It said both I was officially one of them…
And he was falling in love with me too.
I already knew that last part.
But the first part felt nearly as amazing.
“A warning,” Tempie broke into our moment and fluttered a disparaging hand Battle’s and my way, “that will never happen with Hamish and me.”
“What won’t happen?” Chassie asked.
“Being gooey-eyed at the breakfast table.” Tempie paused. “Or anywhere, for that matter.”
“We’ll see,” Battle murmured.
“Are you and Hamish all right?” Chassie asked, her words threaded with worry.
“Although I’ll never forgive you, dearest,” Tempie stated, and Battle got stiff beside me, “I’ll also never be able to find the words to thank you.”
Battle relaxed.
Chassie grinned.
Tempie sipped coffee.
I shoved bacon in my mouth.
Fifteen minutes later Hamish sauntered in.
And with a light kiss on Tempie’s upturned lips, she belatedly introduced him to everyone.
And he joined the family.
I leaned my weight against the handle of my mallet, stating, “All right, this is a shade too far.”
Prue, standing next to me, asked, “What?”
I looked down at her. “We’re playing croquet.”
“And?” she inquired, openly perplexed.
“Do you play croquet often?” I asked in return.
“Yes, in the summer. Why?”
“My darling!” Tempie cried before I could say word one about the Bridgertons, and we both turned that way to see her planting a lavish kiss on Hamish’s beard.
Battle was frowning.
“Oops. I think Hamish just got in a good shot,” Prue mumbled.
“My turn!” Chassie yelled and bellied up to her ball.
I watched as everyone watched, a good deal of my attention on Hamish, who—new to all this drama and being introduced to it rather dramatically—had a keen and concerned eye on Chassie even as he slid an arm around Tempie’s shoulders.
Yeah.
He was a good guy.
