Page 48 of Love & Heart Braking

Her face softened. Was she thinking about Bain locking her in an underground facility to show his protectiveness? Love sure was, uh, individualized.

Soleil left soon after.

I’d grab a bite to eat before the alliance meeting, but I had some time to kill.

I dialed Evania.

One ring.

“Hello?” she said breathlessly.

“Hey, it’s Cerys.”

“Cerys. I’ve dreaded your call.”

I grinned. Good sign. “So you don’t want to know what he said?”

“I don’t know,” she wailed.

“I won’t tell you that Rion wants to go on a date then.”

She sucked in a breath. “He does?”

“He does. He doesn’t want to make you uncomfortable. He wanted me to assure you that your friendship is first and foremost, and that if dating doesn’t work out, that friendship isn’t going anywhere.”

Evania sniffed. “He said that?”

In male, yes. Speak Together wasn’t the only translation service in Nepos. “What do you say?”

“I don’t know what to say. Yes. I mean, do you think I should say yes?”

“Absolutely.”

Her inhale hitched. “Then I guess that’s my answer even if I can’t believe I’m doing this. What do I do on the date? I can’t remember how it works.”

My heart squeezed. “You two get to skip the small talk. Tell him what you told me. Make sure he knows where you stand. Maybe wear something sexy.”

“I’m forty-seven.” She laughed.

So what? “I have no doubt that Rion thinks you’re the sexiest woman in the world. Romance is just one part of finding love. And if you don’t mind me saying so, Rion seemed very respectful of your friendship. Sometimes that can get in the way of things progressing into something more. It may be up to you to make a move first in that area.”

“I should kiss him?”

“He may be uncertain about how far to go, so yes. When you feel ready. If you feel ready. Then I’d recommend breaking the ice yourself.”

“Kissing Rion,” she mused. “That would surprise him.” A slight purr entered her voice.

And there she was.

In my opinion, a woman’s sexuality only increased with age. Which made me slightly worried about an eighty-year-old Soleil, but we’d cross that banshee pit when we got to it.

The bell chimed.

I glanced up and jolted as Devereaux entered Yearning Hearts. “Okay, I’ll give him your details.”

“Thank you so much,” she gushed.

I coughed to cover her reply. “He’ll be in touch with you. Look, someone just walked in, so I need to go. You’ve got this!”

---