It was pure chaos in the Dollhouse green dining room. It had been almost a month since Liz and Sheri had been pulled out of the bunker. Tonight they had all gathered because first thing in the morning Ramona was returning to Arizona.
In the past month Ramona had found peace with the girls she had abandoned so long ago. She would never be a mother to them, but she had become a friend. Even Roxy had finally accepted Ramona’s olive branch, and during the past month the two had been busy working on planning Roxy and Steve’s wedding that would take place in September.
“Have another piece of pecan pie,” Aunt Liz urged Steve, who groaned and held his belly.
“I can’t stuff another bite into my mouth,” he protested.
Aunt Liz was back at home, baking goodies for Roxy to sell at the restaurant and enjoying just being with the people she loved. She was also helping Roxy with the wedding preparations.
Marlene’s grand opening of her bakery was set for the next weekend and Sheri knew it was going to be a huge success. The black-and-pink awning above the door announced the chic little establishment as Marlene’s Magic Bites.
At the moment, Sheri sat at the large table next to Jimmy, who had become as important to her as breathing. Each and every day her love for him only grew stronger and she knew he felt the same way about her.
Most nights he spent at the cottage and with his presence it truly was an enchanted place. He reached out and placed a hand over hers as if he could read her thoughts.
“You okay?” he asked.
She smiled. “Better than okay.”
She’d had several nightmares since being rescued, but each time she’d been pulled from the horror by Jimmy’s arms wrapped around her and his voice whispering soft comfort. She knew in time the nightmares would leave her, but Jimmy’s arms would always be there for her.
Jimmy leaned toward her. “How much longer do we need to stay here and make nice?” he whispered.
“Do you have someplace else to be?” she asked.
His eyes lit with a desire that stole her breath away. “Yeah, in bed with my princess.”
Sheri dabbed her mouth with her napkin and placed it on the table next to her plate. “I think we’ve been here long enough,” she whispered back, love swelling tight in her chest. “Jimmy and I need to head out,” she said as she got up from her chair.
Goodbyes were said all around and Ramona promised to call and write often. Together, Sheri and Jimmy stepped out of the Dollhouse and he grabbed her hand and tugged her hurriedly toward his car.
She laughed at his eagerness as her own grew. This was passion. This was love. In minutes they would be at the cottage where Highway awaited them and happy ever after was a reality.
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Keep reading for an excerpt from SECRET SERVICE RESCUE by Elle James.