Andi
TWO DAYS LATER, after another long meeting with Haddi, I walked into the great room and fell onto the sofa next to where Dalton was sitting.
“Rough meeting?” he asked, setting his iPad aside as I settled my head on his lap.
“I’m never going to remember all of this stuff.”
He stroked my hair. “Yes, you will.”
I dragged my hands down my face. “I have to say the bonding words in Icelandic. I don’t speak Icelandic. I have tried and tried, but I sound like I’m trying to clear my throat every time.”
“It doesn’t need to be perfect.”
“I want it to be perfect.”
Dalton leaned over me and kissed me gently. “It will be because it’ll be us.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it.”
“Where is everyone?” I asked, looking around the room.
“Kade’s meeting the plane… Samantha and the kids should be here in about an hour. Skúli and Libby are with the nanny… not sure where Jess and Kaz are.”
Samantha had decided she’d been away from Kade for too long, and since their father was perfectly fine, Kade sent the plane to collect her. I still wasn’t used to the thought of someone sending their plane as easily as one would send a car. It was like Air-Uber.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked.
“More than sure.” Dalton cupped my cheek. “Aren’t you?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I am. I just want to give you an out.”
“I don’t want an out.”
I fisted my hand in his shirt. “Because you’ve got it if you want—”
“Andi?” he interrupted.
“Yes?”
“Silencio,” he whispered, and leaned down to kiss me.
I smiled against his lips and sat up to get closer. “Okay, so we’re good.”
He pulled me squarely onto his lap. “We’re so very, very good.”
Slipping my head to his shoulder, I kissed his neck. “What happens after we’re bound?”
“What do you mean?”
“Where will we live?”
“Where do you want to live?” Dalton asked, stroking my hip.
“Not Savannah.”
“No?”
I shook my head. “I want to go somewhere exotic.”
“Like?”
“Scotland, maybe?”
Dalton grinned. “I can make that happen.”
“I’d be open to Portland, too.”
“Portland? Why?”
I shrugged. “I love the rain.”
“Well, you’d have your fill there.”
“That’s what I’m told.”
“Why don’t we take some time off and visit a few places? Call it our honeymoon.”
I looped my arms around his neck. “I love that idea.”
He kissed me again. “Good.”
“Unca!”
I craned my neck and saw a pint-sized Liam making a run for us. I shifted off Dalton’s lap just as his nephew flew onto it. “Hey, buddy! How was your flight?”
“Bumpy,” Liam said.
“Are you forgetting something?” Dalton prodded.
“Oh, sorry. Hi, Auntie Andi.”
I smiled. “Hi, honey.”
“Hi guys,” Samantha said.
“Hey,” we greeted in unison.
Samantha waved her son over. “Liam, let’s go find Jess.”
“And Libby?” Liam asked as he climbed off Dalton’s lap.
“Libby’s with the nanny,” Dalton said.
“You know you could take a nap with your brother until she gets home?” Samantha suggested.
“I’m no’ tired, mum. But thank you for the offer.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. He was such an old soul.
Samantha rolled her eyes and held her hand out. “Well, let’s go find you something to eat, then.”
“Chocolate?” he asked hopefully.
“I don’t care how cute you are, little man, chocolate is off the table this close to dinner.”
“Could we negotiate?”
At this point, I couldn’t hold my laughter in and covered my mouth with my hands.
Samantha shook her head, also appearing to be biting back laughter. “Nope, we’re not going to negotiate.”
“Mum, just listen.”
“Right now, you either need to become a lawyer or get one. I do not negotiate with tiny terrorists.”
Liam dropped his head back with a groan. “You win this time, majesty.”
“I win all the time,” she said. “And I think I need to limit your time with Uncle Max. He’s obviously influencing you and your quips.”
“Uncle Max is the bomb, Mummy. He said so himself.”
“Next time he says that, I’d like you to say, ‘The nineties called, and they want their expression back.’”
“I don’t know what that means.” Liam wrinkled his nose. “Is it appropriate for me to say?”
I had buried my head into Dalton’s shoulder in an effort not to guffaw, only raising my head when I felt I could control my mirth. But then Liam turned his cheeky smile toward me and I lost it. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life.
Samantha took Liam away and I glanced up at Dalton. “Who’s Max?”
“Heard of Fallen Crown?”
“Um, yeah. You’d kind of have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of them.”
“Well, it’s Max MacMillan.”
I sat up with a gasp. “You know Maximilian MacMillan from Fallen Crown?”
“He’s Cauld Ane.”
“Shut the front door. Seriously?”
Dalton chuckled. “Yeah.”
“Will I get to meet him?” I whispered.
Dalton frowned. “No.”
“What? Why not?”
