“His mother is still here but she’s dying, and fast,” I continued. “We visited her today. She was hateful to him, cruel because she could be. He’s already an orphan, and it hurts because he’s the best father I’ve ever met.
“Yes, his children are spoiled rotten, but they’re all intelligent and giving to a fault ... and I’m not just saying that because I’m in love with one of his sons.” I offered up a rueful smile. “He raised them to be wonderful people and I think Sami would be a good distraction for him.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “You’re asking me to let him spoil her even though she’s supposed to be grounded.”
“You’re her parents. You can torture her to your hearts’ content when you get home.”
Her lips curved. “That’s true.”
“If you let him spoil her, she’s more likely to keep out of your hair ... and potential trouble.”
Briefly, Zoe pressed her eyes shut and sighed. “Fine. I’m only doing this because it benefits me, though.”
I cracked a smile. “Something told me you might say that.”
AFTER ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES, ARIC AND Sami finally exited the vehicle. Aric looked beaten down but relatively hopeful. Sami, however, was all smiles as she skipped to the front door.
“I’m ready to see the castle,” she announced.
I smiled and pushed open the door, holding it open so the family could file inside. My grin only widened when I heard Sami gasp.
“Are those lions?”
I closed the door and kicked off my shoes near the entry room rug. Aric and Zoe followed suit, but Sami was too busy racing through the house to bother.
“She’s going to be trouble,” Aric muttered to his wife.
“It’s okay,” Zoe reassured him. “Something tells me she’s going to be fine.” Her gaze landed on me and then she picked up her pace. “However, let’s just make sure she doesn’t knock over some million-dollar vase or something.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I said. “The Grimlocks use this room to play sock hockey, which basically consists of them sliding across the floor as fast as possible and slamming each other into walls.”
Aric’s face split into a wide grin. “Now that sounds like a game worth playing.”
By the time we got to the parlor, Sami was already planted on the chair next to Cormack and in the middle of a story. For his part, the Grimlock patriarch — a bourbon clutched in his hand — was all smiles.
“They wouldn’t let me bring my dog because they said he would tear up the hotel but I think he would’ve been better behaved than them,” she offered. “They’re just buttheads to be buttheads sometimes.”
“They’re parents,” Cormack countered, his eyes traveling to the individuals in question. “They may drive you crazy, but they have your best interests at heart. One day you’ll realize it.”
“I doubt it.” Sami met her father’s challenging look. “Where are all the other people who live in the castle?”
“Give it a second,” Cormack supplied.
“Give what a second?”
Before Cormack could respond, a bevy of loud voices and stomping feet filled the air, followed closely by a mountain of black hair and breathless voices.
“You’re not the boss,” Aisling snapped, shoving Braden as hard as she could, essentially hip-checking him into the wall as they entered. “You’re a reaper peon just like me.”
“Oh, no.” Braden waved at me but continued arguing with his sister. “I’ve got years in the family business. You’ve only been tiptoeing around for two years — and getting special treatment from Dad to boot. I’m the boss.”
“You are not!”
“I am so!”
Redmond, the oldest Grimlock sibling, slid into the room behind them. His expression told me he was amused by the argument but in no mood to take sides. “Tell them who’s the boss, Dad,” he suggested, pulling up short when he registered the new faces. “Hello.”
Before Zoe and Aric could respond, or Cormack could introduce everyone, Sami decided to take over the room.
“Oh, holy beefcake,” she intoned, her eyes fixed on Redmond. “Be still, my aching lady parts.”
Aric’s eyes practically popped out of his head at the statement. “What did you just say?”
Zoe pressed her lips shut, her eyes wide, and I couldn’t decide if she was trying to refrain from laughing or crying. I had a feeling it was the former.
“This is Aric and Zoe Winters,” I offered by way of introduction. Honestly, following the “lady parts” bit was difficult, but somebody had to do it.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Redmond replied, although his gaze was on Sami. “And who might you be?”
“Grounded,” Aric answered for his daughter. “She’s grounded.”
“This is Sami,” I volunteered.
“She’s cute,” Redmond said, winking at the teenager.
I swear Sami looked as if she was going to swoon. “I am cute,” she agreed.
“She’s also fourteen,” Aric hissed in Redmond’s direction.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Aisling interjected, nudging her brother out of the way and focusing on the tall shifter. “My brother can’t stop himself from flirting. You know when you get in a car and there’s park, neutral, reverse, and drive? Well, his park is set on flirt and he can’t help himself. He’s harmless.”
“He’s perfect,” Sami countered dreamily.
Braden raised his hand directly in front of Sami’s eyes and snapped his fingers. Loudly. “Hey, little lady-parts girl, I’m totally hotter than him. Everybody knows I got the looks in the family.”
Slowly, Sami tracked her gaze to Braden. I was mildly curious how she would react. To my surprise, she merely smiled. “You’re hot, too, but your aura is closed. His aura is open, which means he’s open for offers.”
“Who is making offers?” Aric’s voice turned shrill. “How did you even learn to say stuff like this? Wait ... did you
