kitty. “He’ll be with her and only her. Forever.”

“That’s kind of romantic.” She looks up at me through her lashes as I take a step closer.

“That’s the forever I’m looking for.” I touch the edge of her chin and make her tilt up to look at me. “I’m mated for life too, Kitty.”

“Judge,” she says softly, and I lean down and touch my lips to hers.

She’s soft and small against me, but I love the feeling. She’s so delicate that she needs me to protect her and keep her safe. All I want to do is give her everything she never had and love her for the rest of her life. What could be so bad about that?

She rests her forehead to mine before she turns away and looks out at the lake. “You make me feel things, Judge. And I don’t know if I’m ready for so much all at once.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Kitty.” I wait for her to look back at me. “And neither are you.”Chapter SevenKittyI sit on the fluffy sofa watching television to kill some time. I’m not paying my favorite reality show a second of attention because all my thoughts are on my new husband. When we got back from our ride he took a shower.

He teased me about washing his back, but I’d quickly declined and gotten flustered. I was tempted, but my mind is all over the place, along with my emotions. How many times have I wondered what Judge would look like naked? Too many to count.

I groan and turn off the TV. I’m going to have to go up to bed sooner or later. I should be tired, but I’m filled with adrenaline at the thought of what’s going to happen tonight. Judge said he would give me time to get used to all this, but it’s technically our wedding night. Not wanting to torture myself with what’s going to happen next, I make myself get up and walk toward the bedroom.

What would he say if I told him I’m going to sleep in one of the other rooms? He might already have plans to sleep in a spare room for all I know. My stomach sours at the thought because I’m a nutball.

When I enter the bedroom, I hear the shower water still running, so I slip into the closet to find something to wear to bed. I open one of the drawers in the island that sits in the middle of the closet. This space is twice the size of the bedroom my sister and I used to share. My eyes almost pop out of my head when I see it holds rows and rows of beautiful earrings. I shut that drawer and open another. It’s the same, but this time with bracelets and watches.