Page 76 of The Witch is Back

“Sorry about that,” he said after a moment of walking in comfortable silence. “I think Mom is a little caught up with the idea of a wedding.” More so than he’d anticipated, considering the circumstances. “I think it takes her mind off...well, things.”

Emma’s shoulder nudged up in a half shrug. Her expression was elsewhere.

Probably normal, considering the slight awkwardness behind the discussions. Bastian kicked a pebble, watched it dash across the ground. After all, nothing like planning a wedding when everyone knew the real motivation wasn’t love but survival.

He was working out whether to address that when she stopped and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m sorry.”

He stopped, too, though his heart jolted once against his ribs in anticipation. “For what?”

“Being rude.” She chafed her arms as his expectations dimmed again. “Being quiet. For not being able to talk. I must have embarrassed you.”

His hand flew out, caught her arm. He hadn’t thought through the action but found he couldn’t now release her. “Embarrassed me?”

She didn’t look him in the eye, focused instead on his hand. “I get so nervous in groups. I’ll try harder next time.”

His brain worked as he tried to puzzle it out. “I know you’re not comfortable in big groups.” She never had been. He wouldn’t call four a big group, but he’d never been shy like her. “Why would that embarrass me?”

Now she did look at him. Like a page in a book, he read frustration, annoyance, shame. The last killed him. “They’re your parents.”

“Last I checked.”

“I’m meant to be your...” She squirmed. “You know. Fiancée.”

“Last I checked.” His voice came out huskier.

She shot him an impatient look.

His brain was obviously slow because he just wasn’t connecting the dots. “You’re going to have to spell it out for me, Emma.”

“Just forget it.” She tried to pull away, but he held on. She huffed, looking everywhere but at him. “I’m shy, Bastian.”

“I know.”

“I’m shy and I’m not good with groups and I go quiet and can’t think of what to say. And they’re your parents.” When he remained silent, clueless, she ground her teeth. “How could they possibly think I’m good enough for you?”

Something in his chest screwed tight, making it hard to get a decent breath. Why did she care?

“Emma.” And that was it, the whole of what he could think to say.

Emma waved her free arm back toward the house. “I just sat there, tongue-tied. I bet your mom thinks I’m an idiot.”

“You agreed that roses are the best flowers. She loves you.”

“You can’t be serious!” She made a small noise that inadvertently went straight to his groin. Of course, the fact that she was het up, eyes alight and cheeks ablaze, also played into it. She was glorious when she was animated. “I don’t want to be a weight around your neck. The embarrassing wife.”

“You won’t be.” He’d never even thought about her social awkwardness past the first week or so. Couldn’t think of anything now except to make her feel better. “Your being shy is part of you. Just like this cute nose.” He tapped it, teasing, sliding his finger down the bridge. “Or these lips.” He dragged his finger across her satiny cheek, grazed her bottom lip and forgot his own name when her lips parted with a shaky breath.

With effort, he dropped his hand. She looked confused, a little hazy. “Being shy isn’t a reason to be embarrassed. And some warlocks fantasize about a quiet wife.”

That got to her and he saw her fighting back a smile. It lightened something inside him, the part that hated to see her distraught.

She was quiet a moment. “I wanted your parents to like me.”

His heart hurt. He swept his thumb over her forearm, reassuring. “They do.” He meant it; he’d seen his mom looking with approval at Emma throughout and his dad didn’t relax that way around just anyone. And as for his feelings...

What a mess this all was.

Blocking the confusion swirling in his chest, Bastian fell back on teasing. “I think they’ll find it refreshing to have somebody quiet in the family.”

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