“You’re just gorgeous, aren’t you?” There were more pretty words for him.
I folded my arms.
She looked up and laughed.
“Jealous?”
“Just a bit. How was the flight?”
“Better.” Wren stood up and stepped towards me. “I’m now covered in puppy slobber.”
“So am I, so we’re good.” Then she was in my arms and we were kissing, Zeus whimpering at our feet.
My arms had been empty without her. Everything had been empty without her.
“Next time,” I said as we parted for air. “I’m coming with you.”
“Definitely. I love Africa but I love it more when you’re there. How’s everything been here?”
“Busy. But good. Claire came last weekend with Eliza and Leo. Eliza started riding lessons. Claire and Killian slept. It feels like you’ve been gone for ages.” My hands couldn’t stop touching her.
“It’s been two weeks. We went eleven years.” She laughed. “I should shower. The dog slobber is nothing compared to the grime of that plane.”
“Speaking of eleven years.” I grasped her hand. I hadn’t planned to do this today. I’d planned it for in a couple of days when she’d recovered from her trip and was in a better, not-just-having-flown mood. But two weeks apart hadn’t done anything to ease my patience.
“Callum…”
It was a warning.
“Humour me. Are you okay about Zeus, by the way? He’s a permanent fixture.”
“At some point we’ll have to start persuading your brothers and sisters to have more pets. Ava’s dog must need a friend, you know, just in case Zeus wants to be an only child.” She patted him, the puppy at her heels, eyes fixed on her.
I knew how he felt.
I led her up the stairs to our bedroom. She’d never moved into one of the cottages. By the time the house was ready, we’d been living together at my parents’ for months. I’d double checked if she wanted to stay in the big house; we’d talked about how quick things were happening and then decide to roll with it. Take that chance.
She sat down the bed, Zeus downstairs and blocked there by the gate where he’d wait until company arrived.
“Callum Callaghan, are you about to propose?”
She fortunately looked amused.
I paused. Cover blown.
“What makes you think that?”
Wren’s laugh was golden. “Because you asked me about ring sizes before we left.”
“Can we forget you said that and replace it with how much you missed me?”
She smiled. “I missed you. I missed us. I missed really hot showers too.”
I opened my bedside drawer and pulled out a box. “Yes, I was going to propose.”
She held out her hand, beaming. “You know I’ll say yes.”
I put the box away.
