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I stifle my shaky sob. This impossible man. Why does he make it so hard to resist him?
“I’m so grateful,” I whisper. Then, I throw my arms around Ariel again.
Laughing against my hair, she says, “I’m going to be cooking for you and caveman there at your new pad. We’ll have to rename our weekly cooking parties, though. Things are looking up.”
“Oh god. That makes me so...” I struggle for words around the ache jamming up my throat. Laughing through my tears, I say, “Insanely happy.”
Eva’s heels click on the polished stone floor as she walks toward us, waving her arms like an air-traffic controller. “Alright, girls. Let’s move this party.”
Offering a hand, the dragon-girl pulls me to my feet. Then Ariel. She pushes us toward the suite’s dining table. “Why don’t you girls catch up over here. It will be much more comfortable. I’ll bring breakfast and some mimosas for your reunion and keep the male species far away.”
“No mimosas for me!” I groan as I press a hand to my aching head.
Holding onto one another, extra hard, Ariel and I hurry to the dining table on the far side of the suite. The huge bouquet of flowers in the center matches the colors bursting inside my heart.
“How’s your family?” I dare ask.
“Beautiful. Happy. Healthy. All of them.”
I sag into my seat. “Thank god. And you, how are you?”
She smiles warmly, but there’s fatigue in her eyes. “So much better now that I’ve seen you and know you’re safe.”
“Here you go, ladies.” Eva slides a tray in front of is. There is orange juice, coffee. Two tiny cups with pink flowers. And an assortment of sweet and savory things. Toast, pancakes, waffles, scones, bacon, eggs, multiple jams and syrup, fruit, and an assortment of cookies and mini cakes in all colors and flavors. It’s a feast.
“Eva knows how to do it right,” I say as I wipe the last of the tears off of my lashes.
Ariel whistles. “Now, I could get used to this. I approve. Big time.”
Eva throws a glance over her shoulder. Dropping her voice, she says, “Don’t hold it against Max for being a barbarian earlier. He was a little miffed that I left with the hot florist.”
I peek toward Max through my lashes. “He’s looking at you like you’re some kind of possession.”
She scrunches her nose and bats her long lashes. “Dream on.”
Ariel snickers as she pours a cup of hot water for each of us.
“He is handsome, big too. Those guns are impressive. I couldn’t help but notice when he was manhandling me.”
Eva arches a brow as she steals a tiny chocolate cake with a purple flower on it. “He’s also as emotionally available as a pet rock. Anyway, you two have a nice chat. I’m going to go deal with Mr. I’m-weirdly-jealous and I’ll make sure to keep Kieran busy too.
“Thanks, Eva. You saved me yesterday. That was quick thinking. I think you saved Ivan’s life. He and I both owe you.”
“It was nothing. I got a nice dinner out of it.”
I say, “So, you did go on a date. I wasn’t sure if you were just acting until you got him out of here.”
“Of course, I went to dinner. Why wouldn’t I?”
I shrug as I pour some orange juice in my cup. “Good point. Have you ever been on a date with Max?”
She snorts. But like everything Eva does, it somehow seems elegant. “He’s too stubborn to ask.”
“And you, areyoutoo stubborn to ask? Plus you need to tell me who this Ivan guy is,” Ariel says with a cheeky grin.
“I’ve got enough pet rocks, thanks. Unless he suddenly overcomes his allergy to relationships, he’s a hard NO.”
Ariel raises her mimosa. “Cheers to you, girl. That’s why I’ve got a nice toy collection.” Her eyes suddenly pop wide. She smacks her forehead. “I hope Declan doesn’t look in my boxes of belongings. He’s storing them for me at his house until we can settle in at Castle McGregor. There might be some... um... embarrassing things in one of them.”
