Page 9 of Riordan's Revenge
Cassie
Lottie’s quiet guidance made the backdrop for us preparing dinner. She loved to cook, I just liked being close to her. We were both happy.
After I’d slept the morning away, and our family meeting had ended, the kids had returned from school. I’d received hugs and heard their stories, all while keeping an eye out for Riordan as Sin took him around our property, giving him a tour of the security features.
The gate. The perimeter fencing. The one place where a footpath led through a broken wall, cameras all over it to capture anyone using the intended easy access point. Our little trap for any trespassers.
On their drive out to the far reaches of our estate, I’d held my breath. There was nothing stopping him from doing a runner. To be honest, I wouldn’t blame him. That didn’t change the urgency which had directed my act of stealing him away, or the need for him to come back.
My heart had restarted when they returned to the house, and the two of them were now sequestered away in the great hall.
“Cassie, are ye listening?”
I blinked and focused on Lottie’s concerned face. Then I hung my head. “No. Sorry. I was away with the fairies.”
Patient indulgence tugged at her lips. She dusted her fingers on her cute floral apron and joined me at the tall stools on the breakfast island. She claimed my hands in hers.
“Repeat after me. We do not kidnap people we like.”
I rolled my eyes but dutifully repeated the words.
Lottie inclined her head. “The best way to share our feelings is to talk about them.”
Again, I copied her.
“Good. Now let’s combine those.”
I tried it out. “Kidnapping is the best way to show a man you love him.”
Her mouth fell open. I grinned at the reaction, nothing so fun as shocking my family.
Behind me, someone cleared their throat.
Ohfuck.
Wincing, I turned around. Riordan leaned on the kitchen doorframe, tall, dark, delicious, and with an expression telling me he’d heard exactly what I’d said. Goddamn it.
“Cassie. Your brother tells me you can access the house camera feeds on your phone. Do they work?”
I collected my phone from the counter, unlocked it, and opened the app with our alert system and camera views. Then I held it up for him to see.
He prowled closer to check and gave a short nod of acknowledgement.
“Want me to put it on your phone?” I offered.
“Don’t go giving access to just anyone. That’s hardly safe,” he chided.
“You’re not just anyone.”
Riordan’s serious gaze held mine for a beat, and he poked his tongue into his cheek. “Right. I forgot that for a moment of insanity. Silly me.”
He stalked away. I collapsed onto the work surface and buried my face in my hands.
“Seriously, is that how he heard the first I love you?”
Lottie rubbed my back. “Don’t worry. He’ll know it was a joke.” A pause followed, and her tone changed. “It was a joke, right?”
“I don’t know. Probably? It is if I’m to believe Elsa fromFrozenwho says I can’t marry a man I just met.” From my pit of misery, I only lifted my head when the silence became too great to bear.