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"The agreement Alfred and I made was serious. Just because we were playing poker at the time doesn’t mean we didn’t mean it. It mattered to both of us.”
Oh…no.
My stomach feels sick suddenly.
“That night, that poker game, was not the first time we’d talked about uniting our families. That’s what we wanted. We wanted to establish a shared bloodline. Initially, of course, we assumed that my grandson in the agreement would be the king. But it doesn’t have to be. So, you have nothing to worry about. You will still be an O’Grady."
My entire body goes cold. I stare at him, unable to form words. I had no idea this was what he was going to say. And I have no idea how to respond.
I didn’t know…any of that.
I was under the impression the arranged marriage they concocted that night had been the result of a lot of whiskey, and the late hour. I didn’t know it was something they’d discussed previously. Did anyone else know that?
And what did he meanshared bloodline?
You will still be an O’Grady.
He said that as if he thinks I’mconcernedabout not being an O’Grady. That somehow he feels he’s broken a promise tome. That I am upset or disappointed.
My initial reaction is to shoutno! But of course, I can’t do that.
He steps forward and wraps me in a hug. His familiar scent, that normally comforts me, now makes me want to cry.
This is bad. This is really bad.
“I love you, Linnea,” he says against the top of my head. “You are very dear to me. I feel like you are one of mine. Watching you grow into the woman you’ve become has been a great joy to me.”
“I love you too,” I tell him. “You’re very important to me.”
“I know that. Youaremy family. I want you to know that. I want everyone to know that. The Olsensaremy family.”
I feel tears stinging and I wrap my arms around him in return. I can’tnot. This manismy grandfather in every way but blood.
Suddenly, I freeze. That thought goes through my mind again.
In every way but blood.
Then again.
In every way but blood.
Then what else he said—we wanted to establish a shared bloodline.
My eyes widen. I pull back and look up at him.
He looks down at me with love and pride.
My heart pounds. I wet my lips.
“How will I still be an O’Grady?” I already know the answer, but I want to hear it.
He smiles. “I have two more grandsons. Though I would never ask you to deal with the eldest.”
Oh, God.
He still thinks I’m going to marry one of his grandsons.
That’s clear as day now.