Page 72 of Savage Promises

After we eat, Caroline clears the plates, but Lennox insists on helping my mother’s house manager clean up.

“I’ll be upstairs.” Ma disappears into the hallway that leads to the staircase.

In the kitchen, I press a kiss to the back of Lennox’s neck, loving how she shivers. “I have a surprise for you.”

Lennox thinks she’s just here for a meal, to show her face as my official fiancée. But I’m here for the ritual my brothers went through presenting Ma with their wives.

Selfishly, I turned down Ma’s offer when it was Neve. I abdicated what was rightfully mine to give a wife because I never felt any connection to Neve.

“A surprise engagement party wasn’t enough?” Lennox jokes, throwing her arms around me.

“That was just the start.” I lead Lennox to the grand staircase.

Her eyes go wide, knowing only a select few have been invited to the upper levels of Quinlan Manor. Divided into wings, each of my brothers lived in their corners of my father’s symbol of power.

As we climb the steps, I watch Lennox’s ass move in that dress, and I grow hard. I promised I’d wait until the wedding night. With just under a week to go, that’s getting more and more difficult.

“I’m in here, kids,” Ma calls out from the small sittingroom just outside her and Da’s bedroom.

It will always feel liketheirbedroom. They never had separate beds.

The moment I step inside, the weight of my father’s absence chokes me up. Lennox holds my hand, seeming to know what I’m going through.

At a table in the corner, Ma stands over a large open jewelry box. On a delicate piece of lace I recognize from my grandmother’s collection, a beautiful display of jewelry is laid out.

“These are for you, dear,” my mother says, gesturing to all the pieces.

It’s even more than I expected.

“What is?” Lennox’s shocked eyes look over a bounty of beautiful traditional jewelry including gold and emerald bracelets, sapphire earrings, a diamond necklace, and a gold braided chain with a Celtic-shaped emerald pendant.

“All of them. These are yours,” my mother says proudly. “Each of my daughters is entitled to the Quinlan jewels.”

“This is too much,” Lennox protests. “I’m not...”

My mother shifts with concern. “I assure you, you are entitled. I set aside pieces for each of my sons’ wives. Darcy got hers years ago. Griffin’s wife, Ava, received hers when they were married. Now it’s your turn.”

Lennox hesitates but lets me hold the emerald pendant around her neck so she can see how it looks on her.

“I think you should wear this one on our wedding day,” I whisper. “It looks stunning on you.”

Her fingers brush over it with a slight tremor. “It’s so beautiful, I’d love to.”

“I’ll have everything wrapped up and boxed properly.” Ma’s eyes stay on me.

“Have one of the guards bring the pendant and matching earrings to The Sterling, Ma.” I turn to Lennox. “The rest will be waiting for you at the house.Ourhouse.”

Ma steps back, smiling. “I’ll make some coffee.”

With just Lennox and I alone in front of all the jewels, she stares, confused.

Blushing and holding her chest, Lennox turns a worried frown to me. “People will call me a gold digger.”

“Who would call you a gold digger? Not someone who likes their teeth.”

“You can’t keep beating people up for me, Shane.” She stares, jaw dropped.

“Watchme.”

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