“She does it for me,” Kent said, pulling her in close and nuzzling at her hair. “I think it’s sexy as hell.”
Sylvie laughed and Phae shoved at Kent’s chest. “Stop that!”
“It’s so cute. Newlyweds. Hey, aren’t you two supposed to be heading out today? Can’t believe you didn’t go on your honeymoon right after your wedding,” Sylvie said.
“It’s only been a week. We had a few details to settle with the house and stuff,” Phae said. “We’ll have a big housewarming party when we get back. The house should be completely done by then.”
“Good deal. I’ll be there. Have fun on your trip. And be safe,” Sylvie said.
They bid their farewells and Phae got a pang when the little bell over the door jingled as they left her shop. No, it wasn’t her shop anymore. It was Sylvie’s.
Phae and Kent walked toward the square.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“No. It’s going to be great.”
“We’ll be helping a lot of people.”
A thrill of excitement shot through her. “And having fun doing it.”
“I’m still not convinced we can keep this a secret. Setting up facilities to train people to be Captain Nice Guys will be hard enough. Getting the right candidates who’ll keep the secret … I don’t know.”
“I’ve got lots of ideas for that,” Phae assured him, confident they’d pull it off. “Imagine it. Someday, I hope every town in the state has their own do-gooder ninja.”
“I wish you’d quit bringing it up that I called you that.”
“And I wish you weren’t so good at sneaking up on me. You’ve become a real expert.”
“All the better to seduce you, my dear.”
“You should knock that off,” she teased.
He coughed and sputtered, clutched his chest. “Stop seducing you? I think you’ve killed me finally. We’ve only been married a week and you’re kicking me out of your bedroom.”
Phae rolled her eyes. “It’s not the seduction part I mind. It’s the sneaking. You make me feel … well … like I’m losing my skills. You’ve sexed all the edge out of me.”
He laughed loudly. “You’re a hard woman, Phae Holmes.” He pulled her into a gap between two buildings and began kissing her neck.
She giggled when he nibbled her earlobe. His every touch made her tingle, but she was particularly sensitive on the ear. “Stop it. People will see.”
“I don’t care. And you said you didn’t mind me seducing you.”
“Oh … my,” she moaned as he licked around the edge of her ear. “I can’t remember what I was complaining about.”
A loud voice boomed near them. “Okay you two kids. Break it up. There’s a law against this kind of behavior in these parts.”
Phae sprung away from Kent and looked around to see James watching them with a twinkle in his eye.
Kent gave James a sour look. “You have the worst timing, friend.”
James pointed at Kent. “Don’t you forget it. It’s time you cleaned up your act and behaved like a respectable old married man.”
“Never.”
James shrugged then joined the pair as they resumed their walk.
“Are you ready to be Captain Nice Guy while we’re gone?” Phae asked. “I don’t want you screwing up my legacy.”
“I think I can handle putting cutesy notes on bicycles and checking for keys in cars,” he said in a gruff voice. “Don’t know why you’ve had me working out so much. I’m so sore I can hardly move.”
Phae tried not to smile but couldn’t help herself. “Poor baby. I do appreciate it, though. It would have been suspicious if Captain Nice Guy had disappeared at the same time I went on my honeymoon. Aren’t you having a little bit of fun?”
“I guess. But I prefer using my badge to help people.”
Kent slapped his old friend on the back. “It’s harder sneaking around than you thought it would be, isn’t it? I know from experience.”
“I’ll be glad when you’re home and we can get back to normal life. Well, if you can call a woman running around at night pretending to be a superhero normal.” He held up his hands in a defensive gesture. “Now don’t go getting riled up, Phae. I’m just joking with you.”
“You’d best look out, James,” Kent said. “I’ve had her softened up for months now and I don’t want you ruining it.”
Phae ignored the pair of them.
“So where are you two heading?” James asked.
“We’re off to the lawyer’s office to sign the incorporation paperwork for our new company,” Kent answered.
“And what will this company do?”
“Design software,” Phae lied easily. “But don’t ask what kind. Kent hasn’t decided yet. He won’t settle on an idea.”
“That’s not true and you know it,” Kent said. “The truth is that you’re insatiable. I tell you, James, your cousin is so greedy, she won’t let me out of bed long enough to get any work done.”
“On that note, which I didn’t want to hear by the way,” James said, “I need to be getting back to the office. Have a safe trip and check in now and again so we know you’re safe.”
“We will,” they assured him. Phae knew she’d definitely keep in touch because she’d want to know if he was doing her job correctly or not.
After they parted from James, Phae remembered something she’d read online.
“I meant to tell you,” she said, “I saw on a news site last night that my old boss at Fullerton has been indicted on charges of fraud and mishandling the company’s retirement funds. Pretty wild, huh?”
“Interesting,” Kent said, sounding way too casual for Phae’s liking.
“The ex-director I knew was also arrested, as an accomplice.”
“Is that so?”
“I thought you might have heard about it.”
“Not that I recall.”
“Not that you recall?” She stopped and gave him a hard look. “Come on.”
Kent looked in the opposite direction, craning his neck to see nothing worth seeing. “I don’t see why you’d say that. I’ll admit I’m not sorry they’ve been caught.”
“I’m not sorry either,” Phae said. “You figured out who they were, and you went after them, didn’t you? I know you did, so don’t try to hide it. There’s one thing I have to know, though—you didn’t set them up, right?”
Kent turned to her and blew out a breath. “I won’t apologize for it. They had it coming, both of them, the bastards. But no, I didn’t set them up. They were totally crooked and my investigators had no problem finding enough dirt to bury them three times over. They were bad men, Phae, to more people than you.”
She felt a surge of pride. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “And you are a good man, Kent. The best man I’ve known.”
He beamed down at her. “I was afraid you’d be mad, so I didn’t tell you.”
“I’m not mad. I’m relieved. I’ve always felt guilty that they might be hurting other women, and I didn’t stop them. I’m glad. Thank you, Kent, for defending my honor.”
“It was my pleasure, Ma’am,” he drawled.
They walked along for a bit until Kent broke the silence. “So, my lovely wife, any last minute doubts? Once we cross this street we’ll be at the lawyer’s office.”
“No. Except the name. I keep worrying CNG, Ltd. will be too obvious.”
Kent shook his head. “No way. No one around here will even know it’s us, let alone make the connection to Captain Nice Guy.”
“You’re right. I’ve got last minute jitters, I guess.”
“Like you had before our wedding?”
“I didn’t have jitters, Kent. I’ve never been more sure about anything than I was about marrying you.”
They shared an intimate look.
“Same here,” he said.
“I will say, though,” Phae said, “I had a moment’s concern when Miss Eugenia called me the night before and talked my ear o
ff about everything I need to know to keep you alive: vinegar head wraps, garlic rubs, calming teas and infusions, all sorts of smelly stuff I’ll have to put up with if you’re going to survive the winter.”
“You’re a saint,” Kent said, squeezing her gently.
They started across the street.
“Speaking of saints,” he said as he reached into his pocket. “I happened to run across this little thing while we were moving the last of your stuff today. I don’t suppose you could bless me by wearing this tonight on our honeymoon, could you?”
“What is it?” Phae peered closely at the black wad of fabric crumpled in his hand. “Oh, you’re kidding me. It’s that slutty little black dress you got me, isn’t it? Forget it, buddy. I’m not wearing that thing.”
“Come on. It’s not that bad. Be a nice girl, Phae.”