i 743ae055a1ebb037

Cole. He kissed Laine on the lips and ushered him into the truck. “Come on, babe. Hell hath no fury and all that. And I have plans for your ass before Caroline takes a chunk out of it.”
    Laine scooted into the cab without a word. He leaned his head on Dev’s shoulder as Dev started the truck and drove back down the mountain. “Thank you, Dev.”
    “You’re more than welcome, love.”
    Laine nuzzled his shoulder. He was quiet for the longest time, then he asked, “How long do you think Caroline will stay mad?”
    Dev chuckled, shaking his head. “Lainey, you’re one of a kind.”

Epilogue
    One year later, Valentine’s Day…
    Dev walked into Flower Lane a little after five with a box of candy under his arm and a bag of food in the other. Lainey wasn’t expecting him until six, so he’d managed at least a small surprise for their anniversary. He wished Laine didn’t have to work late tonight, but at least he could hang out here with him.
    Beth was on the phone at the front counter. She waved and pointed to the back.
    Dev slipped up beside her and kissed her cheek before he went to find his mate. He’d grown attached to Flower Lane’s employees in the last year. Dev grinned and stopped right outside the door at the sound of Caroline’s voice.
    “You owe me, Lainey!”
    “No way. That was a year ago. You have more than paid me back for the trunk incident.”
    “Nope, not even close, but if you take me with you we’ll call it even.”
    Page 50
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    Dev leaned closer to the wall. He could hear them just fine but he had a sneaking suspicion they were about to start whispering. Sure enough, Laine’s next words were barely audible.
    “I’m doing this as a surprise for Dev. Besides, it’s a gay club. How in the hell do you expect me to get you in there?”
    Caroline snorted. “Well, duh, we’ll tell them I’m in drag.”
    Dev blinked, holding back his laughter. Oh this was getting interesting.
    “A pregnant drag queen?” Laine’s voice rose just above a whisper.
    “Why not?” Caroline hissed.
    Yeah, why not, Lainey? This ought to be good. Dev smiled. He should go in and put a stop to their scheme already, but he was dying to hear how Laine got out of this one.
    Laine groaned. “Okay, okay, here is what we’ll do. You can dress up as a guy. Maybe we can disguise the baby as a beer belly. But, what are you going to do about Cole? It’s Valentine’s Day, I think he’ll notice if you aren’t home.”
    “Ooh, Lainey, you’re a genius. Instead of pretending to go in drag, I really will go in drag. And don’t worry about Cole, I’ll think of something.” Caroline giggled.
    “I don’t think it’s called going in drag when it’s a woman dressing as a man.” Lainey sounded like he was really contemplating the situation.
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Dev grinned, he could actually picture Laine shrugging.
    As funny as it was, and as much as he hated ruining a surprise, he was going to have to put a stop to it, this had all the markings of trouble. He stepped into view, cleared his throat and strolled into the back.
    Both conspirators had their backs to the door. Caroline was leaning over Laine’s worktable watching him make a flower arrangement.
    “No way in hell are you two going to that club. Caroline, go home.”
    Caroline whirled around, her red hair flying into her eyes, her pregnant belly knocking over a large metal vase Laine was filling with flowers.
    When the vase fell, it landed right on Laine’s foot, before it hit the linoleum with a clank. Flower petals littered the floor.
    Laine’s big amber eyes widened and he bit his bottom lip.
    Dev had to give him credit, he stood there for a full ten seconds before he started howling like a Page 51
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    banshee, hopping around on one foot. “Oww.”
    Caroline winced then looked at Dev and shrugged. “Oops.” She jogged past Dev and out the door.
    “Call you later, Lainey. Happy anniversary.”
    Laine sat down on the floor holding his foot. “God, I can’t wait until she has that baby. That is the third time today she’s knocked something over on me.”
    Dev leaned against the doorjamb, grinning like an idiot. Thank God Lainey couldn’t get pregnant. As clumsy as he was already, Dev would have to tie him up to keep him from killing himself.
    Laine looked up from under