Robin took her glasses off and gave them a good wipe. The code she’d been working on to run a simulation for her latest client wasn’t cooperating. She knew that she should just take a break, go for a walk, clear her head, and then the answer would fall in her lap, but she was too frustrated to do that. She tucked her foot under the opposite knee and resettled herself on the couch, tucking the blanket and cardigan closer around herself. She was laser-focused on her problem, so when she put her glasses back on and saw Hal standing there, her heart kicked in surprise within her chest.

Warmth spread through her as she took in the sight of the man she loved. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric of his black T-shirt, while his jeans were slung low on his hips. Reaching up, he pushed a lock of his sun-bleached brown hair out of his face. His T-shirt rode up slightly, displaying those tantalizing lines on his hips that disappeared into his jeans. Hal ran hot, so even in the chilly October weather, he was only ever in a T-shirt.

Her heart resumed beating normally, but she still couldn’t take her eyes off him, and he knew it. Reaching behind him, he pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. “I got you something.”

“You did?” Robin smiled. He was always getting her little things to make her life easier, and her heart melted each and every time. He came over and sat by her on the couch, removing her laptop from her hands and gently tugging her into a sideways hug. They settled back on the couch. “You already gave me the best birthday present I could ask for.”

“This was something else I meant to have for you, but it took longer than I thought to organize.” He shrugged. His bright green-blue eyes stared down at her, and she couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world. “Open it.” A small smile played at the corners of his mouth as he handed her the envelope, giving her a nudge with his elbow.

She flipped the back of it open and pulled out a card. The front was decorated with a logo she’d seen all too frequently when she worked for Randall. It was a travel agency. Her heart started to gallop in her chest.

Opening the card, she saw a ticket to Ireland inside.

Her jaw dropped. “Ireland?” Robin whispered in awe of the gift.

Travel was both easy and difficult for the brothers. It had taken Robin a while to understand, but she finally got it, so she understood why plane tickets sat in her hand. Sure, they could just teleport to the Emerald Isle, but teleporting two people was a challenge, and two people with their luggage wasn’t feasible if the person doing the teleporting wanted to be conscious and not pass out for a few days.

“There’s more.” Hal grinned down at her, pleased with himself about the surprise, no doubt.

She pulled the airline ticket to one side, and under that was a card for an adorable little hotel and the information for the Samhain Fire Festival on Tlachtga, a hill in Ireland that her mother had told her tales about as a child. The fact that Hal remembered her talking about it was beyond touching. She’d only mentioned it once, but he’d listened and knew it meant something to her.

“We can also go to the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Slane, if you want. They are supposed to be amazing historical sites.”

Tears bubbled up inside her. Two or three escaped before she locked them down. Never. Not once in her life that she could remember had anyone paid such attention to her that they understood the desires that she dared not speak aloud. Learning about her heritage, reconnecting with the land that gave her life, not only to her but to the banshee that lay within, was something she’d yearned to do.

“This is amazing,” she whispered before shoving everything aside and throwing her arms around his neck. “Thank you.” She kissed him silly before the dots connected in her head. “But that’s in two days!”

A rumble of a laugh started in him and his giant arms as he pulled her into his lap. He was such a dichotomy. His arms were the perfect example—they could be bands of steel to those he was trying to hurt, but had never been anything but gentle and loving with her. She loved all sides of him; every piece of the man whose lap she now sat on was perfect to her.

“You need anything before we go? Now’s the time. Flight leaves tomorrow afternoon.”

“What do you wear to a fire festival?” She’d never been to a festival of any kind, much less one centered around Halloween and fire.

“Whatever you want.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

“I’ve got to get this fixed and pack!” Robin leaped out of his arms and grabbed the laptop, still smiling from the thoughtfulness of his gift, and plopped back down onto her spot on the couch. Hal pulled her feet onto his lap and began rubbing just the way she liked while her fingers flew over the keys.