“Hey, West!” She opens the door, waving me inside. “Mum’s almost ready. Between you and me, she’s kinda freaking out.”
“I heard that! And, no I’m not,” Maevyn’s voice calls as footsteps follow from the stairs.
“She is,” Aurora whispers to me, making me chuckle.
“That’s okay, we’re actually not leaving just yet.”
“We’re not?” I turn, following Maevyn’s voice and have my breath stolen from my lungs. She looks absolutely gorgeous in tight black jeans that highlight her curvy hips and thighs. A velvet, burgundy corset top is tucked into the high waistband, and she’s wearing her fancy nose ring again, the dainty gold one with all the sparkling diamonds.
“You look beautiful,” I say, stepping towards her to plant a kiss on her cheek, and I’m instantly wrapped in her perfume.
“Thank you.” She smiles, looking down at the bouquet of roses in my hands. “I thought you said five?”
I nod my head. “That’s whenyouneeded to be ready. First, I wanted to give you ladies these.” I hand the bigger bouquet of red roses to Maevyn, then turn to hand the smaller bouquet of pink roses to Aurora.
“I get flowers too?” She beams.
“More than that, little lady. I’m going to need you to get changed. I’ve got reservations for three. I’m hoping half an hour is enough?”
Aurora gasps, looking past me to her mum.
“All of us?” Maevyn asks, and I love that flicker of awe in her question.
“Of course.” I rest a hand on her hip as I lean in to pop a kiss just under her jaw. “I’m trying to woo two girls here.”
“What the flip!” Aurora shrieks before heading for the stairs. “Mother, I need your help.” She pauses with a foot on the first stair, then races back over to me. Reaching up on her tiptoes, I bend down and she presses. “Thank you for my flowers.”
“You’re welcome.” I smile, and she runs off. When I turn back to Maevyn, her blushing cheeks are hidden in her flowers.
“You’re very sweet, you know that?”
“This is the bare minimum.” I slide my arm further around her back, pulling her into me. “Just wait until you see all the tricks up my sleeve.”
She fiddles with the top button on my shirt. “I thought I was the trickster?”
I bury my nose in her soft hair, closing my eyes in the comfort of her. “Sometimes, you’re the thief.” I kiss her hair, then head for the front door. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
***
TRICKSTER:
She’s so excited. Thank you <3
I smile down at the photo Maevyn sends me of her and Aurora smiling at the mirror. Aurora’s hair has been softly curled,her eyelashes look a little darker, and she’s holding a lip gloss to her lips.
ME:
I’m heading over now x
“I’ll see you later,” I call to Callie, who’s curled up on the couch with Patch.
She smiles at me over the top of the pregnancy book she’s reading. “Have fun.”
“I’ll bring you back a cookie.”
“Best. Brother. Ever. Don’t tell Cas.”
“I’m already dialling his number.” I chuckle and give her a wave as I open my front door, flicking the lock before I close it behind me.
