What a trip. I wasn’t talking about the jet we’d just stepped off of in Orlando. I was still tripping on the fact that only a day earlier I had been bawling my eyes out on Jaymi’s shoulder in Boston Public Garden, wondering how I could get Devon to start haunting me again since I believed he was a ghost. Now—I was married to him, a nineteenth-century marquess who’d traveled through time to come and take me home with him after he spent the coming few months in America with me.

He’d said he didn’t expect me to up and leave everything I knew and move to a strange place with someone I’d only known physically for a whole minute. He wanted me to get a feel for him, try him on for size. Well, I’d done that the night before. Boy, did I ever get a feel for him, and was he ever a perfect fit.

I’d pinched myself what seemed a million times to make sure it was real. I knew it had to be, even without the pinches. There was no way my imagination could conjure the way Devon had made me feel. My love for him had gone through the roof.

Sheesh, and I thought it was crazy before!

“You know,” Devon said, “it seems unreal to me that only this morning we made the decision over breakfast to come here, and here it is not even dinnertime and we’ve come more than three times the entire length of England. Even judging from its farthest distance—Newcastle upon Tyne all the way down to Eastbourne. Astonishing,” he said chuckling. “I’ve been here two weeks already and I’m still amazed over the speed at which this generation travels. You certainly live life at a much faster pace than I am accustomed to.”

Jarrett grinned. “Right. That’s been more than a little evident since you’ve been here. I still laugh every time I think of your faceprint on the window of the plane from London to New York.” He laughed. “See, I’m laughing now. And then when we put the Eleanor to the test yesterday.”

Devon and Jaymi joined in Jarrett’s amusement, but the conversation reminded me of all the things we’d talked about last night in Ryder’s VIP lounge. Wow! Surely I wasn’t the only one tripping. I thought it was weird to be me, but to be Devon? Now that would be a real trip. He must have been really freaked out six years ago when he first looked into the mirror and said the edict that called me to him. Accepting an unknown future would be much harder than accepting the past. Especially a past that was familiar and available for one’s learning through history books and recorded documents, such as Devon’s had been to me.

I looked at Devon still walking beside me as we moved through the busy terminal, each of us pulling our wheeled luggage behind us. Devon and Jarrett were burdened with the greater number of bags, some strapped across their shoulders as well as under their arms. Though Devon was loaded down, his posture was relaxed, yet at the same time erect, strong, and proud. He was so damn beautiful.

It was funny to think he might even consider, much less make, the statement that I needed to get used to him. Yes, I might have just met him in the flesh last night, but I’d been getting used to him for years, studying everything there was to know about the man, plus hearing him express his thoughts and feelings to me so often.

I’d learned through various articles written in his time that he had shined in all the fighting arts, especially in the martial arts. His fight with Grant at Ryder’s Club had confirmed that the articles were true. His speed and strength, mixed with his skill, had taken me by surprise. I’d never seen anyone move like he had. I got goose bumps just thinking about it.

As far as his looks, the whole Phoenix family was known for their exceptional beauty, and Devon had to be the best of them. He was tall, dark, and remarkable, and did I ever love the man.

I’d read other articles that brought to mind the incredible fame of the Beatles. The articles had claimed that numerous young ladies had wept with overrun emotions they hadn’t known how to express while in Devon’s presence. Some of those young ladies had even swooned, being in such close proximity to him. Walking beside him now, I could sure see why.

I took another look. My gaze made a climb up his lengthy, muscled legs—they balanced his weighted-down body with ease and moved him with agile grace. It lifted higher to his long fingers clutching the heavy luggage, and then to the solid body that had covered me in my bed, and then higher still to his beautiful face that was—um—watching me with a grin sinking into his cheeks.

Tummy flip!

I bit my lip and smiled that I’d been caught. His Caribbean blue gaze stuck to me like glue but he blinked, drawing my attention to his lashes. He looked amused and returned his attention to the path before us.

They’re so hot. Can eyelashes be hot?

Well, his were. Maybe it was because I’d now seen them lying sweetly above his cheeks when his eyes were closed. I’d lain awake watching him sleep beside me. Casting my gaze out at the sea of people before us, I tried to focus on where I was going.

Ahead of us, Jarrett and Jaymi passed through the automatic doors at the entrance.

Jarrett laughed. “You know, Devon, when you stop and think about your comment that we live life at a much faster pace than you are accustomed to, it’s laughable, really.”

We exited the doors onto the sidewalk behind them. Devon said, “Is that so?”

