Page 17 of Colvin
“He’d love it but we mustn’t indulge him too much. Keep it as a rare treat.”
“Delain wants to interview you for the case file. He sends his apologies by the way, for allowing the Amarotu to penetrate his security, and especially for the girl getting hired at the childcare. He promised to tighten up their screening process but it’s a little late now for Darien.”
“He loved the childcare so much but now he says he doesn’t ever want to go back ‘where the bad lady was’. I have to say I don’t think I can ever set foot in that apartment again and I’m not keen on even being on the planet. I won’t feel safe there for a long time, if ever.” She gave him a crooked smile. “Is the invitation to move to Ardanna Prime still open?”
“Hells, yes, nothing would make me happier. Although I’m sorry for the reason you’re suddenly ready to move. If you did decide to stay we could get Delain to give you another apartment and I’d make sure you and Darien had a fulltime Ardannan security detail.”
Head tilted Ivy hesitated, rolling her eyes. “I’m trying to visualize myself at the office and my three-year-old at the childcare surrounded by big soldiers with scary weapons.”
“Not negotiable.” Colvin heard his voice go into command mode. “That planet is a beautiful place but their security is shit and pretty much anyone can come and go, as your late ex proved. I won’t risk either of you there unprotected again.”
“The Combine shouldn’t have any further reason to come after us,” she said. “If Ronn had been a born member instead of bloodsworn in, then yes, his family would want Darien and I’d fight to my dying breath to keep him out of their clutches. But no matter how much he wanted it, Ronn wasn’t family. The others will squabble over whatever fiefdom he managed to build and carve out pieces. Violently. But neither Darien nor I hold any value.”
Colvin was afraid she was talking herself into resuming life as it had been on Resort Planet but before he could object, she was shaking her head.
“But none of that matters because Darien and I went through hell today and maybe he’s so young he’ll forget except in vague nightmares, but I’m going to have hypervigilance and anxiety for a long time, believe me.”
He hugged her. “I’ll be there every step of the way. Did Darien understand that was his father?”
“Not really. Evidently the horrible woman who grabbed him told him she was taking him to see his daddy, which scared him actually, but his concept of a father is fuzzy. He was so little and doesn’t remember much about living with Ronn. I never talked to him about it after we escaped my ex. I guess I was avoiding the subject. We ran at the first opportunity I had.”
“No more need for running either. We’ll go to Ardanna Prime on the Famptror, I’ll introduce you to my mother and the rest of my family, Darien will have cousins to play with and aunts and uncles to make a fuss over him, and we’ll work out our future together. I’m going to resign my commission as soon as we get there. Do you believe in long engagements?”
Ivy laughed. “Considering I’ve known you all of three days so far, why should our engagement last much longer either? Bring it on.”
He fished in his pocket and brought out a blue velvet box. “I had Delain get me this while I was talking to his security guys for endless hours. He says it’s from the most exclusive shop and gave me a whole tray to choose from but all I know is this one is beautiful enough for my beautiful woman and I’d be honored if you’d accept it and my proposal of marriage.”
She took the box and flicked her gaze to him before opening the lid to reveal a huge marquise cur diamond, offset by rubies. “Oh Colvin, this is exquisite!”
He took it from the box and slid it on her ring finger. “I take that as a yes then?”
“Absolutely. Can you friend the captain conduct marriages or is that just a human tradition?”
The breath knocked out of him by her unexpected question, he thumped his chest as if to restart his heart before replying. “He can. He would if I ask him.”
“Would your mother forgive us? We could let her throw a big party instead.” She studied the ring, turning it this way and that to allow the facets to catch the light. “Today made me realize life is so short and nothing is promised, not really. I don’t want to waste any more time before becoming your wife.”
“I want to adopt Darien,” he said. “It’ll take longer, there’s probably a lot of Sectors rigamarole to get through but I think of him as mine. The regimandane also believes he’s ours to protect, just like you are.”
“And I want to take care of you,” she said. “Ride the wind on your AGcycle with you and have more kids and live to be very old and never lose our spirit of adventure. Or our love for each other.”
“I can’t imagine anything better,” he said.
They kissed, which became quite involved and passionate until the sound of Darien’s small voice calling out from his bed broke through their absorption in each other.
“I’m ready to get up now,” he said. “Fred and I want a snack.”
“I think that can be arranged,” Colvin said, going to the bed and picking the toddler up, to swing him in the air, which left Darien chortling with glee.
Ivy joined them, picking the stuffed Moomenny up from the deck where it had fallen as Colvin lifted her son. “I think I might be a little hungry too, now I think about it. And you did tell me you had a high requirement for calories, right? Shifting into a lion must take a lot of energy.”
“Be a lion now,” Darien demanded.
“This room isn’t big enough,” Colvin said with perfect truth. “I promise I’ll do it for you when I can but probably not today. The lion can’t come out often.”
“You have Fred,” Ivy reminded him, handing the boy his favorite toy. “Where are we going to find this food?”
“Officers’ mess,” Colvin replied. “I’m sure the staff will enjoy the challenge of feeding a three-year-old and a beautiful woman as a change from dealing with all of us grumpy officers.”
