“I have no idea.”
Levi and Locke laugh behind me. The rest of the family goes quiet, watching.
I move toward her, and even though I don’t know what the hell she’s up to, my entire world funnels down to her.
Only Isla could wear something that hideous and somehow look like she stepped straight off a runway.
And God help me; I fall even harder.
She reaches me and smiles like she hasn’t just turned my ribcage inside out. “Hi.”
“Hello, love.” I lift the edge of the ridiculous bell-shaped sleeve. “What is this about? There are no more games to play.”
She laughs softly. “Oh, I think we have a few more.”
A slow smile curves my lips. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“What game is this?”
She lifts a shoulder. “The one where I try to embarrass you enough that you leave early. And then we go to bed early… except we won’t be sleeping.At all.”
My smile widens. “Oh. I like this game.”
Her eyes brighten. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Did it… work?”
“Let’s see.”
I pretend to consider it. But when she looks up at me with those wide, trusting eyes, I swoop in, wrap an arm around her waist, and hoist her over my shoulder—exactly like the night I first took her home.
She yelps, then bursts into laughter. Real laughter, pure and unfiltered. Not like the pretentious, hollow ones I’ve heard all night.
People stare at us—at me.
The Monster.
The man who’s apparently changed more than anyone could ever imagine.
“Let’s go,” I declare, carrying my woman straight out the damn door.
Let the press get a picture of this.
Therealus.
I guess Adeline was right.
I’m not so beastly anymore.
Chapter Forty-Two
Isla
My back hitsthe wall the moment we step through the doors, then his lips are devouring mine.
