Page 15 of The Knotty Clause

“In some ways it was easier—I no longer spent hours wondering if he was going to come home and even Liam understood thathis Daddy was away. He did send money home occasionally, and it helped. He died two years ago—I’m still not sure exactly how—and it became harder and harder to keep a roof over our heads and food in Liam’s stomach. That’s why I took the mining job. The recruiter promised good pay, housing…” She shook her head. “I should have known it was too good to be true.”

“How long were you there?”

“Three months. Three months too long, but they make it difficult to leave.”

“But you found a way.”

“I had to. Garth said he was going to put Liam to work in the mine.”

A low growl filled the air and she gave him a startled look. His eyes blazed with anger.

“Children are to be protected, not exploited.”

“I agree, but I didn’t do a very good job of protecting him, did I? We almost froze to death. I expected the cold, but not the storm. If it hadn’t been for you…”

His face blurred as more tears filled her eyes. He growled again and she half-expected him to pull away, but instead his arms came around her and he lifted her into his lap, holding her close.

“It doesn’t matter. You are here now.”

She buried her face in the comforting heat of his chest. The velvet fur beneath her cheek had a comforting musky scent and she snuggled closer.

“I lost my family,” he said quietly. “My parents, my brother… I was not there for them.”

The raw pain in his voice made her breath catch. No wonder he lived in such isolation and was so afraid to let anyone close to him. Her heart aching for him she reached up and placed a gentle hand on his jaw. He looked down at her, eyes blazing silver, then leaned towards her. Her pulse quickened, anticipating his kiss?—

But then he jerked back. He’d placed her back on the couch and risen before she even processed what had happened.

“I have work to do,” he said harshly, and strode out of the room without another word.

She watched him go, fighting the urge to call him back. Now she understood the shadows that haunted him, why he’d built these walls around himself. The loss of his entire family while he was away—the guilt must be crushing. No wonder he punished himself with solitude.

She curled her legs under her and stared into the fire. There had to be a way to show him he deserved happiness, that letting people in didn’t mean betraying his past. But pushing too hard would only make him retreat further.

As she rose to go to bed, she looked around the room, taking in the changes that had crept in over the past few days. Liam’s drawings dotted the walls, brightening the previously stark space. Her half-finished mending lay draped across a chair. The counting blocks he’d given Liam spilled next to the hearth.

The room was being transformed from his austere sanctuary into something warmer, more lived-in. Despite his initial insistence on isolation, he hadn’t removed a single trace of their presence. If anything, he’d added to it—bringing the blocks for Liam and finding the mending kit for her. It hadn’t escapedher notice that he’d also increased the temperature throughout the house, even in the chilly corridor, so that they would be comfortable.

She traced her finger along the back of the chair, considering the cheerful clutter. The Longest Night was approaching—traditionally a time for family and celebration. Back in the village, homes would be filled with decorations and the scent of special treats. Her mother had always made it a special time for them.

Perhaps they could create a similar tradition here. His pantry was well-stocked, and she’d spotted evergreen branches that could be gathered for decorating during the brief periods when the wind dropped. Liam would love helping to prepare for the holiday—he’d never had a proper celebration. She’d always been working or too tired for more than a few garlands and whatever presents she’d managed to put aside money for.

They were already pushing the boundaries of the contract with their shared meals and Liam’s presence in the workshop. Perhaps it was time to push it a little further, to show Yede that life could still be celebrated and enjoyed. That he deserved to have happiness in his life.

A sense of purpose filled her, and she smiled. She would make this a Longest Night to remember.

CHAPTER 8

Yede pressed his forehead against the stone wall outside the kitchen, fighting the urge to step inside. The sounds of Gemma and Liam’s morning routine drifted through the doorway—metal spoons clinking against bowls, Liam’s infectious giggle, Gemma’s warm voice explaining something about numbers.

He clenched his fists as memories from the previous night replayed in his mind—the softness of her skin, the way her lips had felt against his, the way her slender body had fit so perfectly against him. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to banish the images. He shouldn’t be here. He should walk away before it was too late. He ignored the uneasy suspicion that it was already too late.

“And then you add this much flour,” she said from within the kitchen.

“Can I stir?” Liam asked.

“Careful now, not too fast or it will?—”

A loud clatter was followed by peals of laughter. Despite himself, his lips twitched upward.

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