His eyes narrowed.

She looked down, toward the inside of the house, and noticed Lindsey watching out of the corner of her eye.

“You need to work on your lying, Matilda. You suck at it.”

Her eyes snapped to his. “Who’s lying? Sophie loves purple. Kelsey loves green. You have cute kids, Mr. Personality, and I have a hard time remembering who is who. That happens sometimes with twins.”

He was silent for a moment, and she fidgeted.

The brat saw through her.

“So you let yourself in.”

She grinned. “No need for an extra set of keys for your girlfriend.”

“Did you know your cheeks turn pink when you’re flustered?” He tapped her nose. “And the freckles on your nose stand out even more.”

Her hand touched her warm cheek. “Since when do you notice my freckles?”

Jake actually laughed. “I don’t know.”

“Well don’t. Okay? It’s weird!” And her stomach was flipping around and making her uneasy. “I’ve got to go.” She turned away and he caught her arm. “What?”

“Is that the way to say goodbye to your boyfriend?”

Before she could process his question, he pulled her closer and lowered his lips to hers.

Shock registered first, then the strange and completely unwelcome feeling of peace when she realized he wasn’t giving her a peck of a kiss, but seemed to be moving into her so there was no doubt of whose lips were touching hers. She offered only a small protest before his hand moved to the side of her face and held her closer.

The wet quest of his tongue against her lips brought her back to earth. She ended what he began and opened her eyes to see him staring at her with the same look of awe she felt deep inside her bones.

She touched her swollen lip and sucked it between her teeth.

Jake watched the movement with a strange look of hunger.

For her?

Oh, no. Not Jake.

Water and oil had more in common.

Inside the house, she heard Lindsey clear her throat.

Funny, the noise reminded her of their ploy of boyfriend and girlfriend. Of course! Jake kissed her because Lindsey was watching.

“Very convincing, Jake. I’m sure she gets the picture now,” she whispered.

His brows drew together as she pulled away and jumped in her car.

Jake stood in his driveway and watched her drive away.

Chapter Nineteen

Amber slipped into a dress after her shower, sat at the foot of the bed, and watched Gavin sleep. She felt him coming back to her…slowly.

I’m bonded. A wife.

She might not have been forced to bond, but she couldn’t let him die after he’d given himself to her. In her head, Amber told herself she was raised with devotion to family, to duty and honor.

But somewhere deeper, she knew it was more than that. The vow she spoke embedded into her soul.

“You’re the man my mother told me about.” The words, spoken aloud, solidified them. What would her father’s impression of this man be?

Fierce and protective.

“He likes those qualities in a man.” She thought of Liz. “And women.”

Amber?

Gavin’s voice sounded in her head. She moved her gaze to his still form on the bed.

I’m here.

Alive?

She smiled. Aye.

And me?

Alive. Just sleep…let your body heal.

His chest rose and fell in a deep sigh. You’re safe?

Completely.

Good. That’s good.

Silence met her then, and he slept.

An hour later, a knock on the door startled her. “Amber?”

Helen’s voice shocked her. When was the last time anyone could sneak up on her? She couldn’t remember. “Aye?”

The door opened slowly, Helen peeked through. “Hey?”

A strange feeling of tears welled behind her eyes. “Hey.”

“Uhm, Selma’s here. Is he awake?” She opened the door a little wider.

“Not yet. By morning, I think.”

Helen’s brows pinched. “Well, we, ah…Giles wants to sit with him for a while and give you a break.”

“I’m okay.”

Helen frowned. “Okay, Selma and I wanted to chat with you. Won’t take long.”

From the doorway, Giles poked his head in. “Hey?”

Part of her wanted to join Helen, part of her wanted to stay.

Gavin?

Go. I’ll sleep. The comfort of him in her head should have felt awkward, but it didn’t.

Amber followed Helen down the hall and smelled the wood in the walls, heard the squeak of a mouse far off in the distance. When was the last time that had happened? The weight of her gift simply wasn’t overbearing every sense in her system and all the nuances of the home sat ready to explore.

Helen paused, placed an arm on Amber’s shoulder.

She flinched and Helen pulled away. “Nay, you didn’t hurt me.”

“But you expected it to?”

“Aye.”

Helen had tears behind her eyes. “Can I hug you?”

Amber slowly opened her arms.

The other woman’s embrace brought joyful tears to her eyes. Such a simple pleasure she’d lost most of her life.

Helen’s fist moved to her shoulder in a playful punch. “Don’t ever, ever scare us like that again.”

Before Amber could respond, Selma moved into the hall. “Hey? Can I get on the hug-fest?”

By the time Selma pulled away, all three of them were holding back tears. Selma grasped Amber’s hand and walked toward the library. There, she noticed a bottle of wine and two glasses already filled. “I thought you might enjoy a glass.”

Once they were all comfortable, Selma started in with questions.

“I really do feel fine,” Amber told them. “My head is clear, well, except for Gavin’s voice.”

Helen leaned forward. “You can hear him?”

Amber nodded. “It’s strange. I can reach out for him with a thought, and he’s simply there.”

“Doesn’t that freak you out?” Selma asked.

“It was worse having the thoughts and emotions of everyone else.”

“That’s relative, I suppose. Aren’t you a little worried about being bonded to someone you hardly know?”

Amber took a moment to sip her wine and reflect on the question she’d asked herself the most since she woke. “My mother always advised me not to worry about things I cannot change.”

Helen laughed. “You didn’t answer the question.”

“He’s a good man, noble. My father would approve.” Ian would approve, and he would have insisted on the marriage after their intimacies.