He smiled and lightly ruffled my hair. “Yet, I’m still no match for you. No one is more handsome.”
“The sun is about to set,” Briar said, looking toward the tall windows. “Guests will be arriving shortly.”
“Hear that, Ev?” Callum cupped my cheek. “It’s sunset.”
I smiled, remembering the story he’d told me. “That span of time when the sun and moon can meet.”
He linked our fingers, and his chocolate-brown eyes softened. “May I have this dance?”
“There’s no music.”
“Of course there is. Don’t you hear it?” He rested our cheeks together and started a slow sway from side to side. “Badum dum da badum.”
A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. “You’re a dork.”
A dork I couldn’t imagine living without.
“Don’t cry, Ev.” Callum leaned in and kissed the tear away. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“And neither are you,” Maddox told me, reverting to an authoritative tone. He did that in an attempt to mask whatever emotion he didn’t want to show. “Callum will be by your side all evening, and the thief will be watching over you from the shadows. We’ll keep you safe.”
“Captain Glutton’s right,” a voice with an unmistakable twang said. Rowan approached, dressed in black from head to toe. His dark auburn hair had been braided and pulled to the side, held together by a golden cuff. “If anyone comes too close to you, I’ll slit their throat.”
“You braided your hair.” I lightly touched the golden cuff. “I love it.”
He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his cheek. “Maybe I wanted to look pretty for you too.”
“You do.” Flutters attacked my heart as I glanced at each of them. “All of you do.” The flutters lost momentum. “I just wish…”
“That the pup was here?” Rowan lowered my hand from his face but kept hold of it. His fingers circled my wrist. “We’ll bring him home some food. I may even play a game of chess with him.”
“You better not cheat.”
My favorite fang-like tooth made its appearance. “It’s only cheating if you get caught.”
“Lake always catches you.”
“And then he whacks you with his tail,” Briar added. “Much deserved, I’d say.”
“The hits have gotten softer lately,” Rowan said. “I think I’m growing on him.”
“Like a fungus,” Maddox muttered.
“No one asked you, Captain Glutton.”
Their banter helped calm my anxious mind. With Rowan keeping hold of my wrist, I snuggled back into Callum’s chest. Maddox neared my side and touched my lower back, his brow heavy and questions swimming in his blue eyes.
“I’m okay,” I told him. “Just enjoying being with all of you.”
The moment was, unfortunately, short-lived.
“There you are, dear.” Rose rushed over to me. “You’re needed in the kitchen for final approval on the refreshments schedule.”
She fluttered off in the other direction, approaching a member of staff and pointing at a table that wasn’t quite in line with the others around it.
“Welp.” I sighed. “Duty calls.”
“I’ll accompany you, milord.” Callum offered me his arm.
