“Thank you, I guess.It’s good to see they’ve replaced Silas Briggs withsomeone who’s a little more reasonable.” He grinned.“Not to mention, someone with a much prettier face.”Agent Pallas snapped the ankle monitor on, and Kyleyelled out in pain.“Son of a bitch, you got some skin there!” he said toPallas.Cameron threw the FBI agent a look. “Jack.”He shrugged. “It slipped.” He turned back to Kyle witha look that could wilt plants.”

“And as for you Agent Pallas – man-to-man, if you ever insult my girl on national television again, I’ll…” he stopped.Everyone in the room waited, hanging. Jack raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”Collin turned to Cameron with a look of astonishment. “I’ve got nothing. I had this whole exit speech going and I was gonna end with some big macho threat but when I got there, it was like – bleh – nothing. That’s a pisser.” He appeared disgusted with himself, then shrugged it off. “Oh well. Catch you guys later.”He strode out without a second glance.”

“Well, I got to get out of this uniform. But Kyle, just a word, you’ve been snapping and harping at everyone trying to help you with this wedding, and you need to knock that off. Everyone knows when they’re being a bitch.” He looked pointedly at his daughter.Livia patted her sister’s shoulder. “It’s true. You’re being a bitch.”Kyle threw the floral catalog at her as she headed downstairs.”

“You like being in love with someone who’s not going to love you back.” She opened her eyes. He looked at her. “Why would I like that?” she asked. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“He's twenty-nine. And what did you think he was going to look like?"She shrugged."You know-old. Grizzled. Long white beard. Scruffy robes. Loveable, smart, a little absent minded." I bit back a grin. " I said 'sorcerer,' not 'Dumbledore.' So he's hot. It could be worse.”

“Come on," Cole said. He looked back over his shoulder at Mr. Brisbane, who was looking at me with a complicated expression as I left. Cole pointed at him and said, "You're a son of a bitch. He belongs here more than you do.”