Page 12 of His to Keep (Reluctant Vows #6)

Eilidh spots the keycard before I do, in a metal holder beside the door, and grabs it.

“All set.” She puts it in her pocket along with the credit card and steps out into the corridor. I guess by holding onto the key and our only viable payment method, she’s trying to maintain some control.

Since she seems to have a good idea where she’s going, I follow her down the narrow corridor. It takes me a minute to get used to the rhythm of the train as it sways from side to side.

We pass through several carriages before finally reaching the club car.

It’s busy, with all but one table occupied.

I quickly scan the room. Nobody presents a threat.

There are family groups occupying three of the booths.

A few couples sit at other tables while several young men have taken the bar-style stools along the left side of the carriage.

They appear to be together on some sort of work trip, judging by the fact they’re all wearing similar polo shirts and khakis.

Everyone is minding their business. Eilidh and I get a few polite nods as we make our way to the vacant table, but that’s the extent of the interactions.

Eilidh drops onto one of the padded leather seats and I take the seat opposite her. It’s a squeeze, but the dining car is much less cramped than the cabin we’d been given. I’d hoped for a double, which would have been more spacious, but Niamh’s people did the best they could on short notice.

“What looks good?” I ask as Eilidh creases her brow.

“Everything.” Her tone is tinged with frustration. “How am I meant to pick?”

It’s the same issue she had with the magazines, I realize.

She’s not used to making her own choices anymore.

Her last four years have been spent as a prisoner and this sudden freedom must be overwhelming.

In her life with me, she’ll still face many restrictions, but only where her health and safety are concerned.

It’s essential I have enough control to ensure my family’s enemies, or hers, can’t get close.

Beyond that, I want her to make her own decisions.

She can choose how to occupy her time, what to wear, and what to eat.

“Narrow it down to a couple of choices,” I advise, as I signal to the approaching server that we need a few more minutes.

Eilidh focuses on the menu once more. “I’m thinking either the harissa chicken or the mac and cheese.”

“You could have both.”

“Hmm.” She contemplates it for a moment, then shakes her head. “I’m not that hungry, and I want to save room for dessert.”

“Okay, then how about I get the mac and cheese, and you get the chicken, and we can share?”

“But you haven’t looked at the menu. What if there’s something else you want?”

“I’m fine with sharing those two dishes.”

Eilidh sends me a look of mock disapproval. “Sharing meals on a first date? Aren’t you forward?”

“You’re so beautiful I can’t help myself, kitten.”

Eilidh blushes and gives her full attention to the menu once more.

I don’t imagine she’s heard a lot of compliments lately.

I only spoke to Jason Henry and his sister for a few minutes when I arranged to attend their gathering at the Beauly House Hotel, but I realized very quickly they both had a cruel streak.

They probably didn’t utter a single kind word to Eilidh the whole time she was in their hands.

“I think I’ll have a glass of wine,” Eilidh says as she passes me the menu.

“Have you had wine before?”

“Yes. My dad let us all have a glass on special occasions, and I had some whenever Jason took me to his business meetings. I guess he thought it would make me more docile.”

“And did it?”

“I was careful not to put a foot wrong around him, so I don’t know how much more docile he thought I could be.”

“You never sassed him, never lost your temper?”

Eilidh rubs her arms in a self-soothing gesture. “I quickly learned not to. Even when I behaved, Tommy McCain…” She doesn’t finish the sentence. “Anyway, are you having a glass?”

I scan the drinks list for an Italian wine, but there isn’t one. Most are from the New World, but there are a couple of Spanish options. “The Tempranillo might be palatable.”

Eilidh throws back her head and laughs. “You’re a wine snob, too.”

“I prefer to think of myself as discerning.”

A middle-aged redhead comes over to take our order. Letting me do the talking, Eilidh runs her fingers through her hair and then looks out of the window. There’s nothing to see now that we’ve left the city behind and moved into the darkness of the countryside.

“I think I should take the top bunk,” Eilidh says suddenly. “It’ll be too difficult for you to get up there.”

I could probably manage, as I’m more agile than she seems to think, but I appreciate the gesture, so I just nod. The server returns to the table with our wine, and I raise my glass in a toast.

“To my future bride.”

Eilidh smiles weakly and gulps down a mouthful of wine.

“Tell me about your cousins’ place in Italy,” she says. “What’s it like?”

“I’ve only been there once.” My siblings have spent more time there than me. Most recently, Matteo and Olivia have stayed at the villa. “I remember it being quite secluded and very beautiful.”

“And what are your cousins like? Are they in the same line of work as your brothers?”

That’s a subtle way of asking if they’re Mafia.

“Yes, Damiano’s in the hospitality industry. He’s kind of bossy. Lorenzo has a vineyard. You’ll like him. He knows how to charm the ladies.”

“Can’t wait,” Eilidh says drily.

“And Gabriele oversees their imports and exports, but you won’t meet him.”

“Why not?”

“He spends all his time in Rome.”

My cousin has become a recluse in recent years.

Since I was shot, I understand why a person might wish to shut themselves away.

Like me, Gabriele was badly injured in an ambush, but we’ve chosen different ways of handling it.

While he retreats from the world, I’m trying to spread my wings and discover more of it.

I guess coming that close to death gave me a renewed vigor for life.

“So, it’s just Damiano and Lorenzo we’ll be staying with?” Eilidh asks.

“No, they don’t live at the villa. They let family stay there from time to time.”

“I see.” Eilidh sips her wine. “So, it will just be us there?”

“Most of the time.” I can’t help grinning. “We can enjoy our honeymoon in peace.”

Eilidh’s eyebrows shoot skyward. “Honeymoon?”

“Of course. We’re getting married as soon as possible after we arrive in Florence. We need to take some time for ourselves.”

“Gio, I…”

“No.” I cut off whatever bullshit objection she was about to come up with. “You’re mine. We’re making it legal, and that’s the end of it, Eilidh. Challenge me on this again and there will be consequences.”