Fallen Angels: Beguiled\Wanton\Uncovered (48 page)

“I think we can leave now.” Clair scooted closer to him. “You have big plans?”

“Yeah.” Harris nuzzled her neck. “Plans to have my way with my soon-to-be-bride.”

She sighed, now as anxious as he was to be alone. They made an announcement, put up with a few more toasts, and finally headed out the door.

In the parking lot, however, Celia Sharpe and Angel Carter chased them down. Celia carried a large package and Angel had a manila envelope.

“We've been elected to do the honors,” Celia explained when they reached them.

“The men are still shy about that whole photograph thing,” Angel added with a shrug. “They say you're too valuable to the office to replace you, but no way can they discuss this with you.”

Harris put his arm around Clair and smiled. “Discuss what?”

Angel presented the envelope with a flourish. “They located that ex-boyfriend of yours. They found these.”

Clair went blank. “Ohmigod.”

Beside her, Harris stiffened in anger. “Damn it. I should have—”

“Dane did that for you. Punched him right in the nose.” Angel seemed to relish the retelling. “And he did it in such a way that he wasn't the one who started it. If I know Dane, he goaded the guy into taking a swing first.”

Celia nodded. “Then
pow,
Dane laid him out.” She laughed. “Alec thought it was great.”

Clair bit her lip. “If they found more photos…”

“Not to worry,” Celia rushed out. “They went over his place with a fine-tooth comb. There wasn't much that pertained to you. Just a few souvenirs, apparently.”

Clair closed her eyes in mortification, then felt Harris hug her to his side.

“It's all right now, Clair.”

“It really is,” Angel assured her. “He'd done the same with two other women, one that he was still dating. Dane and Alec clued them in, and they confronted the jerk, even ransacked his place until they found some of the photos themselves. They both agreed to prosecute, so he'll be taken care of for sure.”

Clair pulled herself together. It was over and she had her whole life ahead of her—a life with Harris. “Please, tell Dane and Alec how much I appreciate it.”

“You also get this,” Celia said with a grin. “It's a paper shredder. Alec said the photos belonged to you, and you could do whatever you wanted with them. But he said he figured you'd want to shred them.”

“He figured right!”

Harris snatched the envelope out of her hand. “We'll definitely do that.” He leaned toward Angel for a hug, then to Celia for the same. He held the bulky box under one arm, the envelope in his free hand. “Thank you, ladies. Knowing that situation is settled is the very best wedding present.”

Celia and Angel left them with smiles. The moment they were gone, Harris opened the envelope and started to peek inside.

Clair snatched it away and held it behind her back. “Oh no you don't.”

Trying to look innocent, and failing, Harris said, “I just wanted to see—”

“I know what you wanted to see. But these are getting destroyed the moment we get home. You've seen all the nude photos of me that you're ever going to see.”

Harris grinned, and the grin spread into a laugh. “All right, babe,” he soothed. “Don't get all bristly on me.” He turned her toward the car.

Clair didn't understand his new mood and thought to soften her denial. “I'm sorry, Harris. I hope you can understand how I feel.”

“Yeah, I do.” After she was seated, he leaned in the door and kissed her. “I was just teasing you. It doesn't matter to me at all.”

“You're sure?”

He took her mouth in a long, satisfying kiss. “Positive. After all, what do I need with photos when I've got the real thing?”