Free Seductive Knight by Tierney O’Malley

out of his mouth. It was interesting, though, that he would call his brother names. Dickhead? She wondered what the word meant.
    “I’ll keep an eye on her. She won’t be harmed.”
    Alex glanced at Gawain. He was raking his longish hair with his fingers.
    “Give my love to Taylor and kiss little Pen for me. I’ll see you Sunday. Yes, she’ll be there, too.” Gawain hung up the phone, then walked to stand in front of Alex. “Good to see you again, Alex.”
    For a minute, they just stood there.
    “Same here.”
    “You’ve been gone too long, love.” Gawain cupped both sides of her head with his hands. He tilted her face to him. ‘I can’t believe I’m really looking at you.”
    Overwhelming emotions brought tears to her eyes. Seeing Gawain made her feel as though she’d finally found a way home. So interesting, because hours ago, she was homesick.
    “Oh, come on. Tears? Is it because I kissed you, or you’re too happy to see me?”
    “I’m not crying because you kissed me. I didn’t cry the first time either. I’m just happy and overwhelmed.”
    “You like it when I kiss you?”
    “Yes—No!”
    “Yes. No?”
    “Oh, stop grinning.”
    Gawain smiled even bigger. “You always rise to the occasion, imp.”
    “I’m happy to see you. That’s why I’m crying, and also really really tired.” Lack of sleep finally caught up with her and her bones were heavy. All the tension, excitement, nervousness, not knowing what to expect all came down on top of her. God, she just wanted to lie down and close her eyes.
    “You grew. How tall are you? Six eight?” He planted a kiss on her forehead.
    “Ha. Ha.”
    “Hey, you look asleep.”
    “Told you I’m tired.”
    “Sixteen hour flight will screw up your body clock. Or is it eighteen? Baby, you look pale. Did you eat?”
    “Edmund suggested that we eat, but we didn’t.”
    “Let’s go.”
    “Where?”
    “Kitchen.”
    “I’m staying here whether I like it or not, right?”
    “Yes. Bors told me not to let you out of my sight.”
    “Why? I’m not going to run away.”
    “He wants you to stick with me until he talks to Baskerville and get more facts. Now, you should eat something before you go to bed. You’ll rest better that way. If I go to bed hungry, I always sleep walk and end up in the kitchen eating whatever I can lay my hands on. You don’t want that to happen to you. Eating a whole raw onion is never good.”
    “You ate a whole onion while sleep walking?”
    “Yes. You don’t want to know the rest. So let’s find you something to munch on.”
    “Thank you.
    “Well, welcome back to the US.” Gawain shook his head again, still unable to believe the little girl he’d been wondering about was finally back. “What do you want to drink?”
    “A glass of water would be nice.”
    “I have soda pop, beer, tea, coffee.”
    “No, thank you. Just water. Coffee makes me sick unless it’s a decaf.”
    “Hmm…I don’t have a decaf. What’s the use of drinking coffee if you drink decaf. Defeats the purpose of drinking coffee.”
    “Not really. If you want something hot in your stomach, decaf coffee works.”
    “That’s true. All right. This way.”
    “I could get lost in this house. It’s huge.”
    “You should see Bors’s. Speaking of Bors. He didn’t tell me about you because he wanted to see if I’d recognize you.”
    “And you didn’t.”
    “And I didn’t. Here we are. Have a seat.” He pointed at the chair on the island and then opened the cupboard to get a glass.
    “Do you entertain a lot?”
    “No. Why?” He turned to look at Alex.
    “I spotted a long table in the dining room, and your kitchen is a state-of-the-art kind. This looks like a kitchen a chef would have.”
    “Nah. I figured I should have the right kind of stuff so I could cook the best food. And the only people I entertain here are my family. Cold water or not so cold?”
    “Tap water is fine. Your future wife would love this kitchen.”
    “Future