Page 18 of Knot Letting Go

“Nooo! Mermaids have normal mouths. And their scales are only on their tails.” Lillianna huffed and poked her uncle. “That’s why they wear seashells on their chests.”

My eyes widened and my cheeks heated as Quill burst out with laughter. A chuckle even escaped Konstantin before he reined it in. Enid grinned as she cleared away everyone’s empty plates except my still half eaten meal.

“Seashells, eh? NowthatI can appreciate.” Quill’s gaze went without shame to my chest. It was as if I could feel hishands cupping my breasts and the anticipation of his mouth about to descend up on a nipple.

Was he seriously ogling my chest at the table? Did he think I was attractive?

Not that I should even be entertaining such thoughts. I reminded myself of who and what and where I was again. There would be no stepping over any lines or jumping into anyone’s bed.

“Perhaps a swim shirt with a seashells print on it would be better suited for… being on a beach.” Konstantin steepled his fingers as he gave his daughter a fatherly smile and shot Quill a quick look that very clearly said to shut up. He didn’t turn his head my way, but I somehow felt his attention on me. Hot and yearning.

Or maybe that was just me. Crap. I needed to stop thinking of them that way.

“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” Lillianna sighed, behaving again like a girl well beyond her years.

“Well, Miss Lillianna, while you’re considering mermaid wear, I have a dessert specially made for mermaids.” Enid brought over a plate on which an adorable dolphin made of ice cream swam between coral cookies. “Dolphin melone gelato.”

Lillianna squealed with delight. “I love it!”

“I’m so glad, dear.” Enid retrieved two more plates from the fridge freezer. She set one in front of Quill. “A jolly whale for you.” Then the second she sat in front of Konstantin. “And a crab for you.”

Quill snickered. “This is fantastic, Enid. You nailed each of us perfectly. The graceful and playful dolphin, the ornery crab, and the magnificent, handsome whale.”

“Daddy’s not ornoraree-ee.” Lillianna jumped right in to defend her father. “Crabs are clever and they can sing.”

Konstantin dipped his head to his daughter and smirked at Quill. “Thank you, Lillianna.”

“I have one for you too, Aubrielle dear. But you must finish your ravioli first.” Enid gave me a soft, motherly smile. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone told me to eat everything on my plate. In fact, the etiquette teacher at St. Anne’s taught us Omegas to always leave food on the plate lest we seem like hogs. “Yours is a sunfish.”

“Thank you. These are so cute. How did you make them?”

“When I got Lillianna some sand toys for the beach last week, I thought the molds looked like they’d be excellent for jellies and other desserts. They’re plastic, so I can’t cook them, but there are a hundred gelato recipes, and I know a certain little girl who loves gelato.” Enid laughed when Lillianna raised her hand and grinned with a mouth full of dessert.

The anxiety which had twisted my stomach earlier in the day had eased. While I’d heard unhappy stories about family events from Callista, sitting here right now, I could see only a family who loved one another. No matter the big manor we were in, right here in the kitchen felt cozy and warm. It felt like home.

Home. Where my parents and I laughed together. We could sit around the dinner table for hours talking about everything.

My eyes misted as my heart ached for my family. I looked down, hoping to hide it, and speared another ravioli with my fork to eat it.

Lillianna finished her last bite of dessert and wiggled happily in her chair. “All done! Aubrielle, can we go upstairs and plan more of our mermaid tails now?”

I set down my fork, ready to say yes and put my mind on something less morose, but Konstantin stood and picked up his daughter. “I think we need to let Aubrielle finish her dinner before she does anything else. Right now, I need yourhelp picking out some life jackets for when we take a boat out to Aunt Callista’s island. Maybe you’ll find one that is suited to mermaids. Then we can read together before you settle down for bed.”

“Yay!” Lillianna kicked her feet as she hugged her father.

“Aubrielle,” Konstantin said my name stiffly. “I would like to speak to you later this evening after Lillianna has settled down. Please meet me in my office at nine.”

“Of course.” I bobbed my head, my abdomen tightening. There was no way I was going to be able to eat the rest of my dinner now. Was he displeased with how I handled the situation with Lillianna’s grandfather today? Did he think I was spoiling her and not being as structured as the previous nanny?

“Daddy, when is Aunt Callista going to be home? Do you think Isabella will be walking then? Can we make her a mermaid tail too?” Lillianna pelted her father with questions as they left the kitchen, and I was left wondering if I was going to have a job after tonight or not.

“That girl has her father wrapped around her pinky finger.” Quill chuckled and stretched out his long legs. “Actually, she has us all wrapped around her fingers.”

“And we’d have it no other way.” Enid bustled around, collecting plates and rinsing them in the sink.

I continued to stare at my dinner, trying to think of a way I could slip out of the kitchen without being rude. I needed to get outside and calm my nerves. I had considered the kitchen cozy only a moment ago, but now the walls felt like they were closing in.

My heart pitter-pattered fast in my chest and my breaths were shallow. Fresh air. Oh God, I was about to run out of the room like a scared bunny, wasn’t I?

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