“Of course,” she whispered.
He took a sip from his wine and then rested his jaw against her head.
“I’m a man who’s been blessed.”
Her body jolted again and she stammered, “Wh… what?”
“I had Fee. She was no’ long meant for this world but I knew her since she was wee and she was mine for awhile. It was a blessing.”
Elle relaxed and nodded again. “You’re right, Pren.”
“Then,” he continued, “you came back.” She went solid as a rock against him but he ignored it and carried on, “I’ve lived a good life in this village, with Fee, but you’re still the best thing that’s been in it.”
“Oh my God,” she breathed.
He ignored that too, put his wine glass on the railing and his mouth to her neck.
“To have Fee, who gave me her and then Jason and Sally and then to have you,” he murmured. “I’m a man who’s been blessed.”
“Pren –” she started but her breath hitched again and she stopped.
“Come back to me, Elle,” he coaxed softly.
She was pulling at his arm with her hands now but he held strong.
“I don’t give a f**k about the photographers,” he told her. “If they come with you, then Jason, Sally and I’ll get used to it.”
“You don’t know how bad it can get.”
“I don’t care, either.”
“You can’t say that.”
His mouth left her neck, his jaw went back to her head and his other arm stole around her belly.
“Aye, I can.”
“You can’t,” she said firmly.
She was digging in.
He decided to switch topics.
“Tell me about your ex-husband.”
Her body jerked again.
Off-guard.
Good.
“What? Why?” she asked, her voice higher pitched.
“Because I want to know.”
“Why would you possibly want to know?”
“Because he was part of your life and I want to know about your life which means I want to know about him.”