“You’ll love it. We can see the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in Amsterdam and eat stroopwafels. Then we can sleep in a glass igloo and watch the aurora borealis in Finland. Have you ever met a reindeer shifter? There’s several herds of them there and in Sweden. I want to experience everything with you.”
Her lips parted, and her eyes sparkled. I needed that future with her as badly as I needed my next breath of oxygen. She might think it was a silly fantasy, but I had every intention of fulfilling each promise and so much more.
“That sounds nice. Your job lets you travel that much?”
“Well, yeah, I can work from anywhere, and we’re the owners, so we can do whatever we want,” I said wryly.
“Tell me about the business.”
So I did. We stuffed booklets into totes and tied luggage tags as I told her about how it started and what role each of us played in the operations—the way it has grown over the last few years.
She pushed the last tote aside and rolled her shoulders. “I’m so glad that’s done.”
Her shoulders were tight, and tension creased her forehead. “Come here,” I said, taking her hand and pulling her to the sofa.
She turned to sit, and I placed my hands on her hips, guiding her to sit on the floor. I settled behind her with myback against the front of the sofa.
“Caspian, what are you doing?” she murmured.
Instead of answering, I brushed her braid over her shoulder and ran my thumbs down the side of her neck. She slumped, melting into my touch.
My grin grew more smug as I dug my knuckles into the taut muscles around her shoulder blades and smoothed them out, relaxing each part of her back until she was putty.
“What’s worrying you so much?” I asked.
She let out her exhale in a long sigh. “Big groups are hard for me, especially my extended family. They’re loud, and I’ve never really felt like I fit in.”
“Anything else?” I pressed, lightly dragging my nails over her back. She shivered.
“Well, now, it’s also the fact that my ex-husband will be there with my fucking sister.”
I pulled her against me, her back resting against my chest. My hands dragged down her arms, working the muscles of her forearms.
“Do you want me to beat the shit out of him for you? I can get my brothers and make it look like an accident.” It was a joking tone, but I meant every word.
She scoffed. “Like he accidentally ran into your fists?”
“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “I’ve never beat up anyone, but I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“Never?” she asked.
“Never needed to. Words are usually enough. But I thinkAdrian has gotten into a fistfight or two, so he can help.”
A bubbling laugh exploded from her, vibrating through her back into my chest. The sound wrapped around me, filling me with light.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to decline.”
“Let me know if that changes,” I murmured, pressing my lips against the side of her neck. She shivered again. “So I was promised a reward if I helped you with the totes.”
A beautiful flush painted her neck where I’d kissed her. It spread up her cheeks and out to the tips of her ears.
Her next inhale was shaky. “How about we go back to the bedroom and make out?”
It was tempting to lay her down on the rug right here, but the thought of a bed made it worth getting up. She stood, and I steadied her with my hands on her hips, enjoying the view of her ass at my face height.
I scrambled up after her and followed her to the bedroom like a baby otter.
Chapter 13
