Page 159 of Sky’s Edge

“Long enough to make some decisions and carry them through.”

There wasn’t humor in his gaze, but wariness, when he asked, “And what are those?”

“I commed my boss. I told him you and I are courting, it’s serious, and because of that, there will be a good deal of time I’ll need to spend in Abyssinia, which means I’ll be away from the gallery on a regular basis, including right now and for the foreseeable future. I also shared I’ll understand if he needs to find a replacement for me. Though, with that said, we’ll be coming out officially at Laura and Aleksei’s engagement ball, and there’s a good possibility, shortly thereafter, I’ll be moving to Abyssinia permanently, so he might want to get that ball rolling now.”

Tanyn said nothing. He didn’t even move.

So I kept going.

“I asked for his discretion with that. He’s a good male. He gave it. Though, that’s a juicy bit of gossip, so I don’t know how long that will last. I did the same with my sales associates. It’s likely they’ll let something slip first.”

Tanyn remained quiet.

I kept speaking.

“I also asked Mom to pack more thoroughly and send up the cases. She says she’s getting right on it, and they’ll be here this afternoon. This, of course, consisted of her asking me what’s going on. I hadn’t talked to you yet, so I didn’t tell her about the attack. I just told her I had to have a chat with you before I could share more. Since then, she’s obviously talked to Dad, who commed and demanded to know what was happening. I gave him the same line. He gave me a command. He wants a comm with you, me and him at noon. I told him I might be able to make that happen, but I couldn’t guarantee it, and he’d just have to cool it until I knew what you wanted to do. This didn’t make him happy, but he didn’t push it further.”

Tanyn finally found his voice.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because you don’t need to be worrying about me at the same time worrying about what’s happening, and you’ll worry about me more if I’m down there. So, until you get a lock on what’s happening, I’m up here, with you, so you have one less thing to worry about.”

What I didn’t add was: I was up there, with him, so I could see to him.

Yes, all of this was an extreme escalation in our courtship.

Yes, it was now me who was extremely escalating our courtship.

No, I had not taken the time to think deeply about why I was escalating our courtship in such an extreme way.

I was just going for it.

And it felt right.

So I also wasn’t questioning it.

I might share all of that later.

But for now, he needed focus.

And I was giving him that.

I thought a wet and wild kiss would be in order for how mega I was being.

But I didn’t get a wet and wild kiss.

Instead, he caught my head in both hands and stared at me with lightning cracking through his black gaze.

“I take it you approve of my decision to essentially move in with you for the time being,” I quipped.

“I’d approve of your decision if you just moved in with me.”

Of course he would.

“Great. Then we’re good. Oh, and I haven’t mentioned anything to Laura, Gayle or Mon. I’m assuming Aleksei knows what’s going on?”

“He does. And Fillion, Bain, Dagsbrun, Niall, and Mac. We have a conference comm in the situation room downstairs in about an hour.”