Freya makes a face. "I’d rather hang out with you."
"If you want to become a world class chef, you gotta eat and get your stamina up."
She brightens. "Okay." She holds up a fist.
I bump it. She turns and darts off, all gangly limbs and pigtails, stopping to talk to Gideon on the way.
Nathan stares after her. “She’s so freakin’ smart, it’s mind boggling.”
"Yeah, that’s my niece."
He gives me a strange look.
"What?"
"There was almost paternal pride in your voice."
The back of my neck heats. I try to feign a casualness and shrug. "She’s part of the family. It’s okay for me to feel that way."
"Sure." His lips kick up. There’s a teasing look about it that makes me flush further.
"Fuck you, man," I say lightly.
He holds up his hands. "Didn’t say anything, man."
Beckett walks over to join us. "Hey, I ran into your wife and introduced Rowan, because you haven’t bothered to do so far."
Rowan comes up behind Beckett and slaps me on the back. "Congratulations, brother. Sorry I missed your wedding. A little notice would have been great. I could have moved things around; made sure I was in town."
"Sorry. I couldn’t wait." I raise a shoulder.
“Couldn’t wait to get hitched, eh?” He gives me a knowing smile.
I rub the back of my neck. It’s helpful in selling the marriage if they think that I was so eager, I rushed my bride to the altar.
So, I nod. “Something like that.”
Beckett snorts. "She’s too good for you. I wonder how you got her to marry you?"
"Not something I’m revealing." I glance toward where Harper was talking to Phoenix and find her gone.
I look around the conservatory but don’t see her.
"If you’re wondering where she is, Phe took her on a tour of the house." Beckett smirks.
"Wouldn’t have believed it unless I’d seen it with my own eyes. You’re pussy-whipped, mate," Rowan says slowly.
"What?" I scowl without taking my gaze away from the door. Becauseapparently, I’m waiting for her to make an appearance. "You have it all wrong."
"I think not." I hear the snicker in Rowan’s voice, but my mind is too busy wondering which part of the house she's in to respond.
Given I see her every day at work, then also at home, you’d think I’d be happy to hang out with my brothers instead. And it is nice to see their faces, instead of my team. But for some reason, I already miss Harper. Because I haven’t seen her, for what, five minutes? I am pathetic.
"Holy shit." Rowan stares at me in amazement.
"What?" I scowl.
"It must be love. That’s why you married her so quickly, eh? You couldn’t risk her being with anyone else?” Gideon inserts himself into the conversation.
