He scooped me up without warning, one arm behind my knees, the other supporting my back. I squealed in surprise, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Hunter! I can walk."

"Taking my wife to bed," he said simply, carrying me toward the stairs. "Where I intend to spend the next several hours showing her exactly how much I love her."

As he carried me up the stairs, I rested my head against his shoulder, marveling at how much had changed in a single day. This morning, I'd been packing Helena's ...