“Somerset,” Luis mused. “Do you think he was a relative?”
“Yes,” Ari whispered. Something about the shape of the man’s face was familiar, striking her oddly. She turned to Reine, taking in her daughter’s chin as if for the first time.
They were the same.
“Yes,” she said again. “I think so.”
Luis read the sign again. “He died just before Reine was born. You said he said his father was sick, right? That’s why he had to leave you in Germany?”
* * *
“My father is sick,” Ari hears Tom say, and he sounds dejected, defeated and terrified all at once. “My father is sick, and I have to go to him.”
She nods, because what else can she do? What else can she say?
“Of course,” she whispers. “Of course, you have to go.”
“Today,” Tom carries on, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “I need to leave today.”
“Yes.”
The heartbeat running through her body must echo through her voice, because Tom suddenly turns to her, gathering her fiercely in his arms.
“I’m coming back for you,” he tells her, his voice half-growl, half-promise. “I’m not letting go of you.”
“We never... we never said this was forever,” she utters, trying to be reasonable, trying not to feel bereft, trying not to feel abandoned all over again.
“I asked you to marry me,” Tom disagrees, pulling Ari even closer. “I meant it. We are forever, Ari. I’m coming backfor you. I promise. I love you, Ari. And I’m coming back. I’m coming back for you. Magic, remember? That’s what we are. That’s what we’ll always be.”
* * *
“Yes,” the simple word a struggle as memory threatened to overwhelm Ari, “that was what he told me.”
“Well,” Luis shrugged. “Looks like Tom didn’t lie about one thing, then. Hmm. Maybe there are other things he didn’t lie about too?”
“Keep your voice down,” Ari hissed, looking at Reine. “And I told you, I don’t care now. I don’t care what he did or is going to do anymore.”
“Okay,” Luis said, his face thoughtful. “But I need to warn you... I get the feeling this isn’t going to go the way you think it is. I get the feeling there might be more to all this than you know.”
“Maybe,” Ari replied, her voice harsh. “But I don’t care enough to find out. Come on,” she added, “get in the car. You’ve got a bride to dress, and I have an ex-lover to ignore.”
“Ari—”
“Luis,” she said again, and now her voice was firm. “I don’t care about him anymore. And after this week . . . I never want to see him again.”
Chapter 12: Meet You
The call comes on their first morning in Rouen.
Ari is asleep, the morning sun drifting in through the window and lighting her fair skin. Her hair glows like honey in the sunshine, and Tom smiles at the sight, running a hand lightly through her tresses. Her smell is heady, a mix of sex and the fresh linen of their sheets, and Tom resists the urge to kiss her, knowing that once he starts, he won’t be able to stop.
One kiss with Ari will never be enough, Tom knows. He loves her. Adores her.
He wants to be with her forever, he realises. He wants to be with her, live with her, love her and have children with her. He wants to grow old with her.
He wants to marry her, he decides. He wants to marry this woman and keep her forever.
The thought quickly overwhelms him and he licks his lips, running a hand over the naked skin of Ari’s shoulder. He wants to marry her. He can’t be without her. He needs her forever.
