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‘Had a date.’
‘In that case, I’m surprised you’re here at all,’ Logan added.
‘She was kind of a dick. And not even in the good, mean girl kind of way. She sent her meal back three times. No-one’s got time for that.’
I couldn’t help but smile at their easy conversation. It felt like stepping in and getting to spy on someone else’s family up close. I’d always thought my family was the way all families were. Stilted. Awkward. Battling. Though the McGowans teased and argued, they all seemed genuinely fond of each other, and even the spouses and Alfie.
‘You okay?’ Ewen asked, wrapping his arm around my waist and dragging my chair closer to his.
‘More than okay. They’re wonderful.’
His dimples deepened as a grin broke out on his face.
‘So what’s going on here?’ Katie asked, pressing her chin into her hand as she cocked her head at us.
‘Oh, um,’ I stammered.
‘She’s swept him off his feet,’ Alfie said before swigging the wine. ‘Fuck me, what is this shit?’
Everyone laughed as Logan looked sheepish.
‘It’s the first batch. Lessons were learned.’
Ewen pressed his mouth to my ear while everyone was distracted.
‘I can’t live without you. That’s what’s happened. Please, say you’ll stay.’
‘There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,’ I whispered.
THIRTY-FOUR
EWEN
Having Cora there with my family made me feel complete, like some broken part of me I’d always been missing had clicked into place.
Was I in love?
For the longest time, I hadn’t thought myself capable.
I’d looked at my siblings losing their minds over their partners and thought lust had blinded them. At first, maybe it had. But there was so much more beneath the surface. Being near Cora made me want to be a better man. I wanted to impress her. To please her. The deep obsession was there, the need to possess her. To consume her. But there was an innate desire to protect and cherish. To bring her to the brink sexually, but be there to catch her and bring her back after.
After we’d said our goodbyes to the others, I walked her slowly back to her room.
‘Show me your room,’ she said, leaning heavily against my arm, both hands clinging to my left one.
‘Only if you’ll stay.’ My pulse quickened.
‘Can I?’
‘Baby, if you could fit in my pocket, I’d have you live there. Yes. I want you in my bed.’
‘Fair warning, I think I’m too tired to have you eat me. Your family is amazing, but boy, it was exhausting keeping up with all the conversations.’
‘I’ll allow a reprieve until morning.’
After stopping to grab her toiletries, I led her upstairs. My room overlooked the grand staircase and the entry hall, and she gasped when I opened the door.
The room was sleek, stylish, and massive. I watched as her eyes took in the huge mirrored wall behind the bed and the metallic loops that were fitted about the place. Lastly, they fell to the rug, which was wholly out of place.
