“Kael.” There was an indistinguishable murmur from the phone. “Yeah. Did you get it? Yeah? Good.”
They spoke for a few more minutes before Brodie disconnected. He was in his own world for several minutes afterward, seeming to forget our earlier conversation.
“So, you’re thinking King will forgive all because I’m quote-unquote an innocent?” I asked after a while. I needed to settle this in mind, know that everything would work out.
Brodie flashed a look of surprise my way. “Yes! Sorry…I was distracted.”
“Clearly.”
“Hey.” His voice was firm and steady, and I met his eyes reluctantly. “It’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. Trust me.” He reached to take my hand in his, curling his fingers warm around mine, and I took a deep breath. Choosing to trust. Choosing to believe.
“Okay.”
Hours later, we arrived. Brodie pulled into a parking garage at the base of a building rising tall in downtown Boston, circling around until he found the spot he wanted in a dim, empty corner of the garage. There was one other vehicle sitting there, and my heart squeezed as the door opened and a tall man with deep blonde-brown hair emerged.So this was Kael.He was striking, with a commanding presence, strong features, and full tender lips at variance with the strength of his appearance.
Releasing my hand, Brodie stepped out and met the man with a firm man hug, complete with a few slaps on the back. They talked for several minutes, faces grim, until Kael handed Brodie a small box and stepped over to the car. He peered in at me intently, unsmiling, until I raised an eyebrow. With a brief laugh, he returned to Brodie to shake his hand and slap his back one more time. Then he got back in his car and left.
Brodie returned to the driver’s seat. He sat without speaking, turning the little cardboard box over in his hands. I watched in bemusement. “What was that all about?”
“So, umm.” He raked a hand through his hair and glanced away from me, out the window.
“Brodie, you’re kind of scaring me—”
“Here.” He shoved the box into my lap.
“What’s this?” I picked it up, but didn’t open it immediately.
“Ah…here’s the plan. We’re going to get married.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The idea was so absurd, so far from what I had anticipated. Then I looked at him…really looked at him…and the breath emptied from my lungs in a whoosh. “You’re serious.” He didn’t answer, but his face said everything. He was serious. “Brodie…ONEof all, that was probably the least romantic proposal I could have come up with. Me, Tarzan. You, Jane. We, marry.TWOof all…I’m not going to get married just to…” I broke off, hunting for the right words.
“Just to save your life?” The words fell like a gauntlet between us.
“I can’t believe you’re serious about this.”
“If you’re my family, then both Donegal and Carson would have been in violation of our creed, even more so than if you are simply an innocent. Carson’s death would be justified.”
“But I’m not your family, Brodie.”
“If we’re married—or engaged—you’re my woman. My family.”
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.His woman. His family. But surely Donegal would see it for the subterfuge it was. “He’ll know…” I whispered.
Brodie knew exactly what I was talking about. “We’ll have to fib about exactly when this ring made its way to your finger. We’ll have to be convincing.”
I turned my head to stare blindly out the window. There was a primitive part of me that wanted to curl into Brodie and nuzzle against him at the idea of him claiming me in that way. It was undeniably sexy. But the modern woman in me rebelled against the obvious need for it. That I should have to allow some man to put his ring on me, effectively collar me in that fashion in order to save my life…it made me slightly ill.
But Brodie wasn’t just “some man,” was he? He was the man who protected me even as he called me badass. He was the man who respected my space even as he pushed my limits. He was the man I was, against all reason and common sense, falling for one moment to the next.
“I’m not…I can’t…” I didn’t even know what I was trying to say. I didn’t want to be the woman he rescued, only to come to despise later when he fell in love and wanted to pledge his life to someone else. Was this a permanent thing? Was it a charade we’d carry out for a period of time and then abandon? What would happen if…when…we did abandon the pretense? I rubbed my wrist. This would never work.
Brodie’s hand descended on mine, stilling the movement. “Talk to me.”
“I just…don’t understand how this is going to work.” He squeezed my hand, encouraging me. “Will it be real? Will we live together? What about when it ends? What happens then?”
“It will be very real,macushla. It can’t be a half-measure. We’ll marry, and we’ll live together, and we’ll make babies together. It won’t end except in death, so be very sure.” He stopped and looked down at the box in my lap. “That’s my mother’s ring. I’ve never even been tempted to put it on another woman’s finger, and I don’t plan to do so again.”
Real. My mind latched on to one word. He couldn’t be serious. “Babies.”
