The Gift of Love (The Book of Love #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,21

brain thinking and desire something more permanent. When I marry, I will be faithful to my wife. It is the Brayden way. It is my way.”

She shook her head and sighed. “Oh, Ronan. If only there were more men like you.”

“There are, Dahlia. Most are decent. You have only to look at the men in your family and mine to know good men exist.”

“What else does this book say?” She leaned over and read the next few lines aloud. “Love is a higher function of the brain. The important function that makes a man feel the need to protect his family. Wife and offspring. Otherwise, he’d merely spill his seed and then move on, leaving them to be eaten by wolves.”

She looked at him and laughed. “The author wrote this just for you. I’ve never met any man more ridiculously protective than you. Well, perhaps your brothers and cousins. But you aren’t smothering or unbearably jealous. Your natural instinct is to step in and shield those weaker than you whenever you sense danger. Your wife will be a very lucky woman. I know you will make her an excellent husband. I hope she appreciates you.”

Ronan said nothing, just read on. “The author explained the man’s low brain, that unthinking organ designed purely for the task of mating. But his high brain is what enables him to select the right mate for a lifetime. He was given a higher brain to enable him to love. That ability to love is why he stays loyal to his wife and offspring, in turn enhancing their chances of survival. However, before he reaches that upper function of intelligence, the man must first be attracted to the female on the simple brain level.”

He set the book aside a moment. “So we have gone in a circle. Low brain to high brain and back to the low brain again. I think this is a good point to pause and consider what we’ve learned so far.”

She groaned. “Are you going to test me on this?”

“In a way. I think we should discuss what traits we find attractive in each other.”

“Well, that’s easy enough. I can list a dozen of your attractive qualities off the top of my head. I’m the problem, aren’t I? What traits do I possess that would interest any man?”

“Stop beating yourself up, Dahlia. You are jesting, aren’t you? I can assure you, I will have no problem listing a dozen of your fine qualities.”

She rolled her eyes. “You do not need to be gentle with me, Ronan. I’ll learn nothing if you shield me from the truth.”

“I am not shielding you. Nor am I one to cajole or flatter. So, go ahead and list my attributes. Then I will have my turn and list yours. All right?”

“All right.” She took a long moment to study him. “You are handsome. You are intelligent. You are brave. You are protective. You are strong. You are patient, especially with me. Honestly, I don’t know why you’ve appointed yourself as my guardian angel, but I do appreciate it, especially after the incident. You are an excellent guardian angel. I’m glad you punched Gerald’s face. Does that count as a fine quality? I think it should.”

He nodded. “If you want it to count, then it counts.”

She shook her head and cast him a genuinely warm smile. “I like your rules. Let’s see, where was I? You have beautiful eyes. And a beautiful smile. And a beautiful face. Well, a handsome face. But it’s beautiful, too. Have I said handsome twice? I think I said it at the beginning. How many is that?”

“Ten, I think.”

“Very well, two more, and then it shall be your turn. You are a natural leader. You are noble. How’s that? I will forgive you if you cannot come up with twelve for me.”

“It won’t be hard. First, you have beautiful eyes. A beautiful body. Beautiful lips. I enjoyed kissing them.”

She gasped. “You did?”

“Yes, very much. Beautiful hair. Beautiful breasts. Don’t hit me, we have to be completely honest here.”

“Ronan!”

“Well, it is important to me. To any man. Isn’t this what we’ve just spent the last half hour talking about? My low brain responds favorably to your face and body. Why are you so surprised?”

“Gerald–”

“Bloody hell. Not him again. I don’t give a rat’s arse what Wainscott thinks. He cares only for himself. You and Lady Alexandra are mere pawns to him. Shall I go on with my list? You are smart. You have a