“Oh, indeed. This from a man who travels through centuries in the blink of an eye, and not only in coming here, but you’ve been tapping into our world for the last six years, even if you weren’t actually coming all the way. But regardless, yes, I suppose we are a spoiled generation, and sometimes forget how good we have it.”

Devon chuckled. “I’m glad you’re willing to admit it.”

Jaymi waved an enthusiastic hand, and I followed her gaze to see Sam, her grandfather’s chauffeur. Chaffy-Pop had sent the Rolls Royce limo. Sam saw us and wheeled the long vehicle out of its place and to the curb. He was a kind man who’d always reminded me of Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy.

Sam got out and came around the car. “Afternoon, Miss Jaymi…Miss Elz.”

“Hi, Sam,” we both said, beaming at him.

Jaymi went on speaking. “I would like you to meet our friends. They’re here from England. This is D. Phoenix, Elz’s companion, and this is his cousin, Jarrett Phoenix. They’ve come to the states for an extended visit. Guys, this is Sam. He’s like family, and has driven for my grandfather forever.”

After a round of warm greetings, Sam reached for the bags to load them into the trunk. Devon and Jarrett helped him, and Jaymi and I climbed into the limo, soon followed by the men.

Jaymi went all the way to the head, settling into the plush, creamy white interior with her back to the driver. I took the rear, facing the front. Jarrett plunged into the seat along the side, and Devon settled himself next to me.

Jarrett reached across to the bar, grabbed a bottle of bourbon, and poured some into a glass. With an amused expression, he leaned toward us to hand it to Devon. Rubbing it in, I supposed.

Devon chuckled at the exploit and accepted the drink.

Jarrett shrugged. “What? I admitted we’re spoiled.” He looked at me, a questioning brow sweeping high.

“Oh, water, thanks. And pass me those pretzels. I’m a little hungry.”

Jarrett grabbed the water and pretzels and leaned my way.

“How ’bout you, jaybird?” Jarrett looked at Jaymi. He wore a flirty grin.

I smiled over him calling her that. It was a nickname used only, to my knowledge, by Griffin. A name he’d given her years earlier after realizing we’d seen him running naked as a jaybird toward the house the day Grant plowed his car into the tree where Griffin was hiding. Giving Jaymi a hard time because she’d been more embarrassed over his nudity than he had himself, Griffin tagged her with the nickname as a reminder, and used it when flirting with her. It was odd that Jarrett would apply the epithet unless he’d heard Griffin use it.

The look on Jaymi’s face told me she was likely thinking the same thing.

Oops. Now the look on her face said she must have figured out when he might have heard Griffin say it because her features just screamed, ‘Eeek!’

But why ‘eeek’? Oh man, what did Griffin do? Jaymi had mentioned she was talking with him before breakfast by the pool. I saw a flame blaze over Jaymi’s face and had to fight a laugh. Whatever was said between them, I could tell she thought Jarrett might have overheard it. Poor girl. My brothers could be a handful.

Jaymi ran her hand through her long blonde hair, and I knew she was trying to ignore her blush. She looked Jarrett in the eye, attempting to look unbothered. “I’ll take a water as well. No pretzels, though. Elz is known for snacking when she travels, but I have the good sense to wait for dinner at Casa Sul Lago to sate my appetite. It will no doubt be a succulent feast. Need I say more?”

I felt Devon nudge me when Jarrett’s mouth fell open, and I stole a quick glance at my hubby to realize he’d been watching Jarrett and Jaymi as well. He leaned his mouth against my ear. “Jarrett’s thoughts look to be swimming with ways to sate Jaymi’s appetite with a different kind of succulent feast.”

I nodded and looked at Jaymi. She clearly wasn’t thinking of the double meaning. She seemed oblivious to Jarrett’s carnal expression as she shot me a look with her accusing gaze dropping to the bag of pretzels in my hands.

I was holding the bag, just planning to pull it apart to eat the things like popcorn while enjoying the show, but at Jaymi’s expression, I screwed my lips to one side and handed the puffy unopened bag back to Jarrett.

He blinked and took it, tossing it aside, then handed Jaymi the water. He grabbed a beer on his return and pushed back into the seat, clearly trying to relax but looking frustrated. Poor guy.

Still oblivious, Jaymi turned toward Sam and asked him to stop at a favorite local shop on the way so that Devon and Jarrett could pick up swimwear and a few other summer clothes. We’d likely go out in the boat first thing in the morning since it was much warmer than in Boston. It would be smart to be prepared.