“Caelan?”
He stalked toward me, eyes glowing golden. One hand snagged around my waist, and he hauled me against him, lips claiming me in a fiery kiss.
My brain short-circuited. When we came up for air, his eyes had reverted to their normal stormy gray. He touched his forehead to mine. “Hi.”
I blinked up at him, touching my lips with my fingers, unable to come up with a single word for that greeting.
Moira let out a wolf whistle. “I wish I had someone greeting me like that at work.”
“No kidding,” Ash grumbled. “What the hell, Caelan? Is everything alright?”
“Any of you heard about a dowry concerning Evie?”
The term made my brow furrow. Wasn’t a dowry for a bride?
“A dowry?” Moira laughed. “Are we in the Victorian age or something?”
I took a step back. “Is that why you’re so angry?”
His posture vibrated with tension. “Several men were outside discussing social media posts and fliers announcing you’re in the market for a husband.”
I burst out laughing.
“From your reaction, I suppose there’s nothing you want to tell me.” Caelan’s lips twitched.
I stepped closer and brought him into a hug. “If I haven’t married you by now, I can’t imagine I’d marry anyone else.”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “Gods,” he muttered. “The Lords are at it again.”
“I don’t know why I’m such a hot commodity for them.”
“You’ve been very clear about them leaving you alone,” Caelan said. He shook his head. “Let me do some digging. I’ll get to the bottom of things.”
“They were waiting outside?” Moira asked.
Caelan nodded. “One of them had flowers.”
Ash let out a shout of laughter.
“What kind of flowers?” I asked.
Caelan’s eyes narrowed.
“What?” I said innocently. “There’s a big difference between carnations and dahlias.”
Moira grinned. “She’s right. Carnations say fast food. Dahlias say fine dining.”
“I don’t know what kind of flowers he had. If they’re smart, they’re on the way out of town as we speak.”
“Ooh,” Moira said. “Your Lord got all alpha on them.”
But Caelan had stopped listening. He sat up a little straighter, a tinge of gold in his eyes. His nostrils flared. “Who’s been here today?”
“Besides Evie’s harem?” Ash asked.
Caelan’s hot glare made Ash’s mouth snap shut.
I lay a hand on his arm. “He’s talking about Barrett.”
