Celt. (Den of Mercenaries #2)(48)

She was just more aware of him.

Or rather, more aware of her feelings for him.

Yet, despite the overwhelming emotion, she wasn’t ready to tell him. It didn’t matter that they had spent nearly every waking moment together since they met, or that he made it perfectly clear that she was with him. It was never easy telling someone you loved them, especially when their feelings were still unknown.

She was scared, scared that the first person she really let herself be with since her heart was broken didn’t feel that same all-consuming emotion.

She was still contemplating how to answer his question without actually answering it when he hooked a finger beneath her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“What is it?”

“Just … thinking.” That was the truth at least.

“About what?”

“Nothing that should make you worry.” At least, she hoped it wouldn’t.

But then again, wasn’t that why she wasn’t ready to tell him, because of what his reaction might be.

That answer didn’t appease him either. “Tell me anyway.”

Trapped in his gaze, she would have told him everything, just blurted it out to see what his reaction would be, but she was saved by her phone ringing.

Grateful for the distraction, she grabbed it and answered. “Hey, Mom.”

“Darling, how are you? I’m so glad I could reach you. We were hoping you could make it to brunch.”

Last week her mother had called to let her know that she, her father, and Aidan, Amber’s little brother, would be flying in for Aidan’s college tour. While he might not have been interested in going anywhere outside of California, he had agreed to visit a few schools that their father wanted him to consider.

She had forgotten all about it.

“What time?”

“Oh, we won’t make it to Manorsfield until one at the earliest.”

Manorsfield would be at least an hour away from Kyrnon’s place, and that was on a good day, but it had been raining for the better part of three hours and the idea of taking the metro out there didn’t sound as good.

“Your father is willing to have a car come pick you up—since you insist on not buying one,” she added.

“Tell him thanks, but I don’t need him to send one. Does—”

“Your father—then here, take the phone.” There’s was a bit of shuffling as the phone changed hands, then her father’s voice came over the line. “How’s my favorite girl doing?”

“Hey Daddy,” Amber said back fondly.

She barely held in her laugh as Kyrnon moved the arm he had around her, clearing his throat.

“You’re not working today, are you? We hardly get to see you as it is.”

The curse of living thousands of miles away. “I’m not working, no. I was telling mom that—”

“Is it because of the bloke you call yourself fancying and going on about? Your mum won’t shut up about it.”

“I haven’t gone on about anything!” Amber shot back, her voice rising slightly as she elbowed Kyrnon in his ribs when he laughed.

“Then bring him along if that’s what’s holding you up. Your brother and I want to meet this one.”

Already, her face was hot with embarrassment, and the thought of them grilling Kyrnon about anything made her feel slightly nauseous.

“Tell him we’ll be there,” Kyrnon said, obviously loud enough for her father to hear.

“Right then, see you soon, love,” he called back, then hung up.

“Kyr—”

“Should probably get dressed if you want to make it on time,” he said with a wide smile, as though he found all of this amusing. “Traffic is shite about now.”

“You actually want to go?” she asked as she got to her feet, going back to his closet to find something to wear. She hadn’t realized it, but she had slowly started taking over his closet with her own clothes.

“Whether now or later, I was going to meet your folks anyway, right? Might as well make a good first impression while I can.” He was still talking as he moved around her, grabbing a pair of jeans. “Because with my work, I can go out of town for days at a time. Sometimes I’ll miss important dates.”

Glancing up at him, she noted the way his voice had changed, as though it weren’t just a statement, but a warning to her. She did notice that he had a random habit of disappearing for long lengths of time without notice—then, there was also that trip to Brussels he took weeks ago.

“Dates can always get rescheduled, you know,” she said softly, answering the question he hadn't asked.

His answering smile told her that was what he had been hoping to hear.

Once she was dressed, makeup applied, and shoes on her feet, Amber waited for Kyrnon to finish his usual walk though before stepping onto the elevator.

“Which car do you want to take?” he asked, pressing a button for them to go down a floor, but not to the level that usually led them outside.

“How many are there to choose from?” she asked, half-joking, half serious. Knowing the kind of things he had already shown her, she didn’t doubt for a second that whatever he was about to show her would be … extensive.

Seven, she saw once they were in the garage that she hadn’t ever stepped foot in. Seven different cars. But as she looked around, she wondered if the number was actually eight considering she didn’t see the Ferrari.