“There’s Scott,” Suzie said and jumped to her feet.
Niall’s bark of aggravation had her flinching, but she wove through the tables to reach Scott.
“Hi,” she said.“Niall said Liam is missing.”
Scott’s brows drew together.“Niall and Saber are in close contact with Angus regarding the search, but they haven’t found him yet.No one saw him leave the castle.”
“That’s weird,” she said.
“Suzie, I’m trying to speak with you,” Niall said.He reminded her of the testy bear she’d first met.
She whirled to glower at him.“You had a chance to talk when we were in Scotland.And you haven’t even apologized yet.”Belatedly, she realized she’d shouted in the middle of the cafe.Heat raced to her cheeks, and her fists clenched at her sides.The chatter ceased, and everyone stared wide-eyed at her and Niall.
“Why don’t you take your coffee and sit outside?”Scott suggested in a low voice.“It might be cold, but at least you’ll have privacy.”
Suzie growled.She didn’t even attempt to restrain her feline.
“Suzie,” Scott snapped, grasping her forearm and dragging her toward the door that led to the outside seating.
Niall strode to their table and grabbed their coffees.
“I’ll bring your food,” Emily said in a low voice.
Suzie struggled with her temper.She rarely lost it, but she was a volcano when she did.She wrenched her arm from Scott’s grip and stomped outdoors.Not even the whoosh of cold air dented her anger.How dare he?She didn’t stop when she reached the nearest table, and her restless urge for movement prevented her from sitting.She kicked at a pile of leaves.It wasn’t enough.
She whirled and found the bear watching her.And itwasthe bear flashing in Niall’s eyes.“What do you want?”
“You,” he said, holding her gaze.“I want you.”
“Why?”she spat, giving a harsh sigh.“Why do you want me?”Heck, he’d never voiced the L word, and right now, he hadn’t mentioned they were mates.She had no idea what he expected from her.
Finally, finally, emotion slid across his face, and what she saw had her holding her breath.
Niall crossed the distance between them and reached for her hands.The warmth from his palms was almost searing, and it shook her.“Suzie, I love you.You’re my mate, and I can’t live a diminished life without you.I’m so sorry for how I treated you when you needed my support.”He paused to pull a packet of what looked like letters from his pocket and handed them to her.“When you didn’t answer my messages, I wrote you a letter.It turned into a long letter.There’s some other stuff there, too.”
She stared at him wordlessly, blinking slowly as she noticed the number of envelopes.Her mind didn’t help her formulate a reply, so she kept staring at him.
“Say something,” he said, his expression uncertain.“Please.”
That vulnerability jolted her brain into gear.“You love me?”
“Since we first made love, my bear and I fell.That first day when I thought you were my temporary secretary, I saw you.My bear saw you.But we’re males.Sometimes, we have thick heads and are slow to make decisions.We behave stupidly.I love you, and I’m sorry I behaved like an idiot when you told me you had to come home.Once you’d left, I realized how much of a jerk I’d been.Please marry me, Suzie.I want to spend my life making you happy and helping you to achieve your dreams.”
Finally, she found her voice, but her heart pitter-pattered so hard she could barely hear herself think.“You truly love me?”
“Yes, sweetheart.I can’t imagine my life without you.My business is in Scotland, but you can visit your loved ones as often as you want.They are always welcome to stay with us.”He grinned.“I have friends in Middlemarch, too.So, will you marry me?”
24
Meet Mum And Dad
Niall’sheartbeatlikea drum while he waited for her reply.He thought she’d say yes, but his bear’s agitation had him wanting to pace.She wouldn’t say no, would she?She couldn’t.No, it didn’t matter.He’d prove to her he was worth the risk, no matter how long it took.
Niall took a deep breath and fought for calm.“Please, take a seat.”
Suzie dropped onto one of the bench seats.“You love me?”
“Yes, very much.I want a future with you.I’m sorry for my behavior.Truly, I messed up, and I wish I could take everything I said back and start over.”He scanned her face, terrified to decipher her expression.He was on the verge of speaking, pleading for her to consider a life together, when she smiled softly.That smile grew until it was as broad and bright as the sun.
