Page 102 of Owen

She smacks a quick kiss against my lips, before she’s off my lap, leaping out of the bed, and hopping about the bedroom, pulling on her oversized sleep shirt that she never wears because she prefers sleeping naked.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I’m off to tell Mom and Aunt Babs.”

I check the clock. “It’s six o’clock in the morning.”

She pulls open the door. “I don’t care, I’m getting married.” Leaving laughter behind her, I watch her run down the stairs with excitement.

A cocktail of joy and sadness mix together.

She said yes. But she leaves today.

I pull the bedsheet up to my chin and take a deep inhale.

The only thing that’s keeping me going is knowing that when I slip between the sheets of my bed tonight, they will still smell like her.

Poppy’s seatbelt gives a familiarclicksound, telling me it’s locked safely, but I give it a quick tug to check anyway.

Tickling Poppy, then telling her I love her, I give her another kiss on her cheek, making her face scrunch up. She giggles again as my stubble tickles her baby-soft skin. It’s about the hundredth kiss I have given her in the last hour.

Loading the last of their luggage into the truck, I give Mari and my newly adopted Aunt Babs a wave goodbye as they reassure me they will look after my girls in my absence.

Lincoln and Jacob have offered to help me, and with more sets of hands, I’m hoping we box up my stuff quicker so I can get back to my girls sooner.

With one final glance around the car, I slam the trunk shut.

Jade checks her watch again. She’s been nervously doing that all morning as we’ve reluctantly organized her departure. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll hit the evening rush.”

I wish you could stay.

“You’ll just be a few days?” she asks.

I pull her into my arms and give her the biggest reassuring cuddle. “Then I’ll be back to annoy you.”

“I love you.” She kisses my neck. Her voice is so small it gets lost on the Scottish wind.

“I love you near, far, and always.” She balls the fabric of my polo shirt into her tight fist. “Be careful around Gideon and his father, Owen,” she whispers. “I don’t trust them.”

“I know. Me neither.”

“I heard what Stanley told you last night,” she confesses.

“How?” I lean back slightly from our embrace.

“I came to find you and ended up listening outside the office.” She worries her bottom lip.

“You should work in military espionage, not be a jet pilot.”My voice is a mix of concern and humor. “But please don’t worry about me.”

Her small chuckle makes her chest vibrate against mine and brings a little light relief to the tension that’s built between us.

“I don’t plan on seeing them. I’m going to ask Camilla to come to the house.” I look up through the thick blanket of trees to the sandstone fortress. “I need to speak to her about the will and estate.”

While it’s been kind of Jade to make sure I am looked after, paying me to look after Poppy feels wrong. When I offered to do it for free, Jade and I compromised. She agreed to transfer me a small amount every week to cover any emergencies or groceries. But I don’t like being a kept man, hence the reason I signed up to start consulting as a financial advisor. Jade inhales deeply, her breath stuttering. “I don’t want to go.”

“Now you can carry me everywhere with you.” I hold up her hand and kiss her engagement ring.Holy shit, I have a fiancée.

“How can I forget? It’s huge.” She laughs.

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