The One-Night Wife

' 'Savannah. Are you all right?''

"Yes. I'm— How did you find me?"

"Your sister. Missy. Is she all right, too?"

"She's fine. She cried when she saw me..." Savannah's voice broke. "I thought I'd lost you forever."

Sean opened his arms and she flew into them. He held her tightly against his heart.

"It's okay," he crooned. "Sweetheart, it's okay, I prom­ise. Everything's going to be fine."

"He took Missy. He said—he said he was going to leave her at a place. A—a horrible place..."

"Hush, baby. I'm here now. I'll take care of everything."

Savannah buried her face against Sean's throat, her tears hot on his skin. From the corner of his eye* he saw Beau­mont rising to his knees.

"Don't," he said softly, "not unless you want your face rearranged."

"Sean." Savannah looked up. "Sean, I love you with all my heart. I had to say those things. Beaumont—"

Sean kissed her until he felt some of the tension begin to ease from her body.

"I know you do. I should never have believed any of that stuff you said."

She gave a watery laugh. ' 'I'm a good actress, remember? You told me that yourself."

"Please," Beaumont whimpered. "Sean. Mr. O'Connell. This is all a terrible misunderstanding."

There was a knock at the door. "Sean? Sean, you in there?"

Sean grinned, reached back and opened the door. Keir, Cullen and Dan stepped into the room. They looked at

Beaumont, cowering on the floor, then at Sean and Savan­nah, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Looks like you need somebody to take out the trash," Keir said.

"Please," Beaumont whispered, "gentlemen, I beg you..."

"Dan?" Sean shot Beaumont one last cold look. "Dan, your pals in law enforcement might be interested in knowing how this man took a minor from a sanitarium without the consent of her legal guardian, and what plans he had for her next."

Dan grinned. "How charming. Mr. Beaumont, I think we have several things to discuss."

Cullen looked at Sean. "You gonna be okay?"

Sean nodded. "I'll be fine."

He looked at Savannah, too. "Anything we can do to help?"

"My sister... I'd like a doctor to see her, just to make sure she's all right. And—and if you would be kind enough to find a room for her for tonight—"

"A room?" Keir snorted. "We have an entire hotel. Come to think of it, Cassie and I have a room adjoining ours that would be perfect, especially if we arrange for a nurse to keep her company. That sound okay?"

"It sounds wonderful." Savannah laughed and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. "You're wonderful. All of you. How can I ever make up for tonight?"

"Just keep making the kid happy," Cullen said, smiling. "That's all we ask. Right, BB?"

Keir rolled his eyes. "You call me Big Brother again, pal, you're in trouble."

The brothers grinned, grabbed Beaumont by the arms and hauled him from the room. Dan was already on his cell phone, making arrangements with the district attorney.

"We'll send a car for you," Cullen called over his shoulder.

Once they were alone, Sean did his best to look serious. "Here's the thing," he said sternly. "You always have to tell me the truth, even if it's bad. That's what you should have done the minute that bastard phoned."

Savannah sighed. "I know. But I was afraid. I didn't know what he'd do to Missy. That was why I'd agreed to play you in the first place. Alain made threats..."

"Yeah," Sean said tightly, "well, those days are over."

"And I couldn't tell you. I was afraid you'd do something crazy and get hurt."

Sean kissed her. "The only thing that could ever hurt me," he said gruffly, "would be losing you."

Smiling, she looped her arms around his neck. "I'll never leave you, Sean O'Connell. You're stuck with me. We're married, remember?"

"Damned right we are," he said gruffly, and drew her closer. "And I've been thinking... A married man needs to settle down. Get a job—"

"A job?"

"Well, maybe not a job, exactly. Start a business. Hotels. Casinos. I'm not sure." He kissed her. "You'll have to work out the details with me."

Savannah laughed softly. "My pleasure, O'Connell."

' 'And I've been thinking about that ceremony we had this afternoon..."

"It was lovely," she said dreamily. "Despite Elvis."

Sean grinned. "It was, but, I don't know, maybe a once in a lifetime event should be a little more dignified."

"Dignified? You?" she said, but she smiled.

His arms tightened around her. "How would you feel if we did it all over again? The works. You in a white gown, me in a tux, my whole impossible family doing their best to drive us nuts... What do you think, Just-Savannah?"

"I think you're going to make me cry," she whispered.

"I'll never make you cry," he promised, "except with happiness."

Savannah raised her mouth to his and Sean kissed her until they were alone again in a world of their own making.

A world that would always and forever be real.