Page 127 of Left-Hand Larceny
“Thank god. Can you imagine if it wasn’t mutual? Embarrassing.”
Kat floats by on her back, humming a song I don’t recognize.
“You know she made Amma re-watch all your photo reels twice last night?” he murmurs in my ear. “She said you’re going to be famous.”
“Clearly she’s a genius.”
We find a quiet corner in the shallows where the stone curves like a little bench. Ragnar pulls me onto his lap, arms circling my waist, and for once Kat is just far enough away not to interrupt.
“Have I told you how good you look in Iceland?” he murmurs.
I tilt my head back. “Only twice today.”
“Then I’m overdue.”
He kisses the curve of my shoulder, slow and warm.
Just as I lean in to kiss him back there’s a splash and a whoop of delight.
“Do we wantsúkkulaðiafter this or ice cream?” Kat calls out. “I’m fine with either.”
Ragnar groans into my skin. “Cockblocker.”
“She’s twelve,” I whisper, laughing.
“I’m almost thirteen!” Kat calls back and I bite my lip to hide my laugh.
“She’s effective.” My grumpy Viking presses a kiss to the side of my throat.
We soak for a while longer, just the three of us, the world quiet except for Kat’s occasional splashes, the low rustle of wind through stone, the waves crashing to shore at Langisandur.
Eventually, Ragnar shifts beside me, water sloshing gently. “By the way—Robbie finally made it official.”
I blink. “Official what?”
“Retired.”
I pause. “Seriously?”
He nods. “Vic said he won’t do a press tour, but it’s done. Full send-off at the local rink, nothing public. But he’s happy. Went public too.”
“With Vera?”
He nods and I smile, “That’s good.”
“He deserves to be happy.”
“So do you.”
He presses a kiss to my temple. “I already am,Sæt stelpa mín.”
I asked Kat about that phrase the first chance I got. She made such a disgusted face I thought I’d scarred her for life. I hadn’t.
Pretty girl.Mypretty girl.
Amma was the one who told me it’s almost exclusively reserved for lovers. Partners.
Back at Amma’s house, I towel my hair dry and collapse onto the couch with my phone. I need to check my email, send my parents a message, respond to Quinn and Tristan’s not-so-subtle questions about diamond rings.
