was there to claim you as his soul mate.” The words hung in the air. “Madame Isabella was right about that, too. We all have one soul mate, the man you are destined to love like no other. James is that man for you.”
She felt completely out of control of her life at this moment. “So I never had a choice in this either?”
Adele laughed softly. “You didn’t. But Ally, the man is quite a catch.”
Ally was amused by her grandmother’s comment. “Whether he is a catch or not is beside the point. I know nothing of his nature or character and what I have seen so far does nothing for me, gorgeous looks aside of course.”
“Oh, Ally, I’ve known James for a long time, and he is a wonderful man. You truly are a perfect pair. I will admit you are seeing the worst of him right now, but he is reacting out of fear.”
“Perhaps.”
“Have I ever misled you darling?” Adele replied with a sweet smile.
Ally just looked at her.
“I didn’t mislead you. I withheld information, so don’t give me that look.” Adele did love her granddaughter’s spirit. “Do you really think I would hand you over to a barbarian? I will admit that James is a bit of a caveman in some aspects, but everything he has done is out of love for you.” She winked at Ally. “Besides I know you will knock the caveman right out of him.”
Ally couldn’t help but smile at that. “If anyone can it’s me.”
Adele knew that she had to use a different strategy with her granddaughter to make her see beyond James the Immortal. “Before you knew all this and worked out that James was involved, what did you think of him?”
She shrugged, and a smile that she couldn’t fight no matter how hard she tried crept across her mouth. “I thought he was wonderful. I was almost in awe of him to be honest. ” Ally looked at Adele and arched an eyebrow. “I get what you are trying to point out Gran. There was something there last night, something powerful and wonderful but after everything that I have learned, I just don’t know now.”
“Yes you do. You’re just not ready to admit it yet.” Adele smiled gently.
Ally casually shrugged and looked out the window for the first time. The sun was beginning to rise in the sky above the plane and below was a vast deep-blue ocean.
Looking back at her grandmother, she added, “You could have woken me up once we got there. You know I hate flying.”
Adele laughed. “Sorry honey. Next time I promise I won’t wake you.”
Ally rose an eyebrow at her again. “Next time, if you don’t mind, also get my consent before taking me out of the country unconscious.”
Looked around, she wondered if Coco had been brought along. She could use a cuddle from her dog right now. “Where’s Coco?”
“Don’t worry, we made sure she came with you. Actually, James did. She is quite taken with him, you know.”
As if on cue, James came sauntering towards them having calmed down, with Coco walking behind him.
“Traitor,” Ally said to her dog.
As usual, Coco just cocked her head to the side and then flopped down beside her new best friend, James.
“She has good taste in people, don’t you think Alessandra?” James teased scratching the dog behind her ears. Coco grinned up at him in her own doggy way, and pawed at him for more when he stopped.
Ally watched the two of them and rolled her eyes at the scene before her. “Normally she does. She must be having an off day.”
He couldn’t help but laugh, and what a laugh it was, she thought. The laughter seemed to vibrate throughout her whole being. It was smooth and deep just like his voice. And that smile…oh my God, what am I thinking?
“I think I might take a stroll about. My old legs are starting to stiffen up.” Adele interrupted Ally’s thoughts and sent a pointed look towards James as she was leaving.
“Now is your chance to make things right.”
“Thank you, Adele.”
“You’re welcome, caveman.”
James gave her a confused smirk then turned back to Ally. He smiled at her with all the charm he could muster. “Alessandra, I’m so sorry I snapped at you, but you need to take this whole situation more seriously. Your life depends on it.”
“Whether I take this seriously or not is nothing to do with you. It’s my life!” she snapped.
“That’s not true. You know that