Chapter 20 - Eredine #2
“I thought fathers were only supposed to be overprotective of their daughters when it came to romance?” Arro chuckled.
“This is Thane,” Arran said. “I remember many a time when he coc—” He blanched, remembering the kids. “I mean, stopped me from dating a pretty girl.”
Thane snorted. “Only the ones whose dads or brothers or boyfriends would’ve killed you.”
Arran flicked me a quick look before staring down at his plate. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“So? Lisa?” Arro insisted.
“Aye, whatever,” Arran agreed.
The conversation turned to the double wedding next month, but I barely heard a word of it. Instead, my ears burned with rushing blood, my pulse wouldn’t slow, and a mixture of anger and hurt and jealousy choked me.
Aye, whatever.
As I was about to get into my car later that evening, I heard the side entrance door closing. Something overtook me. Perhaps it was my panic, maybe even a little desperation (though my pride refused to dwell on that), but suddenly, I was moving around the house toward the guest annex.
Sure enough, there he was, striding from the main house toward the annex entry.
“Arran,” I called quietly, hurrying after him.
He spun, his brows raised at the sight of me.
Thankfully, he started walking to bridge the distance between us.
I just wanted to throw myself into his arms.
I wanted to cry.
And part of me resented him for making me feel too much.
Shooting a quick look at the house to make sure we had privacy, I stopped before him, pretty sure everything was in my eyes.
“Are you really going on a date with that woman?” was the first thing out of my mouth. I squeezed my eyes closed briefly in embarrassment.
Arran’s expression was careful as he searched my face. “No. Regan is right. Lisa didn’t want me our entire senior year, so what’s changed, other than my famous brothers? But I would have been within my right to date her. Right?”
That hurt.
And angered me.
“Yeah. But then I wonder how you’d feel if I started dating Jared right away.”
The muscle in his jaw flexed as his eyes flashed hotly. “You know how I’d feel. And why him, specifically? Do you have a thing for him?”
Ugh. Men. “No. I just plucked him out as an example. But it’s good to know you’d be jealous too.”
“Of course I would,” he hissed. “I’m the one who admitted to feeling more for you. Remember?”
“Arran.” I reached out to touch him but then lowered my hand when I realized I didn’t have that right. Not yet. “I’m not good at … I’m a very private person.”
“I know that.”
“I … it hurt, okay? The thought of you with her, or anyone. It hurts.”
“Ery.” He stepped toward me, hope gleaming in his eyes.
He stopped with a glower after I raised my hands. “I …” Here goes nothing. “I want to try something real with you, too, but, Arran, I can’t make any promises. I can’t promise you I’ll be everything you need me to be. I can’t.”
He gripped my biceps, pulling me into him, his voice low and passionate as he replied, “No one can make promises going into a relationship, Ery. It’s a gamble everyone takes, not knowing if or when it will end.
How much it’ll hurt. But it’s a risk worth taking when you feel this way.
” He gave me a little shake with a tender smile.
“Do you know how rare it is to have this connection? I’ve never felt anything like it. ”
“Me neither,” I whispered.
Arran kissed me then, deep and hungering, and I fell into it, relief and pleasure melting away the panic that had clung to me for the last few hours.
When he released me, he said, “But I won’t keep this a secret. I want to date you, and I want everyone to know.”
My pulse skittered at the thought of everyone throwing their opinions into the mix. Of having them watch us interact. Yet, I knew Arran was right. We couldn’t stay in the shadows if we wanted to make a real go of it. “Okay,” I agreed.
“But first, before we tell everyone and invite our family into our relationship—because you know that’ll happen with those nosy buggers—I want to take you on a proper date. Tomorrow night. North Star.”
North Star was a fancy restaurant a few miles up the coast. This just got real! “All right.”
He grinned hugely. “Aye?”
I laughed at his giddiness. “Yes.”
He kissed me again, one quick kiss after the other, as if he couldn’t get enough. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I’ll be there.” I reluctantly stepped out of his hold. “I better go.”
Arran beamed boyishly. “See you soon, gorgeous.”
“See you soon.” I turned on my heel to walk away but couldn’t resist looking over my shoulder before I disappeared around the corner. Arran was still there, watching me with that flirty smile curling his mouth. I laughed under my breath and gave him a little wave before I walked out of sight.
Excitement, fear, thrill, affection, desire, worry, hope—it all bubbled inside me as I drove home to my woodsy haven.
My haven. Arran should know that was what my lodge was to me. And he should know why.
But I didn’t think I could bring the pain and darkness of that life into my new one.
Which meant there would forever be a part of me I couldn’t give him, and I didn’t know how long Arran could handle that. Was he an all-or-nothing kind of guy?
I guessed I’d soon find out.