Page 247 of A Vicious Love

Her grip tightened on Honey. “I have my rabbit for when Dad goes away to Harrington for work. I hate when he leaves.”

Her father, Henri, looked up sharply from farther down the table.

Something in Mila’s little face caught me at the wrong angle. She looked like Sienna.

Henri stood halfway. “Mila, darling, come down. Stop annoying your aunt.”

“She isn’t annoying her,” I looked at the child. “Are you?”

Mila shook her head.

Sienna’s mouth softened beside me. Wonderful. Now I was defending children.

This retreat was degenerative.

The children asked about frogs next. Too many details. Apparently, a morning lake walk involved searching for them in reeds and whispering because frogs, according to Tomas, hated “big noises and bad shoes.” Nell insisted Aunt Sienna had promised. Mila insisted Aunt Sienna had promised twice.

Sienna kissed Mila’s hair. “I did promise. After breakfast.”

“Can Crow come?” Tomas asked.

Every adult looked at me again.

Sienna did too.

My instinct said no. Strongly. Frogs were wet, pointless little things in a lake that was trying to steal my woman.

Sienna’s fingers slipped under the table and brushed mine.

Ah.

Tactics.

“He can come,” Mila said, deciding for everyone, “but he can’t fly. That scares frogs.”

“I’ll restrain myself.”

“Do Crows eat frogs?” Nell asked.

“No.”

Mila shifted, nearly sliding off Sienna’s lap, and I caught her before she could take Sienna’s dress with her. I lifted the child, set her on her feet, then moved Nell down after her. Efficient. Gentle enough that Sienna gave me a look I liked.

I immediately pulled Sienna’s chair closer to mine.

She gave a tiny gasp when the chair legs slid over stone.

The children ran off toward Sabine.

Sienna looked at the reduced distance between our chairs. “You’re jealous of children.”

“I’m managing resource allocation.”

“My lap is a resource?”

“Mine.”

She looked at me, cheeks warm. Her hand found mine under the table. Her fingertips traced the ink over my knuckles.