“But there was some guy from South America, something about hummingbirds?’
Merrick nodded, gesturing to the empty table behind him. “He was speaking at a conference, and he stopped by to pick up the kiddos. They’re ready to go home.”
She floundered. She would never trust Tris again. She would never trust gossip and secondhand snark, would never take things Caleia said and form her own shotgun assumptions, and she was going to hang on his every word in the future, no matter how in the weeds he got in discussing his job. Hehadmentioned something about his dissertation, she vaguely remembered, grumbling about not being required to teach if he were postdoc, but she’d been listening with half an ear, too busy looking at . . . too busy looking at the farm’s calendar, as she planned the needs for the kitsune’s wedding.Someone else’s happily ever after, as usual. But he was going to stay, and that was all that mattered.
"Say that again." He advanced on her slowly, pulling her into his arms.
"Say-which part, I said a lot of stuff."
His laugh was a low rumble of thunder, a vibration she felt rippling through her.
"The part where you said you fell in love with me."
"It was an accident," she whispered. "I wasn't looking for a relationship. I knew you weren’t going to be here long and I-I didn’t mean for it to happen. But you’re just too damn fluffy to resist."
He smoothed the halo of frizz back off her face, tilting her chin with a velutinous hand. "That's okay. I fell in love with you very intentionally. That makes up for it, I think."
She was prepared for the kiss, his warm mouth crashing into hers, the nip of his small fangs tugging at her lips. Nothing she’d been looking for, and somehow everything she’d needed.He was going to stay.It was time to create her own happily ever after, Grace thought.
“Go put some gods damned pants on,” she whispered against his lips, squealing in laughter when he scooped her up with a squawk of outrage, “so you can come back with me.” Here for a good time, and maybe even a long time. “I want to introduce everyone to my boyfriend.”
♥ ♥ ♥