Marie Harte: Killer Thoughts

Rory, Owen’s cousin, smiled at him and gave him a big hug. “I’m so happy for you, Owen. Now you and Ian can be the baby’s godparents.”

She’d found out that she was pregnant, and James and Keegan, the proud papas, couldn’t have been happier. At least, until now.

Keegan grimaced. “Rory, uh, how about we talk about this?”

James grinned. “I like Ian. Besides, Owen is loaded. He can spoil the kid, and we can still have date nights.”

“Isn’t it great?” Ian asked, his eyes twinkling.

Then Heather and Jack joined them, their hands intertwined. Heather’s wedding band glowed with an inset gem Rory had handpicked for her. Jack, for once, seemed happy. A true newlywed.

“Oh my God. Is Jack grinning?” Ian gasped as he crossed the room to Owen’s side.

The others started teasing Jack, who took their ribbing with good humor.

“I have an announcement too,” Heather said, and everyone quieted.

“She’s good,” Ian whispered. “Sexy crowd control. Just like you.”

“I know.” Owen hugged him close and kissed him on the cheek. He saw Tim and Joe standing close, and Reuben and Dolly cuddled like sweethearts. Bev had outdone herself once again, and his friends and family finally made this seem like a real home.

“Jack and I are so happy that all of you came to the wedding. Your friendship means a lot to us,” Heather was saying.

“Even Keegan’s?” Nathan, that smart-ass, jeered from the crowd.

Everyone laughed, especially when Keegan whined, “Aw, come on. Jack and me is tight now, right, buddy?”

Jack flipped him the bird, and Keegan guffawed.

Heather continued after glaring at her new husband, who shrugged and mouthed, What?

“We wanted you to be the first to know that I’m pregnant. So if Jack is a little more growly than usual for the next nine months, you’ll know why.”

The men in the crowd groaned as one, but the women gathered around Heather, squealing with delight.

Jack crossed his monstrously huge arms over his chest. “We’re very happy. Heather says I have to put you on notice as future babysitters. Well, not you, Nathan. But the others, yeah.”

Nathan complained about not being included until his lover Avery told him Jack was joking. “Right, Jack? Jack?”

“Oh, right.”

Didn’t sound like it to Owen. He glanced around and saw several of the men hugging one another. Nathan and Avery, Aidan and Gavin—who had cornered Caleb and was giving him what for—James and Keegan with Rory between them. Even Chloe with her twin loves and Kitty and her psychic-resistant boyfriend. So much love, unconventional though it might be, existed in this powerful group of psychics, lovers, and friends.

“Feels like family, huh?” Ian said with a smile.

Owen kissed him and then whispered, “You’ve never been more beautiful, little thief. I can’t wait to take you tonight.”

Ian blushed, and his good friend Noah came up to clap him on the back. Noah saw the past everywhere he looked, his particular ability rooted in seeing history. Tonight he looked at peace, as if seeing a brighter future. “Happiness looks good on you, Frank.” Ian’s old alias, the one he’d used when they’d first met.

Ian grinned. “Frank retired. I’m just Ian now.”

Noah laughed. “Lara will be glad to hear it. And you will be there for the birth, right?”

Lara was due to give birth in two months, but she wanted to do it in Arizona, in the place where she and Noah had met, back when Ian was working as an artist in a haunted little town.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” He shook Noah’s hand. “You leaving?”

“Yeah. Lara’s going to stick around, but I have some work to do for Jack. New cases, you know.” Noah turned to Owen. “Take good care of him. He’s a pretty great guy.”

Owen smiled. “Will do.”

Noah, once a reserved man, seemed less tense, and they watched him go.

Jack slapped Owen on the back. “You’re going to be an uncle. You good with that?”

Owen laughed. “You know it.” Then he winked at Ian and, in a louder voice, said, “If I can have everyone’s attention?”

They quieted and looked to him.

“It’s a pleasure being a part of your organization. Jack and you have been doing a stellar job. But I have to reorganize some business back East. While I’m gone, I’m putting a fine man in charge. He’s familiar with the workings of the gym and a real go-getter.”

Catching where Owen was taking this, Ian laughed out loud.

“Ian Ryder,” Owen introduced. “Your new boss.”

The room grew so quiet Owen feared he’d shocked the life out of them.

Then Tim started laughing. Joe joined him. The others chuckled until mirth filled the room.

“It’s not that funny,” Ian griped.

Jack, however, wasn’t laughing. “What is it about the term ‘silent partner’ you don’t understand?” he growled at Owen.

Heather latched on to his arm before Jack could take a swing at him.

“So, Jack, I have some thoughts about the future,” Ian began.

Owen subtly wandered away, seeking safety in the crowd.

An hour later, Jack found him again. “That was all a joke, right? Ian as my partner? Shoot me now.”

“He’s not that bad, Jack.”

They both turned to see Ian dancing with Rory to some hip-hop music someone had put on the stereo.

Jack sighed. “Between you and me, he’s not that bad. But you tell him that, and his head about explodes. Him and that ego.”

Owen smiled. That was the man Ian wanted them to see, not the man he really was. Oh, he had the ego, but he had a heart twice as big. “He’ll be fine. Besides, it’s just for a week while I’m gone. I’m not putting him in charge of the gym forever. I’m not that crazy. In love, yes. Insane, no.”

Jack let out a relieved breath. “Good to know. Okay, I have to go dance with my wife before she kills me with another death glare. I swear, she was so nice before we got married.” He grinned again, a record for the once-taciturn warrior now turned loving husband.

Owen watched him go. He saw Ian slap some money into Tim’s hands and resolved to ask him about that later. Tim and Joe left together, and by the looks on their faces, Owen figured another part of his family had coupled up.

He couldn’t have been more pleased. He noticed Ian motioning for him to join them. With a light step and a happy heart, he joined his best friend and partner, grooving with the man who’d stolen his heart.

Ian laughed. “Who knew you had moves to go with that pretty face?” He kissed him smack on the lips.

“Hell. I have to keep up with you, don’t I?”

Behind him, he heard Keegan complaining about the music, asking for country. Rory laughed. James argued. Others offered their two cents. Nathan demanded to be in charge of the stereo. Aiden threatened to break his mind in half if he tried. Laughter and teasing filled the crowd.

Owen looked around, more than content to see Jack holding Heather in his arms, both soon-to-be new parents. Just like his cousin and her partners. The special people working with , not for him, had finally found a place to belong. Not just in Bend, but with each other.

He turned back to see Ian smiling at him. And then Ian said the words that bound them forever. “I love you, Owen.”

“I love you, Ian.” His little thief had indeed stolen his heart. “Just promise me one thing.”

“Yeah?”

He leaned close. “That you never, ever change.”

“Anything for you, Owen. Anything.”