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Ruby’s eyes get a little rounder. "I know."
"It’s very nice to meet you." Linnea gives Henry a look. "We’ll take care of Ruby and Mariah." She looks at Cian. "You make sure Scarlett gets settled." She lowers her voice. "I would suggest you be back down within an hour, or your grandmother may come looking for you. Or your big brother."
"I will not come looking."
I look up to see that Torin O’Grady and Abigail—PrinceTorin andPrincessAbigail—have joined us.
"I meant Declan," Linnea says. "The sooner all of this is over, the sooner he’ll be able to head back to Portland." Her voice gets a little softer. “With my sister.” She shakes her head as if she can’t believe that.
"He needs to stay until Grandfather is stable," Torin says. "I’ll speak to him." Then Torin smiles at me. "It’s nice to meet you, Scarlett."
I swallow. "Hi, Your Majesty. Your Highness?" I have no idea if I’m supposed to bow or curtsy or…
Torin chuckles. "Just Torin." He extends a hand. "Especially for family."
Now I’m starting to feel a little dizzy. I take his hand and absorb his warm smile. Cian’s hand on my waist gives me a squeeze of encouragement.
"It’s very nice to meet you," I tell Torin.
"Oh, believe me, the pleasure’s mine. For the longest time we thought Cian was making you up."
I look up at Cian. "No. I am very real."
The look in Cian’s eyes is very hot. And very full of love.
"Hi, I’m Abigail. But you can call me Abi," the princess extends her hand as well.
"I know who you are too," I say, taking her hand. "I follow the podcast.”
Abigail laughs lightly and her cheeks turn pink. "Oh. Well, they do getmostof it right."
More people start moving in our direction and Cian clears his throat. "We’re going to head upstairs for a little bit." He nudges me toward the door. "See you later," he says to the group at large.
He takes me down a few long hallways, decorated with amazing art pieces, huge portraits of people I assume are his ancestors and family members, and up three enormous cream-colored marble staircases.
"I am definitely going to get lost here."
He shakes his head. "Impossible. I’m not letting you out of my sight."
I grin. The stress and anxiety of getting here on time are finally fading. The overwhelm from everything that was happening in the room when I rushed in is starting to be replaced by the realization that everything is fine.
Better than fine.
In the place of all of those emotions is a warmth and happiness that is filling me and making my heart soften and expand.
I’m with Cian. In Cara. We’re in love. And I am ready to tell the world.
As soon as the bedroom door shuts behind us and Cian turns the lock, he stalks across the carpet, cups my face again, and kisses me. Hungrily.
He starts stripping me, tugging the shirt I’m wearing over my tee down my arms, dropping it on the floor, gathering the t-shirt up and taking his mouth from mine only long enough to pull it over my head.
“I named the foundation,” I tell him as his fingers find the clasp on my bra, disposing of it quickly. “Ruby’s Way.”
“Love that.” He takes both breasts in hand, cupping, kneading, and tweaking my nipples.
His mouth returns to my jaw, kissing down my neck as I tip my head back as I say, “And we’re going to fund a program in Emerald to help with housing costs and a meal program for single moms.”
He squeezes both nipples, causing bolts of heat to shoot to my clit. He kisses up to my ear. “Awesome.” His hands slide down my sides to the button on my jeans and he unbuttons and unzips, pushing them over my hips.