Beauty and the Wolf (16 page)

“Of course.” Harry's eyes twinkled. “Can't have my niece's fiancé out of work.”

Jack chuckled. “Good to know my grandson is marrying into a family that understands taking care of its own.”

“There will be other opportunities, too, of course,”

Harry told him. “HuntCom has facilities outside Seattle, some overseas.”

“I'd just as soon the boys worked closer to home, especially now that Eli's going to be married,” Jack told him. “It's hard to keep a wife happy and be a good dad from half a world away.”

“True.” Harry nodded his agreement.

 

Jack's deep laugh was clearly audible over the murmur of conversation. Frankie looked at Eli's grandfather, finding him in deep conversation with Harry, and felt a niggle of foreboding. Arm hooked through Eli's, she leaned against his side and went up on tiptoe to reach him. He bent his head.

“Eli, your grandfather and Harry look like they're plotting,” she whispered in his ear. “Should we be worried?”

He glanced up and across the room, covering her hand with his where it rested on his sleeve. “No,” he reassured her. “Harry's a cagey guy, but Granddad can run him a close second. They're probably telling each
other stories about the business deals they've wangled, trying to top each other.”

“You know,” Frankie said slowly, watching the two older men and the ease they seemed to feel with each other. “I'm wondering if we made a mistake getting those two together. Jack Wolf might be the only man I ever met who can match Harry's willingness to tell his family members what to do.”

Eli laughed and bent to brush a kiss against her cheek. “How did you figure that out about Granddad so quickly?”

“I've had a couple of conversations with him over the last few days,” she told him. “And he doesn't pull his punches. He wants us to have a baby—soon.”

“He told you that?” Eli demanded, a frown growing.

“Yes, but don't be angry with him.” Frankie smoothed her fingertip over the frown lines, easing them away. “I told him Harry had already informed me that I'm soon going to be past my best childbearing years and I'd duly noted the information.”

“Damn, Frankie.” Eli's voice held admiration. “I think Granddad finally met his match in you.”

Her mouth curved in a small smile. “That's what he said.”

Eli hugged her, laughter rumbling as he did.

“Are you sure we shouldn't warn Georgie about Harry?” Frankie said, still concerned. “It's not like Harry to abandon a project, and he seems obsessed with matchmaking.”

“No, I don't think so. After all,” Eli said, “look how well his meddling worked out for us.”

“But we got together while trying to avoid Harry's scheming,” she reminded him.

“But the end result was the same. Harry meddled in your love life, and, in the end, you and I are together.” Eli tipped up her chin, his eyes a deep, smoky blue behind half-lowered lashes.

“That's true,” Frankie agreed. “And how amazingly wonderful is that?”

“Pretty damned incredible,” Eli said fervently. He bent his head, his mouth covering hers.

Yes,
she thought as the kiss swept her under. She adored him more than she'd ever thought possible, more than her long-ago crush. And even more astounding, he loved her, too.

Life stretched before her, filled with infinite happy possibilities. Frankie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, unaware that the roomful of guests was cheering with delight.