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He should not abandon his home and his prince, his duty and his very nature to follow her around the world.
But he did, and he did, and he would.
Passionate, brave, determined Emma. He would follow her to hell if he had to.
Apparently the opening and closing got her mouth working again, because she asked, “You would do that for me?”
Hadn’t he just said so?
His jaw set. “Aye.”
Her blue eyes were wide and bewildered enough to break his heart. “But…why?”
“I told you. I am courting you.”
“Oh.” A jagged breath like a sound of pain. She shut her eyes. “It isn’t fair to say such things to me.”
“There is no ‘fair’ with the heart,” Griff said. “Only what is.”
He went into the hall and returned with a package. He pressed the gift into her hands, folding her fingers around it. “I have never courted a woman before,” he told her gruffly. “So you must be patient with me while I learn.”
Her eyes opened. “Two thousand years, and you expect me to believe—” Her gaze fell to the package in her hands. Her throat moved as she swallowed.
“A man who is courting brings presents. Or so I have heard,” Griff said.
“My books.” Emma smoothed the oiled paper back with trembling fingers. “You brought my books to me.”
He shrugged, trying to hide the quick jump of nerves in his stomach. “You said you wanted them.”
“Weeks ago. I can’t believe you remembered.” She looked up, her eyes shining with appreciation. He hoped it was appreciation and not tears. “Thank you.”
“I could not find them until today.” When he went into the sea with Una. Best not to remind her of that. “So…I am forgiven, then?”
“For always knowing what I want and giving it to me?” Her lips curved. His heart thumped in sudden hope. “That depends,” she said.
“On what?” he demanded.
She clasped her hands tightly on the books. “On whether you will give me what I want now.”
Griff’s face, his mind, went blank. He had offered her everything, his loyalty, his life. He did not know what else to give.
“You,” she told him, and took his breath away. “I want you.”
He reached for her and then stopped himself, his hands hard on her shoulders. “Now? Because I do not think I can wait until we get to Canada.”
“I don’t want to wait. And I don’t want Canada. I just need to know that you—” Her gaze dropped. She wet her lips. “—care for me.”
Tenderness swelled his chest. “I love you, lass. And I want you willing. No more making the best of a bad choice.”
Her throat worked. “You love me?”
“I do. And I always will.”
“Even when I’m old?”
He heard the hope in her voice, and his own pulse surged and quickened. “I will love you until we both are old and gray,” he vowed. “And I will hold you in my heart forever.”
“Oh, Griff.” It was the right answer. He saw it in her eyes. “I do not need to make the best of anything. Because I have the best of everything with you.”
