Page 4

DIN

I nstead of answering in kind, Fenella smiled and then dug into her plate with renewed gusto. Din knew that he had hit a nerve. She was still skittish, still reluctant to acknowledge her feelings for him; nevertheless, having her back in his life felt right.

It wasn't the passionate infatuation of fifty years ago, but something deeper, more substantial. He loved her—her strength, her humor, her resilience, the way she was slowly opening herself to possibilities after a lifetime of caution.

He wanted to be part of her future, to build something lasting with her. He wanted to wake every morning to her tangled hair and sleepy smiles.

But she wasn't ready for any of that.

"Oh, look." She waved at someone behind Din. "Kyra's entire gang is here. I should say hello." She rose to her feet. "Do you want to come?"

He glanced at their half-eaten meals. "I'll stay to guard the plates. Otherwise, the Odus will collect them, and all this great food will go to waste."

She nodded. "I'll be right back."

When she walked away, Okidu—at least Din thought it was him—stopped by their table with a tray of champagne flutes.

Din selected two, nodding his thanks, and put one next to Fenella's plate.

"Quite the turnout," a familiar voice said from behind him.

He turned to find Max standing there, looking as cocky as ever.

"Indeed. The entire village seems to be here."

"No one in their right mind would miss Kian's birthday." Max grinned. "And doubly so when the Clan Mother was expected to deliver a speech. Everyone loves her speeches." His gaze shifted to where Fenella stood with Kyra and her sisters. "How are things progressing with our flame-haired barmaid?"

"Fenella is not a redhead," Din corrected automatically.

"Figure of speech," Max waved a hand. "She's certainly fiery enough to qualify, regardless of her actual hair color." He leaned closer. "Seriously, though. Everything okay?"

"Perfect." Din smiled. "It's not easy, but if I wanted easy, I wouldn't be in love with Fenella."

Max lifted an eyebrow. "So, the love word has been unleashed?"

Din laughed. "You couldn't have phrased it more accurately if you tried. Fenella reacted to it as if I had shot her, but she's getting used to the idea."

"Give her time," Max said, clapping him on the shoulder. "She's always been skittish, and then trauma left scars that need healing." His gaze drifted to where Kyra stood chatting with Fenella and her sisters. "It needs to at least scab over."

Din nodded. "I'm here for her."

Max studied him for a moment. "Have you given more thought to your academic commitments?"

"I'll finish the term remotely. After that, I'll request a sabbatical." Din took a sip of champagne. "Or I'll resign if necessary. The university is the least of my concerns."

"Got your priorities straight." Max took a champagne flute off a passing tray carried by one of the Odus.

"Just don't let Fenella know that you are making her a priority.

Make it about yourself needing a change of pace or something of that nature.

Being made the center of someone else's life will make her hackles rise. "

Max was right, but Din didn't feel comfortable about masking his intentions. Then again, all was fair in love and war. If he wanted to win Fenella over, he needed to wage war with her insecurities and her reluctance to acknowledge her feelings and stay put in one place long enough to sprout roots.

"I'll take your advice under consideration," he said noncommittally.

Max raised his flute. "To second chances."

"And to not wasting them," Din added, returning the toast.

As they drank, Din's gaze once again sought Fenella across the lawn. She had extricated herself from Kyra and her gaggle of relatives and was now making her way toward him.

She moved with natural sensuality, her hips swaying and her sundress fluttering around her knees. Her face was relaxed, happy, and her lips were curved in a small smile that seemed reserved just for him.

She was beautiful, but it was her inner spirit, her resilience and fierceness that shone through.

"Here comes trouble," Max murmured with amusement, excusing himself with a salute and a grin.

"Did I scare him away?" Fenella asked as she sat back in her chair and lifted her fork.

"I doubt it. He just wanted to get back to Kyra."

Fenella looked up and smiled. "Right as always, Professor. Max is stealing her from her sisters and taking her to dance."

Din frowned. "Is there dancing?"

"Yeah." She waved with her fork. "Look over there."

He turned to look in the direction she'd indicated and saw that several couples were already dancing on a wooden platform. "Do you want to join?"

"Sure. As soon as I'm done eating." She put another piece of salmon into her mouth.

"Fenella! Din!" Syssi approached them with Allegra sitting on her hip, tiny fingers playing with her mother's dangling earrings. "Are you enjoying the party?"

"Very much so," Fenella said, her smile warm as she reached for Allegra's hand. "Happy birthday, little princess."

"Thank you," Allegra said with surprising confidence for someone who was supposed to be just one year old. "My cake is pretty."

Fenella's eyes widened. "Yes. It is. Especially the beautiful doll on top."

Allegra frowned. "Mine."

"Of course." Fenella sounded like she was stifling laughter.

Syssi sighed. "That decoration was why my little hellion didn't thank the guests for coming like we'd rehearsed. She wanted that doll before anyone could take it, and she refused to speak."

"Can't blame her." Din winked at the child. "The doll is very pretty."

"Don't encourage her." Syssi adjusted Allegra on her hip, turning toward Fenella. "I hear you've become quite the sensation at the Hobbit."

Fenella laughed. "Word travels fast."

"In a village this size? At the speed of light," Syssi said. "Everyone's talking about your psychic readings."

"It's just a bit of fun," Fenella said with a dismissive wave. "I have a knack for making up stories about people."

"Perhaps you're picking up more than you realize," Syssi suggested.

Before Fenella could respond, Bridget walked up to Syssi. "Sorry to interrupt, but Kian's looking for you."

"Thank you for telling me." Syssi turned back to them. "It was a pleasure chatting with you. Please, enjoy the party, and don't leave without saying goodbye."

As Syssi and Bridget walked away, Din noticed Fenella staring after them with an odd expression.

"Something's wrong?" he asked.

"No, nothing." She took a sip of champagne.

"I just had a passing thought about how different my life is now compared to only a few weeks ago.

I went from prisoner to bartender with paranormal abilities and newfound relatives.

" A rueful smile curved her lips. "And I've acquired a devastatingly handsome Scottish professor who tells me he loves me. "

Din's heart skipped at her words. "I hope you count me among the good things in your life."

Her eyes met his, vulnerability and determination warring in their depths. "Of course it's good. For now."

His heart sank.

She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. It was just a brief contact, appropriate for their public setting, but the meaning behind it lifted his heart from where it had dropped to a moment ago.

It had turned the meaning of for now into a promise instead of a threat.