“Honey, it works better if you don’t say it in past tense,” she replied, but returned the kiss enthusiastically.
I watched the exchange and the gentle banter that came with it with hungry eyes, and wondered if Sindy knew what she had right now.
But you could have the same.
I wasn’t sure if it was my voice or my Tirian’s I heard, but I remembered Peter’s warm embrace as I slept, his eyes dropping to my—
“So, Flick, are you thinking about staying a while? Sanctuary’s a nice place to raise kids,” the guy across from me said. I think his name was Greg.
“What kind of skills do you have?” the woman two men down from him said. “I’m Zoe, by the way. I know we’re short-handed in the kitchens, and they’re always looking for more office staff.”
“Everyone quits, sick of dealing with Phyllis,” the man beside her grumbled.
“If you need anything at all, I’m just next door,” another woman a few people down from me said. “I’m Carissa, and this is Scott.” A handsome man with swept back brunette hair and a short beard gave me a wave.
“My son, Jackson, is coming over to look after the kids tomorrow morning,” Greg said. “He could take your Kade as well, if you like. Jackson loves kids.”
“Well, my boy, Ian, is taking some of the young uns down to the watering hole,” another man said. “He’s a big, strong fella, just like his dad. The kids have a ball, and he’s got eagle eyes. Never had issues. You can meet him when you come down for breakfast, check him out, see if you feel comfortable with letting him take Kade.”
I frowned as a few grumbles went up and down the table at this. There were other guys about to recommend their sons to me, I could see it as the broad chests swelled, eyes full of pride as they were about to tell me all about them.
They were being kind, I could see that. Here I was, a mangy, bruised looking thing, and they were fighting over which of their sons I should meet. It was sweet, this pretence, but I looked like a victim of a war—not exactly dateable. I forced the polite smile to stay plastered across my face, but it hurt, the effort it took.
Then Aidan lent back against the bench seat, laying his arm along the backrest behind me. I glanced at the long, muscular limb revealed as his rolled-up sleeves slid up, then back at the table. The grumbles increased as I watched the men deflate. I looked up at Aidan, who shook his head ever so slightly as he focussed on staring down the rest of the men at the table.
“Enough of all this twittering,” Ophelia said, having appeared at the head of the table. She was a picture of patrician power as her steel grey eyes scanned the table. “Can’t you see the woman’s been hurt? Doubly so, with her child. This isn’t the time to organise a date for your sons, and shame on you for trying.”
She smiled at me, a warm gesture that softened her hard words, but I could see the strength in that jaw as she nodded to me.
“Now, you both look tired and hungry. Aidan, be a good boy and grab our guests some food. Mila,” the little girl who was sitting just across from Kade sat up straight and looked down the table, “you look after this boy. The kids here aren’t used to outsiders. It’s your responsibility to make sure they understand, you hear me?”
“Yes, Auntie.”
“Thanks, Ophelia. That’s very kind, but—” I started to say.
“Why shouldn’t I be kind?” she asked quietly. “Isn’t that what you deserve?”
The words died in my mouth as those formidable eyes met mine. It was an intimidating mix of compassion and an iron will that I felt when I stared into hers. I felt it almost physically, a pulsing need to do just what she wanted. An eyebrow raised as I continued to stare. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to look away, it was that I couldn’t. It wasn’t until Aidan moved, grabbing our plates and blocking my view of Ophelia for a moment, that I could finally drag them back to my lap. I wasn’t sure what had just happened. Ophelia didn’t feel angry or hostile, it was just…power. Power and perhaps a little surprise.
“Don’t worry, I’ll look after you,” the little girl, Mila said to Kade. “No one in my pack gets hurt.”
“Honey, it’s not a pack…” her mother said.
“Yes, it is,” Mila said, and for a second, I heard an echo of Ophelia in her voice. I looked over at Kade, who just stared at her, blinking.
Finally, whatever spell the little girl held over him broke, and he looked around, then nodded and said, “OK.”
The rest of the meal went a little smoother, everyone going and helping themselves to food. The familiar tableaus of couples sharing foo
ds, mothers and fathers feeding much smaller children settled something inside me. Aidan appeared back with several plates, spreading them out before us. “I wasn’t sure what to get, so I got a bit of everything.”
“You didn’t have to—” I started to say.
“You gonna say no to one of the aunties?” he said with a wry smile. My eyes flicked from him to the older woman holding court at the end of the table.
“Yeah, alright.”
“Here,” he said, passing the two of us utensils. “Better start eating, or she’ll be down here in a sec, asking why not.”