Ava crouched before him. “Are ye all right?” she whispered.
The boy nodded, peering at his uncle. His deep blue eyes seemed to say,Help me get him to play.
“Aye, I agree, darling. We should all spend time together” Ava nodded conspiratorially. “It’s decided, then. Me Laird, ye must join our game.”
She could feel the unease radiating off Caden, and it brought her a sense of mischievous pleasure.
“Unless ye’re too afraid to lose,” she added with a teasing look, daring him to defy her.
A small smile curved his lips.
“Och, ye’re in trouble now, lass.” Finlay laughed heartily.
“Nobody speaks to me like that and gets away with it, me Lady,” Caden said in a deep voice that sent a tingle from her toes up to the top of her spine.
Before she realized it, he was running after her and Nathan, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. His dark hair fluttered behind him, and his dark eyes hinted that he wanted to do more than run after her.
“Run, ye two!” Finlay ushered them through the garden. “Quick, before he catches ye!”
The boy let out a shriek of excited laughter. It filled Ava’s heart with joy.
“Come on, Nathan! This way!” She grabbed his hand and led him through the small maze of winter flowers and fragrant plants.
The sun was shining in earnest through a sliver of clouds now, as if to encourage them to play just a little more before the heavens opened.
Caden chased after them, for once a part of Nathan’s inner world.
How did she do that?
He marveled at his wife’s ability to interact with the little boy, even when he refused to speak. It was as if they spoke the same silent language.
Caden felt a pang of envy in his chest. He would make Ava teach him how to do that.
A blooming winter rosebush stood between him and Ava and Nathan. The little boy, who was the spitting image of his mother, giggled and dashed in the opposite direction. In a flash, Caden changed course and scooped him up.
“Got ye, ye rascal,” he said as he tickled him.
Nathan let out another shriek of laughter.
Caden could not help the smile that spread across his face. The scars on his right eye pulled, and he barely hid a wince, but it seemed so insignificant in that moment that he did not even adjust his mask.
“Now, time to get Ava,” he whispered conspiratorially.
He set Nathan on his feet and nudged him forward.
He caught Finlay smirking out of the corner of his eye.
“Oh, shut up,” he huffed.
Ava pretended to slowly run away from Nathan, who giggled as he chased her. He fisted his small hand in the lush fabric of her skirt.
“Ach! Ye got me!” She scooped him up and planted a kiss on his cheek.
The boy pretended to faint from the kiss.
Ava lost her balance, and they toppled to the ground, laughing.
Caden hated that the sound tugged at his heart. He hated even more that his brother was grinning like a fool.
