Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 225

Effie sprang to her feet, giggling uncontrollably. Each time she swayed, Lyman's heart lurched as if an invisible hand had seized it-his breath slowed, his nerves taut.

"Don't move around so much," he warned gently.

But before he could finish, Effie flung out her arms. "I'm about to take off!"

Lyman lunged forward just in time to catch her as she landed squarely in his

arms.

With her arms looped around his neck, she burst into laughter. "That was fun! Let's do it again!"

Lyman thought to himself that there was nothing fun about nearly having a heart attack.

Effie chimed in eagerly, "Come on, let's do it one more time!"

He nearly groaned. Again? His heart couldn't take much more.

"Mr. Etheridge, the car is ready-" the driver announced, but before he could finish, Effie suddenly shrieked, "Ahh! The superhero is here! We have to run!"

glasses catching the glow from the streetlamp, looked

was the superhero, then what did

guess the answer, but he still teased, "You think we can't

the bird monster-we're way too weak. Run for it!" Effie declared, seizing his hand and

up along her arm until he met her face. Effie turned to look at him, and under the amber streetlight, she smiled; her whole face seemed

the stark, leafless trees lining the avenue seemed to burst into spring,

like a sprite who'd wandered into his world beautiful and wild,

this moment could last

corner and slipped into

and as Lyman bent his head, he caught

alcohol on her. He frowned a little. He hadn't expected his grandmother's homemade peach liqueur-so smooth and

learned. Now he knew what she was like when tipsy, he

leaned back into the seat, growing quieter by the second, until she

a relieved sigh; the driver

to

caught a

smile froze, shadows darkening