“Why do you sound like that, sugar?”
“Like what?”
“All breathy and fan-girl.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I do not.”
He cocked his head. “You sure do.”
I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. “I think you’re mistaken.”
“Still not introducing you two.”
“Is he married… or bonded or whatever?”
“Yep. Grace is his mate. She’s awesome.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“I’m not worried, per se…”
I raised an eyebrow. “You just want to make sure you’re the only man I’m fan-girling over.”
“Something like that,” he admitted.
I settled back on his lap and cupped his face in my hands. “I fan-girl inside every time you walk in the room… or kiss me… or touch my hand or my face. When you smile—”
He cut me off with a kiss and I sighed against his lips. “See?”
Dalton chuckled. “Okay, maybe you can meet Max.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I’ll feel better when we’re bound.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because then you won’t leave me.”
I leaned back slightly. “Are you seriously worried about that?”
“You did it once.”
“I’m sorry, honey. Had I known it would hurt you, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“I know, sugar.” He patted my bottom and sighed. “I want you to bind me tonight.”
“I still don’t know how to speak the words, Dalton.”
“Talk to Haddi. Find out how exact they have to be.”
“Are you sure about this?”
He frowned. “Gettin’ a little irritated you keep askin’ me that.”
“Getting a little irritated you keep bugging me about it.”
“At some point you have to trust my words, Andi. You can’t keep second guessing my intentions.”
“Well, excuse me for being careful for once in my life.” I pushed off his lap. “You keep saying we’re meant to be together, but we’ve only just reconnected! I trusted Jeremy—”
“You never trusted Jeremy.”
“Maybe not, but I didn’t listen to those voices in my heart, and I definitely ignored the red flags, so I’m sorry, Dalton, I won’t rush into this again.” I walked away, heading for the back doors, and stalking through them, my heart racing with righteous indignation.
* * *
Dalton
I let her go. She was right. I was pushing too hard, too fast. I didn’t know why I was reacting this way. I’d never been insecure about my feelings before, but with Andi the thought of losing her again shattered me.
“Hey, big brother,” Samantha said as she walked into the room. “Where’s Andi?”
I sighed. “I pissed her off. She went for a walk.”
Samantha rolled her eyes and handed me a leather box. “Maybe this’ll help.”
I opened the container and an ornate, antique ring sat protected in dark blue satin. “What’s this?”
“Grandma’s ring,” she said, sitting beside me. “Mom thought you’d like it.”
“Wow.”
“It’s beautiful, huh?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Not what I would have picked for her, but it’s pretty.”
“You don’t have to propose to her with it,” Samantha pointed out. “You could give it to her as a wedding gift.”
“True.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, sis, I’m fine.” I dragged a hand over my stubble. “I just screwed up.”
Samantha squeezed my hand. “Then go fix it.”
I sighed. “If I can.”
“You can. You love each other and if she’s fighting with you, it’s a good sign.”
“How so?” I asked.
“It means she’s not afraid of you, or too far gone she doesn’t see your flaws.”
“There aren’t that many to see, sis.”
Samantha dropped her head back and laughed. “You’re so cute.”
I grinned and rose to my feet. “I’m gonna go fix this.”
“Proud of you, Dalt.”
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Sam.”
I slid the ring into my pocket and followed Andi.
* * *
Andi
Stupidly, I’d walked out without a jacket, but there was no way in hell I was going back inside until I’d calmed down a bit. I didn’t really even know why I was so mad. Dalton was right. At some point, I did need to trust him, but I’d never been particularly good at trusting people and he was now feeling the brunt of that.
“Andi!”
I turned to see Dalton jogging toward me… removing his jacket as he drew closer.
“Baby, why aren’t you wearing a coat?” he demanded, wrapping the warmth around my shoulders.
“Righteous indignation,” I admitted.
He smiled and pulled me close. “I’m sorry, sugar. I shouldn’t have pushed so hard.”
“No, I’m sorry. I do trust you. I guess I just need to get better at showing you that.”
“We’re gonna figure this out and I’m right here for whatever you need.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his neck. “Thanks, honey.”
“How big of a gesture do you want?”
I leaned back. “For a proposal?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t want a gesture of any kind,” I admitted. “Swear to me you won’t propose to me in public.”
Dalton smiled. “Just you and me, sugar, I promise.”
I relaxed against him again.
“What do you want for a ring?”
“Something simple. I love antiques, so maybe we can find something online?”
“This is on me, sugar.”
“I trust you.”
He chuckled, lifting my chin to kiss me gently. “Love those words, baby.”
“I like saying them.”
“Come on, let’s get ready for dinner. We’ll talk to Haddi about everything together.”
“I like that plan.”
Dalton took my hand and we headed back to the house.