Those quicksilver eyes instantly found hers, and she forgot everyone as she stepped toward him. After a miserable night of missing him, haunted by nightmares of his possible capture, she needed to see him. Touch him.
He drew her into his arms. “I feel the same way,” he murmured, pressing his mouth to hers in a brief kiss.
About to ask if he’d read her mind, her sister blurted, “Whoa, your hair!”
But Hana had seen Aerén’s hair last night?
Frowning, Leya glanced at the entrance. Only then did she realize they weren’t alone. Thiorr stood near the door. Yep, his hair was eye-catching. The deep orange merging with black resembled tiger stripes.
And he was here to work on the safety wards.
“Hello, Thiorr.” She smiled, then introduced Hana. “This is my sister, Hana. Hana, Thiorr.”
He gave Leya a half bow, then greeted Hana in the same manner. “My lady.”
“Need someone to show you around?” Aerén asked, eyes twinkling.
Thiorr sent Aerén a stoic look. “Difficult as it is, I’m sure I can manage.”
Aerén smirked as Thiorr left through the front entrance again.
The side door opened, and their father ambled inside. He stopped dead at seeing Aerén’s arms around her. His eyes narrowed.
Darn. Leya bit off a groan. She had hoped for a little more time before this happened.
She eased away from Aerén. “Aerén, this is my father, U-Jin Park. Appa, Aerén and I, we…we’re dating.”
“Dating?” Her overprotective father’s slitted stare remained fixed on Aerén. “You like my beloved daughter?”
Unruffled, Aerén nodded. “I do, Mr. Park.”
Hana lost her moody expression, her eyes bouncing between the three of them, a huge grin on her face.
“You a Christian boy?” he asked, his Korean accent deliberately thicker as he stroked his trimmed beard. Had it been any longer, he would have twirled it like some villain.
“Appa!” Leya groaned. “You can’t ask people things like that.”
Hana choked on her laughter then started coughing.
“What? You don’t like I question your boyfriend?” he demanded, his attention finally shifting to her, while amusement lit Aerén’s eyes.
“Okay, okay. Fine you like boy with hair blue.”
She adored her father, but occasionally, he liked giving the guys she dated a hard time. Well, those brave enough to meet him.
Leya inhaled deeply. She had to tell him. “Appa, we must talk.”
Behind their father’s back, Hana gave her the thumbs-up. Leya cast a quick look at Aerén, who remained silent near the exit door, probably ready to bolt. But his warm smile gave her courage. “Appa, sit.”
Cocking an eyebrow, he crossed to the receptionist’s desk and sat, folded his arms atop the tidied wooden surface, and waited.
Leya lowered to one of the two chairs opposite him. “You remember the folklore ofThe Fairy and the Woodcutter?”
“You want me to tell the story now? To him?”
She bit back a sigh. “Appa, please.”
“I’d very much like to hear it, Mr. Park,” Aerén cut in smoothly. “But maybe after Leya speaks to you?”
