“Good.” He walked to the counter and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. “Hey, everyone.”
“Hi, my darling,” Mari said.
He bit into the apple, and Cece could hear Imani’s soft gasp when the vines slithered across the counter to wrap around his arms and slide across his shoulders. They caressed his chest with soft strokes as the women in the room watched in fascination.
Blushing a little, Cece waved her hand, and the vines retreated. “Sorry, honey.”
He just shrugged and ate another bite of his apple as Anna’s phone buzzed. She stared down at the screen before standing. “I need to go. Charlene’s gone into labour, and I need to meet her at the medi-center. Imani, I can drop you off at home on the way if you’d like?”
“Oh, that would be great. Thanks, Anna.” Imani stood and hugged Cece. “Are we still on for coffee on Thursday, Cece?”
“We are,” she said. “I’ll see you then.” She had met Imani on her second day in Wellington, and they’d become fast friends. She’d had coffee with Imani twice since then and enjoyed both coffee dates.
The two of them left, and Mari checked her phone before nudging Brooke. “My darling, come back to the house with me for a minute, would you? I need your help fixing my Instagram. I’ve locked myself out.”
“Again?” Brooke said.
Mari laughed. “You know I’m terrible at technology. Which is why it’s perfect that my daughter works in IT.”
Brooke followed her mother toward the door. “I never thought my degree would be used so much on my mother’s social media habit.”
“The world works in mysterious ways, Brookie,” Mari said before she blew a kiss to Briggs and Cece. “Goodbye, my darlings. Cece, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at nine.”
“See you then, Mari. Thank you for the plant, Brooke,” Cece said.
“You’re welcome. We’re still on for tonight, right?”
“Yes,” Cece said. “I’ll have Briggs drop me off at your place after dinner.”
The two women left, and Briggs slid his arms around her waist, tugging her back against him before nuzzling her neck. She shivered at the boost of magic and rubbed his forearms in slow circles. “Hi there.”
“Hey, beautiful. Why am I taking you to my sister’s after we have dinner with the Markinsons?”
“Some last-minute anniversary party planning. With the party this weekend, Brooke is starting to panic a bit about how we’ll get all the decorations finished since we don’t get the hall until three o’clock. She, Leigh, and I are making a spreadsheet of what needs to be done and assigning individual jobs. So expect lots of bossing around that day.”
Briggs laughed. “It’s Brooke, of course there will be bossing around.”
She squeezed his forearm and arched her back when Briggs cupped her breast gently. “And tomorrow at nine?”
“Your mom has convinced me to try yoga.”
He chuckled and kissed her neck. “My mate, you know that you can say no to her and to my sister, right?”
She turned and looped her arms around his neck. “I know. I don’t want to say no. I love spending time with them.”
He studied her before brushing a strand of her hair back from her face. “Thank you for being so kind to my family.”
“It’s easy to be kind to them when they’re so wonderful,” she said. “I mean that, Briggs. I’ve been so lonely and sad, and being here with you and your family… it’s made all the difference. I still miss my aunt and I always will, but for the first time since she died, I feel like I’m not alone.”
“You aren’t,” he said fiercely, holding her close and pressing a kiss against her mouth. “You’ll never be alone again, my mate.”
“I know,” she said.
He studied her, apprehension crossing his face again.
“What?” she asked.
“Has it been too much that most of the town has wanted to meet you?” he asked. “Humans are still a novelty here.”
