“You guys do realize that I am one of the richest men in the world, right?” Cass grumbled.

“And one of the most modest,” Audrey chirped, her voice dripping with sarcasm, as the town car pulled up to the house. Brooklyn laughed while Cass glanced at Audrey with annoyance.

It had been three months since they had moved to Pendulum Island, and while Audrey had been back to Burlingame several times to deal with selling her house, Cass and Brooklyn had not been to America again.

Until then.

“I’m just saying that I could have had this crap shipped or bought you new furniture,” Cass said, and Brooklyn swallowed a smile.

She’s driving him as nuts as she drives me, she thought. It’s endearing.

“No one told you that you had to come,” Audrey retorted as they piled into the house. “I have a lot of memories in this place, and so does Brooklyn, don’t you?”

Brooklyn raised her arms in pretend surrender. “I am only here because you asked me to come with you.”

“And I’m only here because I have business in San Francisco,” Cass added. “I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

Brooklyn rushed toward him, throwing her arms around his neck, and his attractive face broke into an easy smile. No matter how much they bantered and barked at each other, Brooklyn knew that Cass was sincerely happy with their arrangement. He regarded Audrey as a pain in the ass sister-in-law. The annoyance often outweighed the affection, but there was a lot of love for her nonetheless.

“I love you,” Brooklyn whispered, brushing her lips against his. “Hurry back.”

“I’ll be back soon,” he promised. “Maybe we can go for dinner at La Tortuga tonight. Have you been there?”

Brooklyn stepped back and gawked at him, his golden-brown eyes shimmering mischievously.

“You did remember me that night!” she gasped, heat coloring her face. “You jerk!” Cass laughed and ducked back into the town car, leaving Brooklyn to gape after him.

She should’ve known. Had he followed her to the club from the restaurant that night? Brooklyn shook her head and joined Audrey in the almost empty house. She had a feeling she would never know for certain. Besides, it didn’t really matter now.

I am so grateful he wants me, she thought, a shiver of happiness sliding down her backbone.

“That smile is beginning to get on my nerves,” Audrey snapped as Brooklyn found her in the kitchen.

“Does my happiness upset you?” Brooklyn asked sarcastically.

“No,” she retorted. “It makes me jealous as hell. You get a rich, sexy, dragon prince and I am your nanny.”

“You are not my nanny!” Brooklyn snapped hotly, but she instantly saw the evil glint in Audrey’s eyes. “Why do you insist on pushing my buttons?”

“Because you always take the bait,” she replied, laughing. “Anyway, I’m serious. Get your man in line to find me a good dragon of my own. He promised.”

“Maybe he’s worried you will eat his brothers alive,” Brooklyn said dryly, opening the cupboards to ensure they were empty.

“I wouldn’t mind the opportunity,” Audrey agreed, and they both laughed.

Brooklyn felt a pang of loss. She had opted to leave Audren with Kirra, but she was starting to regret it. She felt like she was missing a limb.

“Hello?”

The front door opened, and the women eyed each other curiously. A tingle of apprehension shot through Brooklyn’s body.

I know that voice, she thought, hurrying toward the front door with Audrey. Standing at the entrance of the house was the one person Brooklyn never wanted to see again.

“What are you doing in my house?” Audrey roared. “Get out of here right now before I call the cops!”

“I am the cops!” Ryan spat back, entering the house in his uniform. “I just need to talk to Brooklyn.”

Brooklyn felt a newly familiar sensation crawling through her body.

“What are you doing here, Ryan?” she demanded.

“I’ve had people watching out for you, and one of the guys told me that they saw you in town this morning,” Ryan replied with a shrug.

“You had me followed?” Brooklyn asked.

“Yes! I want to see my son!” he snapped. “Where is he?”

“He’s not your son,” Brooklyn replied evenly, willing herself to be calm. “I have nothing to say to you. Get out of here.”

“You can’t withhold my kid because you’re jealous and spiteful!” Ryan yelled. “You disappeared with my boy. I should have you arrested for custodial interference! You don’t want to mess with the LAPD, Brooklyn!”

She felt a smidgen of fear course through her.

“Are you deaf?” Audrey screeched. “He isn’t yours!”

“This isn’t about you!” Ryan screamed, advancing towards them. His face was red with fury. “So help me God, Brooklyn, I will—”

“Get away from her.”

The words were flat but chilling nonetheless, and Brooklyn exhaled as Cass strode into the room.

Ryan looked at him in shock.

“Mr. Williams!” he cried, his face contorting in confusion. “What are you—did you buy this house?”

Brooklyn could see Ryan trying to reconcile what the real estate mogul was doing in Audrey’s living room, and it gave her a spark of pleasure.

“I thought I recognized you pulling onto the street, so I turned around,” Cass replied, slipping closer to Brooklyn.

“You remember me? From the restaurant in San Francisco?” Ryan asked, and Brooklyn found herself confused by the conversation.

“Oh, yes,” Cass answered casually. “Didn’t I spill wine on you and your fiancée?”

Brooklyn and Audrey exchanged a look, and they both held back their laughter as Ryan continued to struggle with what was happening.

“Uh, yeah,” Ryan murmured.

“I see you’ve met my fiancée,” Cass said, “but I believe you already know her. Brooklyn, you know Ryan, right?” Brooklyn’s body melted into a puddle of relief, and she sank against him.

Ryan’s eyes finally widened as he gaped at them.

“You—you—” he sputtered, looking from Cass to Brooklyn and back again. “You’re engaged?”

“I told you the kid isn’t yours!” Audrey yelled. “Now get out of my house!”

Ryan shook his head, appearing dazed as he slowly backed out of the front room. He turned and fled without another word, and when the front door closed, Audrey began to howl.

“I wish I had a video recording of his face!” she chortled, but Brooklyn barely heard her as she looked at Cass.

“You spilled wine on him and Elena?” she asked. “How did that happen?”

Cass widened his eyes with feigned innocence.

“It was an accident,” he replied in a voice that clearly told Brooklyn he was lying. She cocked her head to the side and stared up at him.

“You knew right away too, didn’t you?” she whispered, and he smiled.

“Didn’t you?” he replied. “So, what do you say?”

She furrowed her brow in confusion. “About what?”

Cass kissed her sweetly on the lips. “Will you be my fiancée? I would hate for Ryan to think I was lying to him.”

Brooklyn’s face turned red, her heart furiously pumping blood through her body. “Is that why you’re proposing? Because you don’t want to appear dishonest?”

“I’m proposing because I want to spend eternity with you,” he said, his eyes boring into hers.

Brooklyn’s head grew light as her beautiful features erupted into a smile.

“Then of course my answer is yes,” she responded, and as their lips met again, she could not think of anything she wanted more than to wander the earth with Cassius Williams forever.