“You’re one lucky chick,” Mia stage-whispered. “Where can I get one of those?” She eyed York like he was a luscious piece of chocolate cake.
“I’ll let you two catch up,” her dragon said, “and I’ll go grab you a glass of champagne.”
Josie and Mia watched him go. “Fuck, JoJo. I should call you MoJo from now on, since you were able to snag that snack.” Mia shimmied her shoulders excitedly.
“Don’t call me that,” Josie giggled. “But, I am so happy to see you.”
“Right? That Steiner shit was insane. I got a visit from an Interpol agent, by the way. This hot lady, Agent Porath. She warned me that they’re closing in on a few jewel thieves and to watch out. Mom and I have decided to hang up our cat burglar outfits.”
Josie nodded. “Good. It’s for the best. Actually, Professor Betancourt has an opening in a teaching assistant spot. I think you should apply. You know, get out of the game and get a real straight and narrow job. This has to be behind you.”
“You don’t have to tell me. Being stalked by Steiner’s cronies was not my idea of fun. I’m turning my life around. I’ll give the old man a call.” A cute waiter walked by, holding up a tray of appetizers. “Oh, wow. I want to eat both the food and the man. I’ll catch you later, b-day girl.”
Josie watched her friend flirt with the waiter for all of two seconds, before noticing Gammy. She ran toward her grandmother, taking one wrinkled hand in hers. “Gammy, how are you feeling?”
“It’s a good day, today,” the old woman answered.
“How did you get here?” Josie asked, blinking back tears.
“Your aunt Marcy drove me. It was that, or your fellow was going to come to get me himself. Or so he threatened.”
“Wasn’t the drive long?”
“Well, sitting in my wheelchair or sitting in a car? Makes no damn difference to me. Especially not when that man of yours insisted he would move heaven and hell to get me here.”
Josie felt her cheeks blush. “He can be pretty bossy.”
“But he’s kind,” Gammy added. “I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.” With her trembling chin, Gammy pointed to the back of the room where York was watching her, a glimmer in his eyes. “That man is head over heels in love. Just like you are. And after such a short time together, too.”
“Gammy,” Josie started.
“No, none of that. Don’t you go explaining yourself to me. It’s about time you settled down. If it’s with someone who takes good care of you, I don’t care who he is, or what he does, or how quickly you fall in love.”
“He does make me happy, and he makes me a better person.”
That was the truth. Josie hadn’t—and wouldn’t—commit another crime ever again.
“He’s a looker,” Gammy said finally. “That is one fine butt.”
“Gammy!” Josie chided in shock.
“What? I’m old and frail, not dead and blind. That man is fine.”
“That man can also hear you with his shifter hearing.”
Gammy laughed, a sound Josie hadn’t heard in a long while. “You just enjoy it while you’re young, sweetheart. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to find your aunt, before she eats all of the shrimp without giving me any.”
Josie turned to greet more of her guests, only to come face to face with London and Beth. She’d met York’s brother and his mate a couple of days ago, right after the whole mess with Steiner went down. They had come into town so London could pick up the ring he wanted to propose with. The two couples had gone out for dinner, and Josie was pleased that she got along great with them. They were York’s family, and one day, they would be hers. Josie had no idea if London had gone through with the proposal, until she spotted a glimmering diamond on Beth’s hand.
“Oh! You guys!” Josie exclaimed, grabbing her new friend’s hand to admire the ring.
“Shh,” Beth said, looking around, pulling her hand free. “There are a lot of shifters here, and I don’t want to take attention away from the birthday girl.”
Josie waved her off. “Nope, none of that. This is great news. Congratulations, you two.”
“I guess we’re basically sisters now,” Beth added.
Her heart clenched. Josie hadn’t had a sister since Rose had died. No one, no bond, could ever replace that, but it was comforting to know that her family was growing. She took Beth’s hand in hers. “I like that. Sisters bonded together by their mates.”
“Oh, shit. We’re in for it now that they get along,” London teased as York joined them.
“You’ve got no idea,” York sighed. “Josie might teach Beth how to Parkour or how to jump out of helicopters.”
“Nice,” Beth whooped with a sparkle in her eyes.
“None of that,” London growled playfully.
“Can you imagine what will happen when there are three of us?” Josie clapped her hands together.
“What do you mean?” York asked, his brow furrowed.
“Well, now that both of you are paired up and happy, you know Johanna is going to head over to Paris to see her middle child.” Josie’s face was shining with mischief, she knew York would catch on.
“What did you do?” he tugged her into his side.
“Nothing,” she shrugged. “I just told her she’s all but psychic and that her presence and schemes seem to bring her sons’ mates into their lives. I told her she had to go see Paris, ASAP.”
London shook his head. “Good luck with that one.”
“He’s right,” York agreed. “If London was the playboy wild child—”
“Hey!” his brother objected.
Beth patted his arms. “He’s not lying, baby. You were a fuckboy extraordinaire before we met.”
“Exactly. And I was…” York’s eyes hooked with Josie’s. “And I was a grumpy old man. But Paris is different. He’s reclusive and secretive as fuck. It’ll take more than Johanna’s scheming to get that dragon to fall in love or find his mate.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Josie shook her head. “Never underestimate the powers of the psychic Warwick matriarch.”
“From your mouth to God’s ears,” London said, raising his drink to her. “The boy needs to leave the house every now and again. All of those paint fumes can’t be good for him.”
“We’ll sic Johanna on him for sure,” York agreed. “If he ends up half as happy as I am, it’ll be worth it,” he added before kissing her softly.
The night was a bit of a blur. Josie talked to everyone, danced a bit, drank champagne, ate a bunch of appetizers, and devoured a huge piece of the best chocolate birthday cake she had ever had. The fact that the surprise birthday party had been organized by her man was all the sweeter. He had gone through a lot of trouble to make sure the night was exceptional, and he had invited all of the people closest to her, as well as some of his shifter friends.
All in all, it had been a perfect birthday.
But she knew the best was yet to come.
Chapter Twenty-Five