Page 48 of Fated Midlife Christmas
“You don’t sound very happy about it,” his brother noted.
“I’m…” His automatic response was to deny that, but Erik was right. “I’m not. I’ve met someone here, and I’m finding it terribly hard to leave her.”
“Tell me.”
Lars needed to get packed, but he sat on the bed and told Erik everything he could about Amanda. From their initial meetingto defeating a terrifying ghost alongside her, Lars went over everything. After all that, it just didn’t feel like enough. “It’s hard to describe someone over the phone when you feel the way I do about her.”
“She’s your mate,” Erik said reasonably. “I know how that feels.”
“At least you and Alva are on the same continent,” Lars lamented. Without spilling too much of Amanda’s personal background, he explained how difficult it would be for the two of them. “She has a solid practice here, as well as her family and friends. I have my responsibilities at home.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “What if you didn’t?”
“What?”
“What if you didn’t have those responsibilities?” Erik repeated.
His heart thundered. “How could that happen?”
“It’s just an idea,” Erik began. “I started thinking about it as you were telling me about Amanda, and the more I mull it over, the more I think it could work.”
“Erik.” He adored his brother, but Erik had a way of beating around the bush instead of getting to the point.
“You’ve been handling the clan and the polar node for a long time now,” Erik explained. “Dad had you take over while he was still alive, wanting to make sure that you knew everything you needed to. That’s two decades you’ve had this responsibility on your shoulders.”
“That’s true.”
“It’s about time you had a break,” Erik continued, “and not just a trip to America. Stay there with your mate, and Alva and I can take over. If you want,” he added quickly. “There’s no pressure to do it, but it could work.”
Possibilities flashed before Lars’s eyes. He could stay there with Amanda. She could continue running her business, and he’d get a job somewhere. He’d probably also continue helping the dragons and the local witches with any ley line issues that happened to come up. “You’re sure about this? Do you need to talk to Alva first?”
Erik laughed lightly. “Actually, I already have. It’s something we’ve been chatting about a little. We were joking that you might go to America and finally find a woman, but apparently, it wasn’t that much of a joke after all.”
Lars stood up. He pressed the phone hard against his ear. “You truly mean it?”
“Yes,” Erik insisted. “Alva and I have no intentions of ever leaving Svalbard, so it only makes sense.”
He was already moving toward the front door and digging his keys out of his pocket. “Then yes. I’ll do it. Probably right now. I’ll change my flight. I’ll still come home to see you once I get things figured out here.”
“Take your time.”
Lars rushed out into the night. “Thank you, little brother.”
“Consider it your Christmas present.”
And a hell of a gift it was.
19
Amanda swipedthe last of the makeup off her face and frowned into the mirror, trying to convince herself that it wasn’t the worst end to the holiday season. She and Lars would get to see each other again. Someday.
She leaned over and turned on the shower, letting the water warm up as she stripped off her clothes and tossed them into the hamper. No matter the promises between them, Amanda was already lonely. Lars hadn’t officially left the country yet, but she missed him.
Had she made the right decision?
The backs of her eyes burned. Amanda had held back plenty of tears. She’d let them go soon.
A heavy pounding sounded on the front door just as she was about to step into the shower. Startled, Amanda jumped back and grabbed her robe from the bathroom door. She flung it around her shoulders and wrapped it tight, tying the belt as she hurried through the house. “What the hell is that?”
