The conversation eventually moves on, at least for everyone else, but my mind is still firmly on the fact that somebody finally chose me. Lorenzo stood up for me and he didn’t even tell me what he did. He kept it quiet and I don’t know why.
The library door opens. I look up to see Lorenzo standing in the doorway. His suit jacket is gone. The sleeves of his white shirt are rolled to his forearms, exposing tanned skin and the watch he never seems to take off. The top button at his throat is undone. His dark hair is slightly disheveled, as though he's run a hand through it one too many times.
He’s so damn handsome. It should be illegal to look that damn good.
My gaze lingers, which is a mistake, because the second it does, memories rise up before I can stop them.
Our wedding night, the way his mouth and hands felt as he touched me. The memory of waking up next to him each morning, the feel of the warmth of him beside me. The way I'd felt safe for the first time in longer than I can remember.
Heat floods my cheeks and his eyes meet mine. I watch as he smiles. It’s not a big smile, it’s just enough to let me know he caught me staring.
Bastard.
Daithí turns as he sees where my gaze is. "Lorenzo," Daithí says.
"Daithi," Lorenzo replies with a cool tone as he steps into the room and takes the empty chair beside mine.
I feel Caden watching him and I know that Lorenzo feels it too, because the corner of his mouth twitches. "Do I need to be worried?" Lorenzo asks dryly.
"Depends," Caden replies.
Lorenzo raises a brow. "On?"
"Whether you're planning on upsetting my sister."
The room goes quiet and I close my eyes.
For God's sake.
"Here we go," I hear Valentina mutter.
Lorenzo looks at Caden for a moment before the corner of his mouth lifts. "Not today."
"Good answer," Caden says.
Lorenzo shakes his head as he leans back in his seat and throws his arm over the back of mine, his fingers graze along my shoulder. "How's your father's hand?"
I freeze, my heart stammering and Conn immediately starts coughing into his tea.
Caden blinks, but a slow grin spreads across his face. "Still attached."
"Good."
"Good?"
Lorenzo shrugs. "I wasn't aiming to take it off."
Conn groans, but Valentina looks delighted.
Daithí rubs a hand over his face. "Why am I related to all of you?"
"Bad luck?" Caden offers.
"Definitely bad luck," Conn mutters.
Daithí ignores both of them and gets to his feet. "Right. We've seen Quinn, it’s time to go before I remember I've got responsibilities."
"You've had responsibilities for years," Caden points out.
