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“It wasn’t your call to make,” he repeatedslowlyas if she were too dumb to comprehend.

Her anger over the entire situation and his inability to see her point boiled over.Hands trembling, she shoved his chest. “Go! Take your fancy get-up and whatever beautiful thing is in that bag, and go!”

“What the actual fuck?”

“I thought you were choosing to die, Trev. Of course I was going to do whatever it took to save you,” she cried. “Not only for me but foreveryonewho loves you. Simon, Ben, Fintan, Draven, and Mattie. You have a family in all of them.”

For the first timein her life, her greenhouse was no longer her sanctuary. It had become tainted by him. Because everywhere she looked, she could recall moments they shared. Yet those sweet memories were overcome by this confrontation. And his accusation hinted she wasn’t any better than the Denillias of the world.

Chest heaving, Soleil ran.

“Dalli!”

She ran on, heart pounding double-time, making her incapable of hearing whether he was behind her or not.

“Soleil,wait!” His hand closed around her upper arm, halting her flight, and he swung her back toward him. “Stop running away from me, dammit!”

“If you think I’m going to stand here while you rain down accusations or insults on me, you can fuck all the way off, Trevor Blane!”

The sides of his mouth kicked up. Ducking down, he sandwichedherface between his warm palms. “I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry. For a split second, your manipulation of me felt reminiscent of Deni.”

Soleil had guessed correctly, and she was miserable for it. “It wasn’t a manipulation of you. It wasn’t anything other than to encourage you to choose life. And I’m nother.” Glaring at him, she shook her head. “Not in looks, not in actions. If she’s the type you’re searching for, the kind of woman you want?—”

Like one of Kate Bateman’s heroes, Trevor wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her against him. She gasped her surprise and secret delight when he palmed the back of her neck and lowered his head. In the next instant, he was kissing her into silence. When he pulled back, her focus remained on his mouth, and she moaned when he swiped his tongue across his lower lip.

“You’re who I want, Dalli. Now and always.”

“You’re making me crazy, Mr. Blane,” she muttered.

He chuckled and lifted her so he could bury his face in her cleavage. His sigh of contentment made her laugh.

“You were right, you know,” he said as he reached behind her knee to wrap it around his waist.She followed suit with the other and linked her arms around his neckfor good measure.

“I was?” Snuggling closer, she rested her face against his throat, needing to feel his heartbeat to know he was alive and well. She wanted to be sure she wasn’t in the midst of some twisted dream and would wake up any second to find he wasn’t there. “About what?”

“All Trevor’sareassholes.”

“See? I told you.” She laughed and hugged him tighter, then loosened her hold to stare into his beloved face. “But I’m coming around to the name.”

He grew serious as he gazed up at her. “Thank you for fighting for the both of us, Dalli. I wasn’t strong enough.”

“You were. When it came down to it, you changed your mind. Ben gave you the reason you needed.”

“Maybe.”

“Definitely.” She toyed with a button on his formal coat and tails. “What’s all this?”

He released her and bowed as if they werebeingformally introducedat a soiree. Lifting her hand, he bussed her knuckles, then cast her a roguish grin. “I needed a grand gesture.”

She bit her lip to keep from giggling and nodded sagely.

“That’s what’s in the bag. A dress for you.” The tips of his ears turned pink, but he met her gaze throughhisembarrassment. “I’ve come to court you properly, m’lady.”

“But, sir! We can’t go anywhere without my chaperone.” Conjuring a fan, she waved it like a courtesan and batted her eyelashes. “We shouldn’t be alone now, either. You’ll destroy my reputation.”