Page 47 of Guarding Salvation

Snow shrugged. “What? I hear things.”

“Um, so what about you? Bram was a closet Laird. What are you hiding?” Aoife tried on a blue coat, which was thick and warm, but Snow shook her head giving it the heave-ho.

“What’s to say? Not royal or titled, no Cinderella story here. I was a thief growing up. My family was a waste of space and then Jack saved me.”

“Jack saved you?”

Snow handed her a deep burgundy coat to try on as she tried an ice-blue one. “Yeah, but don’t ask me anymore because I can’t answer, and I like you.”

Aoife rolled her eyes. “So, you don’t want to have to kill me?”

Snow laughed. “What the hell is wrong with you? No, because I can’t tell you without permission and I hate confrontation.”

“Oh.” Aoife liked the red coat and chose some brown knee-high riding-style boots to go with it.

“Seriously who do you think we are?”

“Um, trained mercenaries, killers, super spies, all of the above.”

Snow tipped her head. “See that’s why I like you. You said all that with a straight face and it didn’t faze you in the slightest.”

“I figured you wouldn’t be helping me only to hurt me, so I’m taking it all at face value.” Aoife popped her stuff on the counter as Mrs Price came from the back. “Plus, I like you too. All of you, even Lotus, although the verdict is still out on Bás.”

“Bás is complex, but he’s loyal.”

“Shall I bag these up for you ladies?”

“Yes, please.” Aoife went to hand over some cash, the last of her savings and Mrs Price shook her head.

“No need, lassie. Mr Bram had taken care of it for you both.”

“Get in.” Snow said with a smile.

Aoife shook her head. “Thank you.”

They left the shop and saw Bram waiting outside the butchers with Titan, who had a bag in his hand.

They crossed the road, if it could even be called that, and she walked straight into Bram’s arms and kissed him.

His arms came around her and he held her close. “What was that for?”

“For being amazing and buying me these things, and so much more I can’t ever thank you for.”

“Don’t make me hose you two down for public indecency,” Snow warned with a stern look, just as the first splash of rain hit Aoife on the nose.

“We should head back before the heavens open and we get soaked.”

They ran for the car and Bram drove them back to the castle, dropping Titan and Snow back at the house they were using. The rain was coming down in sheets now as the afternoon darkened.

“Wanna get a hot chocolate in front of the fire and then I have a surprise for you?”

“You do? What is it?” Aoife could hardly keep still in her seat at the thought of a surprise for her.

Bram grinned, making her tummy flutter wildly. God, he was so beautiful, he could have been a model and that was with clothes on. Without them, he was a freaking god.

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise, but it’s a cool one, I promise.”

Aoife clapped her hands like a little kid. “Yes, I want a surprise.”