Catalina drank some wine and thought about it some more.
“Huh,” she said again.
Slater cleared his throat. “I have suggested that if Lark and LeClair does decide to accept the Foundation as a client, it will need a representative from headquarters stationed here in Seattle.”
Catalina looked at him. “Would this representative be here on a temporary basis?”
Slater’s eyes heated. “Permanent.”
A rush of joy lifted Catalina’s senses. The room got a little brighter. She looked at Olivia.
“I think we could add the Foundation to our list of clients,” she said.
Olivia cast a benevolent smile on her and on Slater.
“Working together at Lark and LeClair will give the two of you plenty of time to get to know each other,” she said.
“Right,” Catalina said.
Slater’s eyes heated. “Right. Plenty of time.”
CHAPTER 42
Las Vegas, one week later . . .
You know,” Slater said, “this isn’t bad for a couple of risk-averse people. It doesn’t get much more spontaneous than a midnight wedding in Las Vegas.”
Catalina stirred, rolled off Slater and fell onto her back. She opened her eyes and regarded the mirrored ceiling overhead. The image of the two of them cuddled close together, naked in a wildly rumpled bed, made her smile.
“Just call us Mr. and Ms. Spontaneous,” she said.
Slater folded one arm behind his head and studied the reflection. “You do realize a five-minute ceremony with Elvis officiating is not going to satisfy our families. I predict a lavish reception, lots of useless gifts and a night of dancing under the stars on the roof garden of my uncle’s penthouse in our near future.”
“That sounds nice. Olivia can take me shopping for a sexy gown and some sparkly high heels.”
“I thought you looked terrific in your black jeans and that black trench coat tonight.”
“Thank you.” She turned on her side and drew her fingertips across Slater’s chest. “You looked pretty fabulous yourself, in your cargo pants and that T-shirt and leather jacket.”
“We are apparently a couple of fashion icons. Who knew?”
Several hours ago they had been sitting in a coffeehouse in Seattle talking about their future when Slater had looked at her and said, “Can you think of one good reason why we should wait?” She had contemplated the question for about two seconds before she came up with her response: “Nope.”
Slater had snagged three seats—economy class because there were no first-class seats available—on a flight to Las Vegas. Olivia had taken the third seat. “You’ll need a witness,” she explained.
The next thing Catalina knew she was marrying Slater in a wonderfully tacky wedding chapel on the Strip. In addition to Olivia, Victor and Lucas had shown up to act as witnesses and serve as the groom’s best men. After the event, Slater’s uncles had taken Olivia on a tour of the town’s hottest nightclubs. Catalina and Slater had slipped away to an over-the-top honeymoon suite at one of the glitziest hotels on the Strip. The room had been a wedding gift from Victor and Lucas.
“What do you say we try out that whirlpool bath in the other room?” Slater suggested.
“Excellent idea,” Catalina said.
Slater got to his feet and reached for her hand. She rolled off the bed, entwined her fingers in his and stood on tiptoe to brush a kiss across his mouth. He caught her head in one hand and held her in place so that he could deepen the kiss.
“You know, they say that no one can predict the future,” she said. “But between you and me, ours looks very, very good.”
“Yes,” Slater said, “it does. Better than good. Perfect. I love you, Catalina.”
She touched the edge of his jaw with one fingertip. “I love you, Slater.”
“Forever,” he said.
“Forever.”
He kissed her again, sealing the vow. When he raised his head she could see the heat in his eyes. Energy shivered in the atmosphere.
Catalina smiled. “I always knew there would be fireworks and lightning.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.
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