The brilliant smile Blair gifted him, which she usually reserved for close friends and family, brought tears to Bébhinn’s eyes.
Slowly, and in the most basic of BSL, she signed back. “You did well. I am glad you are here.” She turned to Bébhinn and signed quickly, “Tell him that if he wants, we can all sign everything to give him a crash course. He’ll be cursing like a sailor in BSL in no time. Tell him not to get overwhelmed, that I am excellent at reading lips.”
When Bébhinn repeated to Dagr what she’d said, he laughed and signed and spoke “Yes” at the same time.
“Seriously, though,” Mags began, “can we please do a DNA investigation at least? Just in case…”
“We are not related, weirdo,” Bébhinn countered. As introductions went, she was pleased that her friends seemed to genuinely like Dagr. It was nice to have them meet the person who was so important to her.
“How long can you stay?” Bébhinn asked.
“I put in an offer on the land for Dad this morning and put together a report on why my father would be a better candidate to own land so close to a sanctuary than Williams. I dug up somepast lawsuits where Williams neglected specific land ordinances that should push the seller our way.
“I don’t have to meet Dad until tomorrow evening.” He hesitated before continuing, but finally said, “I presumptuously hoped you might put me up for the night.”
“Of course.” She smiled and nodded her head when what she really wanted to do was giggle and clap like a child who’d been given a pony for her birthday.
“No worries, Bébhinn, we’ll all keep our music loud tonight,” Mags announced as she stood.
Gray and Blair stood as well. “It was nice to meet you, Dagr, but we’d better get going if we don’t want to miss the movie,” Gray said before snagging her purse off the table.
She and Dagr followed them to the door. “Okay. You guys have fun.” Bébhinn was still reeling that Dagr stood at her back—and was staying the night.
Mags had stopped on the front steps and was looking at them strangely, shaking her head slowly like she was confused. “It’s like I’m looking at Bran and Raven or Patrick and River.”
“Totally a mind bender,” Gray agreed.
“It’s the hair for crying out loud! Quit making it sound like he looks like my brothers. Gross.”
“I assume I’ll find out tomorrow at lunch. You did tell me you were having a family lunch.”
“Oh God,” she whisper-moaned. “I can skip.” The thought of taking Dagr to meet all of them made sweat break out on the back of her neck.
“I need to meet them if you and I are going to?—”
Mags interrupted, “Screw like rabbits.”
“Date,” Dagr said firmly.
Blair signed quickly, smirking at Bébhinn. “I missed that. Damn it,” Dagr cursed, “I’ve been working on sign for six weeks and I only got two words.”
Blair looked chagrined. Very slowly, she signed, “Sorry, Dagr. I will slow down.”
“Thank you.”
The girls’ Uber pulled up, and they piled in. Bébhinn shut the door as Dagr grabbed his duffel.
“What did Blair say that I didn’t catch?”
Her blush was instant. “She said not to worry about making noise on her account.” She chuckled as Dagr’s eyes widened in understanding. “Don’t let Blair’s precious pixie look fool you. Her wit is deadly.”
“You have great friends. I can’t wait for you to meet some of mine.”
“I’d love to. Are you hungry?” She stopped in the kitchen. He didn’t stop when she did, dropping his bag on the floor before stepping close enough to crowd her between his body and the counter.
She watched in wonder as he ducked his head and spoke against her lips. “Not for food.”
Like most of their kisses, raw passion and need exploded. She ripped her mouth away, gasping and asked, “Bed?”
