“I missed you too. So much!”
For now, it was enough that she was back with all the people she loved. Later, she’d think about the letter again and what had happened on the journey home. Her eyes found Warwick. They were here, and right now, nothing else mattered.
“God’s blood, I have a hunger!”
Cambridge Sinclair wandered into the room. Not as big as his brothers, he was loud, gregarious, and very different from Dev and Warwick. Married to Emily, Samantha’s gentle sister, he was perpetually hungry.
“Hello, darling.” His smile was wide. “Come and give your favorite Sinclair a hug.”
Laughing, she fell into his arms. These people had been a constant in her life for many years and as much a part of her as those that carried her blood.
“I bet the food in Ireland was not as good as here.” Cam released her and sniffed the air. “Do I smell plum cake?”
Dogs barked, people laughed, and Samantha thought,I’m home, and for now that was enough.
CHAPTERNINE
“So, what happened on the trip home? I’m not sure if it was Samantha’s crossing from Ireland or the journey from Wales to London, but we felt something was off.” Dev asked the question as around them the excitement of Samantha returning had, as yet not abated.
Warwick was standing with his brothers. They were older than him by quite a few years, but he’d never found the gap hard to bridge. He was most like Dev. Cam, however, was one of a kind. No one could replicate that man.
“The crossing was a bad one. I could hear the screams and moans as the boat neared the dock.” The ice-cold fear of that day would stay with him for some time. “I boarded as soon as I could and looked for Samantha. She was crouched over her maid.”
“I’m glad you were there for her, brother.”
“She should have had more than a maid with her, Dev.”
“Very likely, but it was her choice, and James respected that.”
“She thinks she’s stronger than she is.”
“She’s here and well so you have no further need of this snippiness I hear in your voice,” Cam said.
“I am never snippy, and it was very nearly different.”
“Don’t you think he sounds snippy, Dev?”
He was subjected to the two sets of piercing green eyes.
“Do not check my colors,” he hissed.
Dev had the heightened sense of sight along with cousins Wolf and Harry. He could see great distances and at night, plus he saw people in colors. Everyone had one, and Dev was convinced you did not wed anyone who was not your color match.
“Why should you be any different? He’s been doing that since we were born,” Cam drawled.
“She could have died on that boat, and we would not have known is all I’m saying. Check her color. Plus, there is more.”
“What more?” Dev demanded, switching his gaze to Samantha, which meant Warwick could look at her too. She was laughing and clearly happy to be home.
“Warwick?” Cam prodded.
“Soon. But I will tell the tale with James and the others. But not here and not now.”
“You know I hate waiting,” Cam muttered.
“As do I, but I will allow you a little longer,” Dev said in that way he had when he wanted his family to cede to his wishes. Often, they ignored him. “Samantha is a bit pale, but likely due to the journey and the illness you say she went through,” Dev said. “But still a lovely vibrant violet color like you, brother.”
Of course Warwick knew she had his colors, but until right now, the significance of that meant little. She was the sister he’d always had who did not share his blood, but after the last few days and the kiss, everything had changed no matter how much he wanted to believe otherwise.
