Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(44)

“About me touching you,” she said. “Please forget that incident, as I was not myself.”

“Of course you were.'' He brushed her words aside.

“You are an arrogant and conceited man,” she said, moving closer to his side as another axe-wielding man appeared before him.

“Conceited no, arrogant upon occasion,” Dev conceded. “But do you honestly believe I could get away with being arrogant around my family? My sisters alone constantly humiliate and belittle me. It is a wonder I have any pride left at all.”

“And you would have them no other way,” she said softly.

Dev sighed. “How is it that on such short acquaintance you can see through me?”

A fountain of blood erupted from a man's chest and she screamed.

“Bloody bothering hell!”

Dev laughed as she shrieked out the words.

“Well, well, well, not quite as well-mannered as you portray yourself to be, Miss Braithwaite?”

“Go to hell.”

Dev was still laughing as they came to a stop behind their party, who were inspecting a cabinet of what seemed to be bloodied body parts. Everyone was talking at once as they pointed and stared; not one of them sounded frightened, he noted.

“How is it that none of them appear even the slightest bit afraid?”

“Well, I can't speak for Toby,” Dev said. “But my three have been exposed to darkness and terror by their elder siblings since they were old enough to walk. We used to play hide-and-seek in the dark, and often jumped out at them at any given time. It certainly toughened them up.”

“You all love each other very much, don't you?”

The words were quietly spoken, yet Dev heard the longing, and at that moment he would have told her what was inside his heart had he thought she was ready to hear the words. Because everyone deserved to be loved, but he believed Lilly had not experienced the emotion for some time, and that upset him a great deal.



“Dev!”

Lilly hated how she felt when Lord Sinclair released her hand and reached for one of the twins as she launched herself at him. She didn't want to like this man or need him, but it seemed she was in grave danger of both. When he had held her, suddenly the fear had receded, as if in some way he had taken it from her, which of course was ridiculous. She watched him hug the little girl tight as she sobbed into his shoulder.

“W-Warwick said I was a ninny for shrieking.”

“Lilly and I never heard you shriek, Somer, and he has called you worse names than that, sweetheart. So what else is upsetting you?”

He was so comfortable in his role of guardian with the girl, his gestures natural as he listened to her tale of woe.

“Yes, but he embarrassed me in front of T-Toby.”

“Ah, it all becomes clearer now,” he said, kissing one of his sister's damp cheeks before lowering her to her feet.

“You tell Warwick that if he says anything further you will tell Toby about his Dougie. Don't say it out loud, Somer, but make sure he knows you will if necessary, and that will be deterrent enough.”

“Why can't I say it out loud, Dev? He deserves it.”

Lilly loved watching children. They were just what they appeared. No front, back, or side for that matter. If they were sad, it showed. Of course, the children she knew were different from these Sinclairs. They had learned early not to show emotion, because no one cared.

She watched the smile the little girl gave her big brother before she ran off, happy once again. If only life were that simple, Lilly thought. She hoped the Sinclairs understood how lucky they were to have each other, but most especially to have the man who loved them all so much.

“That seems a very weighty sigh, Miss Braithwaite. Care to share your troubles?”

“No, I have no need to share anything with you.”

His chuckle made her shiver, thankful for the dark so he could not see the longing she felt was written all over her face.

“May I enquire as to the origins of the Dougie?”

“A small dog made of sticks that Eden made for him when he was three. He has never been parted from it and it sits beside his bed every night. We had Eden make four of them in case he lost the original.”

“And did he?”

“No, surprisingly he never lost it, and takes better care of it than his teeth.”

Lilly was surprised into a giggle.

“You should do that more. Your dimples are lovely.”

“Not many people go about laughing, Lord Sinclair.”

“No, but many do laugh regularly. I don't believe I have ever seen you do so.”

She felt his eyes on her face, but thankfully knew he could not read her expression.

“As we have only been acquainted for a short time, I don't believe you can accurately make such a statement.”

“I have watched you, even if we have not conversed.”

The breath suddenly lodged in her chest at his words; luckily she did not have to reply, as Toby spoke.

“Next is the murder house, Lilly.”

She could tell he was still wary of the Sinclair family, but for all that the boy was enjoying himself. His face had relaxed and he was happy to walk beside Warwick.

“Will the fun never stop,” she whispered.

“Sarcasm, Lilly. I am seeing many sides of you in your moment of weakness.”