Page 51 of Highest Bid

The icy fury inside bubbled over into red-hot anger. “Oh, please. Save your excuses for your blonde—”

“Sienna,” he interjected roughly, even as an oddly protective note entered his voice. “Her name is Sienna. She also happens to be my sister.”

The breath wheezed out of Layla’s lungs, while the background did a slow twirl around her. “What?”

“Sienna is my sister. Liam and Aiden’s too. She’s our half-sibling.” It was his turn to look out to sea, his voice taking on a faraway note. “Mom told me about the on-and-off affair my father was having with another woman. But she swore me to secrecy. Made me promise I wouldn’t tell anyone of my dad’s infidelity.”

“Not even your brothers?” she asked.

He turned back to her. “Especially not my brothers. They worshipped the ground Dad walked on. I did too...until I knew better.”

“So Aiden and Liam don’t know they have a sister?”

Galan pushed a hand over his face. “Not until recently.” His laugh was strained. “It wasn’t until you left that I realized some promises are selfish, even from the grave, and that I had no right to keep my brothers from their own flesh and blood.” He exhaled roughly. “I told them everything.”

Layla inwardly reeled. How could she have gotten things so wrong? Anger melted away as hundreds of other emotions took its place. Sadness, despair, guilt. “I don’t even know what to say,” she admitted quietly.

He moved from sitting to kneeling. “Say you’ll come back home.” He pushed into his jeans pocket and drew out a small velvet box. He opened it to reveal a gorgeous, heart-shaped ring studded with diamonds. “Marry me, Layla.” At her shocked gasped he added hoarsely, “Say yes.”

Tears welled, but they were happy ones. The only emotion coursing through her now was pure, unadulterated joy. “Yes,” she breathed, holding out her hand before he slid the ring on her finger.

She turned her hand around to peer at the sparkling band. It wasn’t showy or clunky, it was classy and elegant. Perfect. She threw herself into his arms, the fish and chip parcel landing somewhere nearby and scattering its contents on the sand. “Yes!” she repeated, shouting it this time.

He lifted her head with a hand and pressed a kiss to her mouth that was possessive and tender, even as it was hot. When he finally drew back, he said thickly, “I’ve been going out of my mind without you.”

She sniffled, her eyes wet. “I’ve been going out of my mind without you, too.”

He used a thumb to tenderly blot away some of her tears. “I love you, Layla.”

He was all blurry when she smiled up at him and echoed, “And I love you, Galan.”

And suddenly they were laughing, and kissing again, and pressing together until nothing could have possibly gotten between them. Only Bud, along with a flock of his feathered friends, gave an indignant chorus of squawks and caws and hisses as they snatched at the abandoned food that was theirs for the taking.

It was Galan who finally pulled back, his eyes sparkling just like her ring, but his voice a little more subdued and serious. “There’s someone I really want you to meet.”

She pressed her teeth into her bottom lip. “Your sister?”

He nodded. “She wants to congratulate the woman who broke her big brother’s heart.”

Layla’s teeth dug deeper. “That sounds...ominous.”

He laughed, and she caught a glimpse of the carefree man who’d brought her to this same little sleepy fishing village. Her heart swelled. She loved all facets of Galan. Serious, somber, and carefree. And most especially passionate. She would always love that side of him.

He pushed to his feet and took her hand before drawing her up, too. “She won’t bite, I promise. In fact, I think she’s just as nervous to meet you.”

Sienna was sipping a drink at a table on the pub’s veranda. She stood as Layla and Galan approached, her face breaking into a smile at seeing them hand-in-hand. “It’s so good to finally meet you, Layla,” she gushed, before giving her a quick hug.

“You, too,” Layla said, smiling at the blonde woman who looked so much like Liam. She glanced at Galan, before turning her focus back to Sienna. “And I’m sorry about the...mis­under­standing.”

Sienna shook her head. “Don’t be, it was as much my fault.”

“Actually, if anyone’s to blame, it’s me,” Galan said. “I’m the one who tried to keep a secret. In hindsight, I’m certain my mom—and dad—wouldn’t have wanted this...for any of us.”

Sienna squealed, a discordant sound that broke through the heavy moment like a chainsaw in a still forest. “Is that an engagement ring?”

Layla grinned and held out her hand. “It is. We’ll soon be officially sisters-in-law.”

Sienna flew out of her seat, and Layla endured yet another hug from the blonde, who seemed crazy-happy for them both. “Congratulations!” Sienna said, then sang out. “A round of drinks for everyone. My brother and this gorgeous woman are going to get married!”

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