“What’s the problem?” Luch’s voice rumbled from behind the door.
“Can you come zip this up and then pretend you didn’t see me so you can make a fuss when I walk out?”
“Anything for you.” The words held a weight to them, landing in my chest and burning themselves into my heart, and I pressed my lips together as he came through the door, holding a hand in front of his eyes. I wondered if he had any idea what such a sentiment meant to someone like me.
“Right, I’m turned around. Zip me up.” I laughed as he nipped my bum as he knelt down, finding the zipper, and then zipped the dress all the way up, ending with a kiss at the neck. “Now go away.”
“As the lady wishes.” I waited to hear the door click closed and then turned. Stopping, I checked myself over in the mirror. It was a great dress. It showcased all of my assetsin the best way possible but was both demure and sexy in its own right. The perfect dress, really, and I couldn’t wait to tell Willow how much Luch had loved it.
Though I’d be leaving a few bits out when I did.
Laughing softly, I grabbed my purse and stepped out, throwing my hands in the air.
“Ta-da.”
“Och, my heart.” Luch held his hands to his chest, marvel on his face. “Your beauty rivals that of a freshly bloomed rose, damp with dew, sparkling in the early morning light.”
“Well, now, isn’t that fancy? I’ll take it.” I laughed as Luch came over, his hands at my waist, his kiss soft against my lips.
“You look incredible. I’ll be the luckiest man at the restaurant tonight.”
“I’m so excited. I’ve gone to family nights, but I’ve never eatenas a guestat Grasshopper before. I can’t wait to see Lia in all her glory.”
“You’re really making great friends with them all, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
I paused at the bottom of the stairs, the snap of the cold night air sending a shiver across my skin. Autumn was well on its way, and every morning I could see it in the crystals starting to frost the grass.
“I thought I’d drive us up. I wasn’t sure if you’d be in heels or not,” Luch said, opening the car door for me. One ripple marred the perfect surface of the water.
But it was all it took to mess up the perfection.
Was that the same as me keeping the secrets of theOrder from Luch? Worry clawed at my stomach as I stepped inside the car. MacAlpine Castle came into view as we crested the hill and I sighed, enjoying seeing the building lit up at night. Luch drove around the side and parked in the lot, and I admired the twinkle lights lining the pathway to the side entrance for Grasshopper. Lia’s restaurant operated out of the old castle kitchen, and they’d transformed what used to be a ballroom into the restaurant space.
“Wait.” Luch shot me an annoyed glance when I went to open the door and I bit back a laugh as he raced around the car and then opened the door with a dramatic sweep of his hand. I beamed up at him.
“Why, thank you, good sir.” I took his hand, that little spark of energy zipping between us, and stood. “Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?”
“Why, no, we’ve been too busy admiring you.” Luch flexed his arms beneath his coat, and I laughed, hooking my arm through his. He wore a dark suit coat thrown over a simple white button-down, with dark jeans cuffed at the ankles, and thick soled leather boots. Honestly, I felt a little like I was a princess, being swept away to her castle, as we walked up the path toward the front door. Music drifted out, along with the steady hum of restaurant noises, voices and cutlery clinking.
Luch lifted his head, sniffing loudly, and I glanced up at him with a smile.
“Smells good, huh? She’s an incredible cook…” I trailed off at the absolute fury on Luch’s face. “What… what’s wrong?”
“Those bastards,” Luch seethed, stomping inside the restaurant, leaving me at the door in confusion.
“Luch?” I asked, almost afraid to step inside. I’d never seen him like this before. Annoyed? Yes. Frustrated? Yes. But the stone-cold rage on his face transformed him into a man I didn’t know. If I stepped through that door, would I learn something that I didn’t want to know about Luch? Uncertainty had me hesitating for a moment, but then I took a deep breath, channeled the goddess that Willow had designed this dress for, and strode inside.
Luch stood next to a group of five men, arguing furiously—yet in hushed voices. It was impossible to ignore that they were engrossed in a very serious discussion. The next thing that was impossible to ignore was the fact that these men were clearly his brothers and his father. They were almost carbon copies of each other, all with dark hair, chiseled faces, and broad shoulders. More than one woman cast an appreciative glance their way, and I could hardly blame them. It was only one man, his hair having gone slightly gray, that I zeroed in on. He didn’t argue. Instead, he stood, his chin lifted high, his eyes scanning the room. It was almost as if he had no interest in partaking in the discussion, because he’d already assumed the outcome would go in his favor. When his eyes landed on me, I stiffened.
It felt like someone had thrown a glass of cold water in my face.
Luch’s father reached out and lightly touched the shoulder of one of the brothers and nodded toward me. I didn’t flinch when the entire group turned to look at me, but I wanted to. Luch’s face was locked up, his expression hidden, though his eyes burned. But his family? As far asthey were concerned I might as well have been a cockroach in their food by the way they looked at me.
Luch strode forward and wrapped an arm around my waist. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to my cheek, his lips hovering near my ear.
“I’m sorry. They ambushed me.”
