Page 26 of Accidentally Engaged
Broken-hearted Banshee, they could call it.
“What about Kep?” I whisper. “If I could get Kep back for you?”
Jared jerks away from me, head cocked in surprise. But then his face squishes up in a frown that I can’t read. Disgust? Disbelief?
“I love animals, Chloe. I loved my dog. But I’m sure he’s happy enough with Patsy, and I just have this little apartment. Sometimes you have to do what’s best for your family, four-legged or two-legged.” The frown fades. “Did you... Do you want me to break this off?”
“No!” I burst out, a shaking, gasping sob in a voice I barely recognize. “But my mother told me it wasn’t real unless I’d offered you an out, and out you couldn’t resist. What lonely, single man would say no if the choice was a beautiful woman or nothing? Her words!” I wipe at my eyes, shaking my head.
“This man says yes. Yes, to you, or nothing. You can’t buy me off. Doesn’t your mom know love is a choice? You have to make it every day. Even if it starts with a spell, it keeps going with the people who choose to love each other every day after.” Jared frowns. “Jesus, are all fae moms like that?”
I have to laugh, but it comes out like a goose’s hiccup. “Not all of them. Just mine, maybe.”
“I don’t want to deny this. And hey, if I have a super hot, super powerful wife like you, wouldn’t that mean I could get all those things I want anyway?” He arches an eyebrow, challenging my logic, and by extension, my mother.
Brave man.
“It depends on what you want?”
“Wife. Kids. Happy home. Cat. Dog.”
It’s a simple list. One I could share. As if on cue, Marmalade comes out of hiding and winds herself around Jared’s ankles. He scoops her and pets her, and she rubs her jaw along his shoulder, buzzsaw purr starting up.
“This cat seems like a keeper. Just like her owner,” he hints.
“That sounds good,” I whisper. “She’s a friendly cat, but she really seems to like you.”
“Is she a good judge of character? They say animals are.”
I think back, and even though Marmalade isn’t the most aloof cat, she isn’t usually curling up on strangers. (Then again, neither am I, and I was ten kinds of curled up on my hunky teddy bear hubby-to-be last night.) “She’s a really good judge of character today,” I decide.
“And snuggly.”
“I think that might just be you.” I lean myself against him and close my arms. “I want to do this all day.”
“I’ll drive, and you can do that. All day. In fact, I assist.”
I grab my purse, pry Marmalade off, and lock up. As we head down the stairs, I ask, “Did you say kids?”
“One to start. Why?”
“Not everyone wants kids, that’s all.”
“Oh.” Jared’s face is still, his eyes on the steps. “Well—”
“But I do. At least a couple.”
“Okay. Not to rush you or anything,” Jared crosses his arms at the bottom of the steps and gives me what I can best describe as a sassy grin, “I’m not getting any younger. I’m thirty-eight.”
“That’s my line!” I laugh. “My biological clock rings every five minutes, and I can’t find the snooze button.”
“Hm.” Jared kisses my neck as I sashay past him. “Maybe I could help with that?”
My mother’s words slowly vanish from my brain. Peace and happy excitement start to recover territory. “Maybe.”
Note: Do Not Mess with a Banshee
Ithought nothing could be better than last night, but today is just as good, in a different way. I’m starting to wonder if I’m dreaming. The car ride is one of the best two hours of my life as we drive to the edge of nowhere, Golden Oldies on the radio in the background of a conversation that never stops.
