She nibbles at her lower lip before nodding. “Seven.”

I stand to leave and lean down to kiss her cheek. When I pull back, she looks up at me with a small smile. “See you Friday, Ronin.”

At the door, Seamus stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “When Cormac mentioned the match between you two,” he says quietly, “I told him I trusted the man he was raising. I’m glad I was right. I believe you’ll make her happy.”

“Thank you, sir,” I say.

Outside, I make my way down the walk toward my car. Halfway there, I feel eyes on me and glance back. Alannah stands at the window watching me. When she sees me looking, she lifts a hand in a small wave. I return it and keep walking. By the time I reach the car and look back again, the window’s empty.